Notary Personal Acquaintance: Document Verification in Israel

Personal documents; ID, passport, driver’s license and the like, are the basic tool for verifying your identity in all interactions with official institutions and in any submission or receipt of official documents. However, there are rare cases where a person has no identifying document, and in these cases, personal acquaintance with a notary may serve as an alternative for identity verification in Israel.

Our firm provides legal and notary services, including signature verification, in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and in certain cases throughout Israel and abroad. This article will explain when it is possible to rely on personal acquaintance with a notary for document verification, and what the implications of this reliance are.

What is the Role of a Notary in Document Verification?

A notary is a senior and reputable lawyer who receives special authorization from the Ministry of Justice. A notary has special authority to verify and document legal documents. One of their important functions is verifying signatures on documents, certifying copies, certifying translations, and more. To perform these actions, the notary must verify the identity of the person contacting them.

How is Identity Verification Usually Performed?

Usually, identity verification is performed by presenting valid identifying documents, such as an identity card or passport. These documents contain a photo and personal details that allow the notary to verify the identity of the applicant.

When Can Personal Acquaintance Be Relied Upon?

Regulation 2(a)(1) of the Notaries Regulations, 1977, stipulates that a notary is permitted to rely on personal acquaintance with a person contacting them for the purpose of verifying a signature or performing another notarial act. However, it is important to understand that this is an exceptional and rare situation.

Examples of Cases Where Identifying Documents May Be Absent:

• A homeless person: A person who lives on the street and has lost all their documents.
• Refugees and asylum seekers: Those who were forced to flee their country of origin for fear of persecution may often find themselves in Israel without identifying documents and without the ability to obtain a new passport from the authorities that are persecuting them.
• Stateless persons: The few stateless persons in Israel do not have a country of origin that will issue an official identifying document.

Personal Acquaintance – What Does it Mean?

It is important to emphasize that “personal acquaintance” is not a superficial acquaintance. It is a close and long-standing acquaintance that allows the notary to be completely certain of the identity of the person contacting them.

Notary’s Responsibility:

The notary bears a heavy responsibility to verify the identity of the person contacting them. Relying on “personal acquaintance” requires the notary to exercise great caution and verify the person’s identity beyond any doubt.

Summary:

Relying on personal acquaintance with a notary for document verification is a possibility, but it is reserved for rare and exceptional cases where a person has no identifying document. The notary must exercise great caution and document the personal acquaintance. In most cases, presenting identifying documents will be the most accepted and secure way to verify identity.

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