Illinois Notary Primer Practice Exam

In the scenario where a signer's identification appears invalid or expired, the best course of action for a notary is to refuse to perform the notarization. This is because a valid identification is a crucial requirement for notarization, ensuring that the identity of the signer is verified and that they are who they claim to be.

Notaries have a legal responsibility to ensure that all signers are properly identified before they can proceed with any notarial acts. Accepting an invalid or expired form of identification could lead to questions of the notarization's legitimacy and could potentially expose the notary to legal liability. Furthermore, allowing a notarization to occur without proper identification undermines the integrity of the notarization process, which is designed to prevent fraud and maintain the trustworthiness of notarial acts.

Other actions, such as requesting a second form of identification or postponing the notarization, could potentially be considered as valid strategies in different situations. However, they are not suitable when the initial identification is clearly invalid or expired. The most prudent choice when faced with improper identification is to refuse the notarization altogether, thus protecting both the notary and the integrity of the notarial process.