True or False: A credible witness must be personally known to both the notary and the signer.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only to the signer
• D. Only to the notary

Answer: (A)

When a signer can’t prove identity with standard ID, the notary can rely on credible witnesses to establish who the signer is. In Connecticut, two credible witnesses must be personally known to both the notary and the signer. This means each witness has a direct, firsthand familiarity with the signer and is independently known to the notary as trustworthy. The witnesses swear or affirm that they know the signer and that the signer appeared before the notary to sign or acknowledge the instrument. This safeguards against impersonation by providing two independent attestations of the signer’s identity. The witnesses must meet other rules (such as residency and not being named in the instrument), but the key point is the dual, personal familiarity with both parties.