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How do you identify an Amish signer with no photo ID?

Photo of woman with long dark hair on phone. She is looking at papers in her hand. Text on image reads NNA Hotline Tip.

How do you identify an Amish signer if their driver's license has no picture?T. W, Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania Notary may accept this form of identification if your signer has produced current, government-issued identification that contains a signature and you are satisfied with it.  57 Pa.C.S. 307(b) says, a notarial officer has satisfactory evidence of identity if they are presented with a “passport, driver’s license or government-issued nondriver identification card, or another form of government identification which is current, contains the signature or photograph of the individual, and is satisfactory to the officer”   (57 Pa.C.S. 307[b]).

The Notary may also ask for additional information or identification credentials to help satisfy him or her to the identity of the signer. (57 Pa.C.S. 370(c) says, “A notarial officer may require an individual to provide additional information or identification credentials necessary to assure the notarial officer of the identity of the individual.”

Notaries in other states must follow their own state rules regarding acceptable forms of identification. For more information, please see our article “Notary guidelines for accepting or rejecting a signer’s identification.”

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

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4 Comments

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Grace

11 Oct 2023

I am in agreement with the above responses regarding the NNA answer to the Amish ID question. It appears that the question was not answered at all. What credentials is a notary expected to ask for from a Sect of people who do not believe in taking pictures?

Kristen

15 Aug 2023

As the comment above states, Amish individuals have no photographs. Am I to understand we can accept a government issued ID without a picture as long as there is a signature present and maybe a supporting secondary form of ID as well?

National Notary Association

21 Aug 2023

Hello. For Pennsylvania Notary guidelines please see the Hotline Tip answer above.

Kimber Norquest

14 Aug 2023

The Amish do not have ANY photo IDs. Their religion does not allow them to have their picture taken. As such, please answer the original question of how to identify an Amish signer. The article as it is written does not answer the question/is not helpful.

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