Washington, DC Notary Requirements

D.C. Code § 1-1231.06. Identification of individual. (a) A notarial officer has personal knowledge of the identity of an individual appearing before the officer if the individual is personally known to the officer through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty that the individual has the identity claimed. (b) A notarial officer has satisfactory evidence of the identity of an individual appearing before the officer if the officer can identify the individual by means of: (1) Current government-issued identification that is: (A) A passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver identification card; or (B) Another form of government identification issued to an individual, which contains the signature or a photograph of the individual and is satisfactory to the officer; or (2) A verification on oath or affirmation of a credible witness personally appearing before the officer and known to the officer or whom the officer can identify based on a current passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver identification card. (c) A notarial officer may require an individual to provide additional information or identification credentials necessary to assure the officer of the identity of the individual.

D.C. Code § 1-1231.18 (Journal): (a) A notary public shall maintain a journal in which the notary public records all notarial acts that the notary public performs. (b)(1) A journal may be created on a tangible medium or in an electronic format. (b)(2) A notary public may maintain a separate journal for notarial acts performed regarding tangible records and for notarial acts performed regarding electronic records. (b)(3) If the journal is maintained on a tangible medium, it shall be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. (b)(4) If the journal is maintained in an electronic format, it shall be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules of the Mayor. (c) An entry in a journal shall be made contemporaneously with performance of the notarial act and shall contain: (1) the date and time of the notarial act; (2) a description of the record, if any, and type of notarial act; (3) the full name and address of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed; (4) if identity of the individual is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect; (5) if identity of the individual is based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification and the identification credential presented, if any, including the date of issuance and expiration of any identification credential; (6) the fee, if any, charged by the notary public; and (7) the signature of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.

D.C. Code § 1-1231.23 (Fees): notary fees are set by schedule established by the Mayor by rule (17 DCMR; $5 per act). (a)(2) A notary public exempted from the application fee under § 1-1231.19(b) (i.e., commissioned solely for DC or federal-government business) SHALL NOT collect a notary fee. (b) A notary may charge, upon agreement, an amount not exceeding the actual and reasonable travel expense (in writing, itemized, separate from the notarial fee). (c) A notary may waive or charge less than the scheduled fee. (d) A notarial officer other than a notary public shall not charge a fee.