WA Administrative Rules (2015)
Rule/Regulation
Effective: April 23, 2015
SummaryA new permanent administrative rule broadens the definition of satisfactory evidence of identity to allow passports and tribal identification documents to be presented to a Notary.
AffectsAmends Washington Administrative Code 308-30-155.
Changes - Allows a Notary to accept an unexpired passport containing an individual's photograph and signature issued by either the U.S. Department of State or a foreign government which is recognized by the U.S. Department of State as identification for a notarial act.
- Allows a Notary to accept a tribal identification document with an individual's photograph, signature and physical description as identification for a notarial act.
AnalysisThe Washington state definition of satisfactory evidence is broadened to allow passports and tribal IDs to be presented for verification of identity to a Notary. The current definition allows Notaries to accept a current document issued by a federal or state government that includes a photograph, signature and physical description. This definition was not broad enough to allow Notaries to accept passports, a very common form of ID, and it made it difficult for a citizen of another country to access the services of a Washington Notary. The new permanent rule also now allows a Notary to accept an identification document issued by a tribal government, provided the ID contains a photograph, signature and physical description. The U.S. Government website www.usa.gov has a listing of all current federally-recognized tribal governments in the United States.
Read the adopted administrative rules.