A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government - typically by the secretary of state - to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts. Notaries are publicly commissioned as "ministerial" officials, meaning that they are expected to follow written rules without the exercise of significant personal discretion, as would otherwise be the case with a "judicial" official.
According to WAC 308-30-155, satisfactory evidence of an individual identity shall be based on one of the following:
1) Current documents issued by a federal, state, or tribal government with the individual's photograph, signature, and physical description.
2) An unexpired passport with the individual's photograph and signature issued by either:
a) The U.S. Department of State; or
b) A foreign government which is recognized by the U.S. Department of State.
3) The oath or affirmation of a credible person who personally knows the individual.

