Notaries in Washington

Washington adopted RULONA, Chapter 42.45 of RCW with effective date of July 1, 2018.

RCW 42.45.050 Identification of individual. (1) A notarial officer has personal knowledge of the identity of an individual appearing before the officer if the individual is personally known to the officer through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty that the individual has the identity claimed. (2) A notarial officer has satisfactory evidence of the identity of an individual appearing before the officer if the officer can identify the individual: (a) By means of: (i) A passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver identification card, which is current or expired not more than three years before performance of the notarial act; or (ii) Another form of government identification issued to an individual, which is current or expired not more than three years before performance of the notarial act, contains the signature or a photograph of the individual, and is satisfactory to the officer; or (b) By a verification on oath or affirmation of a credible witness personally appearing before the officer and personally known to the officer and who provides satisfactory evidence of his or her identity as described in (a) of this subsection. (3) A notarial officer may require an individual to provide additional information or identification credentials necessary to assure the officer of the identity of the individual.

A notary may refuse to perform a notarial act if concerns about competency, or signature is not knowingly or voluntarily made. (42.45.060)