If a signer has been the notary's neighbor for ten years, can the notary skip ID verification based on personal knowledge?

Personal knowledge is legally accepted in many states as a means of identification: 'the notary personally knows the signer.' However, best practice is to require ID even from familiar signers. Reasons: (1) Documentation — the journal entry needs ID information to be defensible; 'I personally know him' is harder to defend years later; (2) Consistency — applying the same standard to everyone avoids accusations of favoritism or carelessness; (3) Memory — what 'personally know' means is subjective and may be questioned later; (4) Verification — even longstanding acquaintances may be misidentified; people change appearance over years; (5) Insurance — some E&O policies require documented ID verification. The notary's standard practice should be: ID for everyone, every time, no exceptions. The few extra seconds of inspection are worth the legal protection. Some states (California, Florida) have moved away from personal knowledge entirely or restricted it heavily. Check state-specific rules and choose the most cautious approach available.