I’m Going to Need to See Some ID!

Once you get to the closing table with your Realtor you would think everybody knows who’s who by now, right? Well kind of, but now you have to prove it.

When signing documents to transfer real estate in Texas all signers must present an acceptable form(s) of identification. The minimum requirement is a current government-issued photo ID. An example of this is a driver’s license or a passport. It must have been issued by a state or federal government agency and have the individual’s full name, photo, and signature. Be sure and check the expiration date, if it has expired it is not acceptable.

If for some reason your legal ID and the name on the documents you’re going to sign don’t match it’s best to let the title company know ahead of time. It may be as simple as the title company preparing an AKA (also known as) form and that being signed at closing as well.

The title company does have the right to require two forms of identification, so it’s best to come prepared. The second form of identification is usually only required to have the individual’s name and not a photo. It can be an insurance card, student ID, voter registration card, etc.

Title companies would rather delay a closing to confirm proper identification than fall victim to a scam.