Updated 2-14-24. In the past few years, states such as Colorado and Wyoming have explored the use of digital driver’s licenses and identity cards. But if you encounter signers fwho present an ID on their cell phones rather than a physical ID, is it acceptable as proper identification for a notarization?
It depends on different factors, and not all states allow digital IDs for notarizations. Here’s what you need to know.
What Colorado did with digital IDs
Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued an executive order in October 2019 authorizing and legalizing digital versions of the state’s IDs, which are accessed through the “myColorado” mobile application. Initially, digital IDs did not replace their paper counterparts, and the state’s residents were encouraged to keep their physical IDs as a backup at least until the end of 2020.
The new digital IDs allow Colorado residents to use a digital driver’s license or ID card on their mobile devices as legal proof of identity with all state agencies.
However, the Colorado Secretary of State’s office has asked Colorado Notaries to refrain from accepting digital IDs as proof of identity for notarizations until the Secretary of State's office issues an official policy on the matter. No guidelines have been issued as of 2024.
The executive order also directs the state’s Office of Information and Technology and the Division of Motor Vehicles to work with the federal government to make sure the digital IDs are REAL ID compliant.
Can Notaries in other states accept digital IDs?
According to the California Secretary of State’s office: “California Notaries Public may accept a digital driver’s license or digital identification card issued in Colorado beginning December 1, 2019, to establish satisfactory evidence, providing the digital identification is current or issued within the past five years, contains a photograph and description of the person, (is) signed by the person, and bears a serial or other identifying number as required by California Civil Code § 1185(b)(4).”
As of December 2020, Louisiana Notaries have the option to accept digital identification downloaded on a mobile device through a state-approved application as a form of signer ID.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s office also indicated that Colorado’s digital IDs would be considered “satisfactory evidence” of a signer’s identity and could be used in Ohio. The identification will be legal in Colorado and therefore, can be relied upon in Ohio.
Other states, especially those with specific lists or requirements for identity documents, may not be so accommodating. It will depend on how the state Notary regulators interpret their statutes. For example, Florida’s new law to implement digital IDs took effect on July 1, 2021 but it is not yet clear if Florida Notaries will be able to accept those digital IDs as proof of a signer's identity. If you are commissioned in one of these states, you may want to reach out to your Secretary of State’s office for clarification.
Some states, such as New York and New Jersey, do not have specific laws regarding acceptable ID. They leave it up to the individual Notary to decide whether to accept a specific ID. If you are commissioned in one of these states, it will be your judgment call whether a digital ID is satisfactory proof of identity.
In July 2020, a Wyoming digital ID law took effect allowing residents to obtain a digital driver's license and identification card to supplement the use of physical IDs. A digital driver’s license and ID card are housed on the bearer’s portable electronic device and may be displayed in any situation in which a physical driver’s license or identification card would be used, including identification before a Notary.
Related Articles:
How do I determine if an ID is acceptable for notarization?
The 3 ways Notaries can properly identify signers