Notary glossary
Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)
Knowledge-based authentication is a short quiz used to confirm you are who your ID says you are. The questions are generated from public and credit-file records — previous addresses, lenders you have borrowed from, vehicles registered to you — and you answer them immediately before a remote online notarization begins.
What the questions look like
Typically five multiple-choice questions, drawn dynamically and answered against the clock — commonly two minutes, with a pass mark of four out of five. Nobody sends them to you in advance, and they change each time they are generated.
They are deliberately obscure: a street you lived on years ago, the bank that financed a car, the range your monthly payment fell into. “None of the above” is often the correct answer, because the system mixes in decoys drawn from other records.
Why remote notarization requires it
In an in-person notarization the notary can inspect a physical ID. Over video they cannot, so states that authorise remote online notarization require layered identity proofing instead: credential analysis, which validates the security features of your ID, and KBA, which tests knowledge only you should have.
Both steps are required by law rather than by us, which is why they cannot be skipped or completed on your behalf. The specific standards are set state by state — the requirements page covers what applies where you are.
If you do not pass
A failed attempt is common and is not a judgement about you. Most states allow a limited number of retries, often within a defined window, and some impose a waiting period before you can try again.
The usual causes are a thin or new credit file, recent moves, a name that differs between your ID and public records, or simply forgetting a detail from a decade ago. If it keeps failing, in-person notarization does not use KBA and remains available.
Preparing for it
Have a quiet few minutes and a stable connection before you start — the timer is short and the session will not wait. It helps to think briefly about the last ten years: addresses, car finance, mortgages or student loans.
You must answer alone. Having someone help you defeats the purpose of the check and is not permitted.
Common questions
- What happens if I fail the KBA questions?
- Most states allow a limited number of retries, sometimes after a waiting period. Failing is common — thin credit files, recent moves and name mismatches all cause it. If KBA will not pass, in-person notarization does not use it.
- Why do the KBA questions ask about things I do not recognise?
- The system deliberately mixes in decoy options drawn from other records, so “none of the above” is frequently the right answer. Questions come from public and credit-file data, which can also be incomplete or out of date.
Related terms
General notary practice, not legal advice — rules on identification, witnesses and which documents may be notarized online are set by each state. See the requirements page for your state, browse the full notary glossary, or ask us.