As part of every signing appointment, you should continue to verify the signer’s identity and complete all required identity verification steps.
In some transactions, a lender or escrow officer may require a copy of the signer's ID as part of the closing process.
To help protect signer information, Jot notaries should never take photos of a signer's ID using a phone or other electronic device.
Below are the expectations for Jot notaries when a copy of a signer's ID is required.
What should I do if the signer brings a copy of their ID?
If the signer provides a printed copy of their ID at the appointment, please include it in the return package.
What should I do if the signer does not have a copy of their ID?
Only if the order includes special instructions from the escrow officer requesting that you collect a copy of the signer's ID, and the signer does not have one available at the appointment, follow these steps:
- Advise the signer to contact their escrow officer for next steps.
- Leave a note in the Recent Activity log in the Jot™ platform indicating that the signer was advised to contact their escrow officer regarding the best way to provide a copy of their ID.
Example Recent Activity note: Signer did not have a copy of their ID available at the appointment and was advised to contact their escrow officer.
What should I do if an escrow officer asks me to take a photo of the signer's ID?
Do not take a photo of the signer's ID under any circumstances, even if an escrow officer asks you to do so.
Escrow officers are responsible for contacting signers before the appointment and asking them to bring a copy of their ID when one is required. If a signer does not have a copy available at the appointment, advise them to contact their escrow officer directly for next steps.
Notaries should not email a photo of a signer's ID or take a photo using a phone or other electronic device to provide it to the escrow officer.
If you experience this situation, please contact our team at hello@signwithjot.com and we can assist.
Do I still need to verify the signer's identity?
Yes. You should continue to review the signer's ID and complete any required identity verification steps as part of the signing appointment.
Following this process helps protect signer information and ensures ID copies are collected through the appropriate channels.
If you have questions about this policy or how to handle a specific situation, please contact our team at hello@signwithjot.com and we'll be happy to help.