If you need to get something notarized without ID, you have three realistic options: bring a credible witness who can swear to your identity under oath, find a notary who already knows you personally, or use remote online notarization, which verifies who you are through data checks rather than a physical card. Each works in most states, but not every notary handles every method, so a quick phone call before you show up saves a wasted trip.
Bring a Credible Witness
A credible witness is someone who personally knows you and swears to the notary, under oath, that you are who you say you are. This is the most widely available alternative when you can’t produce an acceptable ID, and it’s the method most notaries are trained to handle.
The option exists for real obstacles, not everyday inconvenience. It’s meant for signers who genuinely cannot obtain a valid ID because of disability, homelessness, a lost or stolen card with no quick replacement, or similar circumstances. A witness has to meet several requirements that aren’t negotiable:
- The witness must be impartial. They cannot have any financial stake in the document and cannot be a party to the transaction. A relative who would inherit under a will cannot serve as the credible witness for that will’s notarization.
- The witness must know you well enough to be genuinely certain of your identity. A coworker of several years qualifies. Someone you met once at a party does not.
- The witness must bring their own valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID all work, though the acceptable list varies by state.
Some states require one credible witness. Others require two, especially when the notary doesn’t personally know the witness. Confirm the number before you go.
What the Witness Actually Swears To
The witness doesn’t just casually confirm your name. The notary places them under oath or affirmation, which carries the same legal weight as testifying in court. The witness swears that they personally know you, that you are the person named in the document, that you don’t have an acceptable form of ID, and that obtaining one would be very difficult or impossible in your situation. They also confirm under oath that they have no financial interest in the document.
Lying during that sworn statement is perjury. Under federal law, perjury carries a prison sentence of up to five years.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1621 – Perjury Generally State perjury laws vary but are all serious. Witnesses should understand what they’re agreeing to, and any competent notary will make sure they do.
How the Appointment Runs
Before scheduling, call the notary and ask directly whether they perform notarizations using a credible witness. Many rarely encounter the situation, and some are uncomfortable with it, particularly mobile notaries or those at shipping stores who mostly see routine work. Notaries at banks, credit unions, and law offices tend to have more experience with alternative identification. On the call, confirm how many witnesses you need, whether there’s an added fee, and what the witness needs to bring.
At the appointment, the notary examines the witness’s photo ID and records its details, usually in an official journal. Roughly half of all states require notaries to keep a journal of every notarial act, and many keep one voluntarily where it isn’t mandatory. The notary then administers the oath and takes the witness’s sworn statement. In most states, the witness signs the journal entry.
Once the witness has been sworn and the notary is satisfied, you sign the document in the notary’s presence. The notary completes the notarial certificate, signs it, and applies the official seal. The whole process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes longer than a routine notarization.
Find a Notary Who Already Knows You
If a notary knows you well enough to be certain of your identity, no ID is required. Nearly every state allows a notary to identify a signer through personal knowledge, meaning a relationship built through regular, face-to-face contact over time. Long-time neighbors, colleagues of several years, or fellow members of a close community organization are the typical examples.
This is not casual familiarity. Recognizing someone from around the neighborhood doesn’t qualify. The notary has to be confident enough to stake their professional commission on it, because that’s exactly what they’re doing. A notary who identifies a signer through personal knowledge and turns out to be wrong faces the same liability as one who accepted a fake ID.
The practical hurdle is finding a notary who knows you personally and is available. Most people don’t happen to know a commissioned notary that well. If you do, it’s the simplest path available. Ask around your workplace and social circles; notaries are more common than people realize, and many don’t advertise the credential.
Use Remote Online Notarization
Remote online notarization, usually called RON, lets you complete a notarization over a video call. As of 2025, at least 44 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws permitting it.2Congress.gov. H.R.1777 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): SECURE Notarization Act
RON matters when you lack a physical ID because identity is verified differently. Instead of handing a card to a notary, the platform runs you through knowledge-based authentication: questions drawn from public records and credit databases that only you should be able to answer, such as which of four listed addresses you’ve lived at or which lender holds a specific account. You’ll typically still need to show some form of ID on camera, but the layered approach means the system is checking your identity through data rather than relying on a single card.
To use RON, you sign up on a platform that connects you with a notary commissioned in a state that permits remote notarization. The session is recorded on video, and the document is signed electronically. You can usually finish the whole process from home the same day.
What It Costs
Notary fees are capped by state law and are generally modest. Most states set maximums between $2 and $25 per notarial act for in-person notarizations. Using a credible witness doesn’t typically add a separate fee for the notarization itself, though the notary may charge for administering the oath to the witness as a separate notarial act. A mobile notary who comes to you will usually add travel fees, which can exceed the notarization fee.
RON sessions carry higher caps in most states, commonly $25 per signature, and the platform may charge its own service fee on top of the notary’s statutory maximum. If cost matters, check whether your bank or credit union offers free notary services to account holders. Many do, though they may not be set up to handle credible witness situations.
When a Notary Can Still Say No
Every notary has the right, and in most states the legal obligation, to refuse a notarization when they cannot satisfactorily verify the signer’s identity. This applies no matter which method you’re trying to use. If the credible witness seems uncertain, if a personal knowledge claim feels thin, or if anything about the situation raises a concern, the notary should decline. Notaries who proceed despite doubts risk personal liability for any resulting fraud, loss of their commission, and potential criminal charges.
If one notary turns you down, try another with more experience in alternative identification, or bring a second credible witness to strengthen the case. The refusal isn’t personal. It’s the same caution that protects you from someone else forging documents in your name.