Which of the following describes "satisfactory evidence" in notarial practice?

Satisfactory evidence in notarial practice refers to the standard by which a notary must confirm the identity of a signer before proceeding with a notarial act. This is crucial to ensure the integrity of the document being notarized.

The correct answer—identity validated by identification documents—highlights the importance of using reliable, government-issued photo identification to establish identity. This method provides a robust and standardized way to verify who the signer is, as these documents often contain the individual's photo, signature, and other identifying information that can be easily checked against the person present.

Other methods of establishing identity, such as personal knowledge, third-party testimony, or verbal confirmation, may not provide the same level of assurance as identification documents. While personal knowledge can be sufficient in some cases, relying solely on it does not document the verification process rigorously. Third-party testimony and verbal confirmation are also less reliable since they can introduce uncertainty and do not leave a tangible record that can be referenced later. Therefore, using formal identification documents is the preferred method within notarial practice to ensure the identity of the signer is confirmed satisfactorily.