Which statement best describes the duty of a notary regarding the signer’s identity?

The statement that the notary must verify identity as per state guidelines accurately reflects the essential responsibilities of a notary public. In Nevada, as in many other states, it is a fundamental duty of a notary to ensure that the signer of a document is indeed who they claim to be. This verification process typically involves examining government-issued identification that confirms the individual’s identity, such as a driver's license or passport.

This requirement serves multiple purposes: it protects against fraud, assures the authenticity of the signing process, and upholds the integrity of notarized documents. State guidelines outline specific methods for identity verification to ensure uniformity and reliability in notarial acts. Notaries are trained to understand these regulations and to follow them diligently to maintain the trust placed in them by the public.

In contrast to the correct answer, other options lack alignment with the established responsibilities of notaries. For instance, stating that the notary has no responsibility for verifying identity neglects the critical role that identification plays in the notarial process. Similarly, the notion that verification is only required for large transactions contradicts the legal expectation that identity must be verified for all notarizations, regardless of the transaction's size. Finally, the suggestion that witnesses can be relied upon for identity verification undermines