Why is identification important?
In this age of digitization, security breaches and hackers, it’s more important than ever to have valid and consistent identification. When partaking in a legal transaction, the first requirement of your legal practitioner (BC Notary or lawyer) will most certainly be to ascertain your identity. Afterall, no one wants their house sold by a fraudster or an affidavit sworn in name of the wrong person.
In short, identification reduces instances of fraud and confirms legal responsibility and commitment by a certain person.
What does “consistent, valid identification” mean?
Legal practitioners, financial institutions and private lenders will often require two consistent and separate pieces of identification.
“Consistent” means that your full legal name should exactly match – in the same name order, with the same spelling – on each piece of identification being used.
“Separate” refers to different physical identity cards. (Note: a combined driver’s license and BC services card only counts as one piece of ID).
Conventionally, primary identification must show a photo that looks like you and contains your full legal name, signature and current address. Secondary identification must show your name and signature. At least one of these documents should be government-issued. All identification presented must be unexpired.
Commonly, people successfully present a matching driver’s license and credit card, or a matching BC services card and passport. In cases where your legal transaction requires a one form or ID over the other, your BC Notary would advise you in advance.
Common pitfalls
It’s surprising how many people have difficulty proving their identity. Here are a few circumstances that often present problems:
- Identification is inconsistent.
Full legal name is “Wendy Moira Angela Darling”
ID #1 shows as “Wendy Moira Angela Darling” but ID #2 shows as “Wendy Angela Darling”
- Use of a preferred name, like middle name or nickname, rather than the legal name on an identity document.
Full legal name is “Wendy Moira Angela Darling”
ID shows as “Moira Darling”
- Use of a preferred or inconsistent) variation of spelling in a name
Full legal name is “Wendy Moira Angela Darling”
ID #1 shows as “Wendy Moyra Angela Darling” while ID #2 shows as “Wendy Moira Angela Darling”
- Identification is updated at the wrong time or partially updated
Example 1: Wendy renews her driver’s license and comes to the notary with only the temporary yellow sheet.
Example 2: Wendy gets married. She updates her driver’s license to her married name, “Wendy Moira Angela Pan” but her passport is still in her maiden name, “Wendy Moira Angela Darling”
Tips for having acceptable identification
- Don’t use nicknames or preferred names on your legal documents or identification. If you’ve done this already, go and have it changed! (Yes, we know it’s a hassle, but it’ll be worth it).
- Don’t let your primary identification documents – passport, driver’s license, BC services card, or Nexus card – expire. Be aware of the expiry dates and make sure to update your documentation well in advance of any legal transactions.
- Sometimes, it can be acceptable to have different pieces of identification if you can prove that the names belong to and represent “one and the same” person. For example, Wendy could present her original marriage certificate to show that “Wendy Moira Angela Darling” is one and the same person as “Wendy Moira Angela Pan”
- Note: a divorce decree or name change paperwork can be used in the same way.
- If all else fails, bring as many pieces of identification with you as possible and raise any identification issues with your Notary Public as soon as possible!
