Q & A | Can I use a Mexican Matricula Consular (I.D. Card) as a form of identification for a notary acknowledgment?

Q: Can I use a Mexican Matricula  Consular (I.D. Card) as a form of identification for a notary acknowledgment?

A: No. The Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code sets forth the statutory rules for taking acknowledgments and states:   “(a)  An officer may not take the acknowledgment of a written instrument unless the officer knows or has satisfactory evidence that the acknowledging person is the person who executed the instrument and is described in it.  An officer may accept, as satisfactory evidence of the identity of an acknowledging person, only:

(1)  the oath of a credible witness personally known to the officer;

(2)  a current identification card or other document issued by the federal government or any state government that contains the photograph and signature of the acknowledging person; or

(3)  with respect to a deed or other instrument relating to a residential real estate transaction, a current passport issued by a foreign country.”

The Matricula Consular is an identification card issued by the Mexican Government through its consulate offices located in the United States. The Matricula Consular is not issued by the United States Government or any state government therefore it is not an acceptable form of identification for purposes of taking notary acknowledgment.