Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) is a secure, identity-verification quiz designed to protect your information and ensure a safe environment for your digital notarization. This article will guide you through the KBA process, covering everything from time limits to what happens if you need to retry. During the quiz, you will have two minutes to correctly answer at least four out of five questions based on your personal history. Completing this step confirms your identity and allows you to move forward seamlessly into your live notary session.
What You'll Need
To generate your KBA questions, you'll need to provide:
- Your full legal name
- Your current or former U.S. address
- Your date of birth
- The last 4 digits of your U.S. Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
We use this information to pull questions from your credit history and other public records. You'll generally need at least 6 months of credit history to generate the required questions.
How It Works
Proof uses secure third-party data sources to generate your questions. Here's what to expect:
- Questions will vary for each person.
- They may cover your property, vehicles, phone numbers, and other personal history.
- Some questions may be about others with a shared property interest.
You have 2 minutes to answer 4 out of 5 questions correctly to pass.
If You Don't Pass
Don't worry if you don't pass on the first try — you can retake the quiz immediately. After that, wait times apply. Here's a summary:
| If you fail on the... | You can retake after... |
|---|---|
| First attempt | Immediately |
| Second attempt (first retake) | 24 hours from the first attempt |
| Third attempt (second retake) | 48 hours from the first attempt |
Troubleshooting
If you're having trouble with the quiz, try the following:
My information isn't being recognized +
- Double-check your name, date of birth, address, and Social Security number for errors.
- Enter your birth date in MM-DD-YYYY format. For example, July 12, 1989 should be entered as 07-12-1989.
- Make sure you're using your full legal name. If you recently changed your name, try your former name.
- If you've recently moved or are traveling, try using your former U.S. address.
No questions were generated +
In some cases, a valid Social Security number or ITIN may still not generate enough questions. This can happen if:
- You're new to US credit: KBA requires at least 6 months of US credit history. If you recently arrived in the US, recently opened your first US credit account, or have an ITIN with limited credit activity, the system won't have enough data to build a quiz. This is not a rejection — it means the KBA path isn't available for you yet.
- There isn't enough personal data on record: even with a valid SSN, very limited public records (no property, vehicles, or registered accounts in the US) can prevent questions from generating.
- All available KBA questions have already been used: each question can only be asked once per person. After multiple attempts over time, the pool of available questions for your profile may be exhausted.
If no questions generate and you have an ITIN or limited US credit history: the KBA path is not the right verification method for you. Contact the organization that sent you the signing link and request an in-person notarization alternative — it doesn't require KBA.
Summary Checklist
- Have your full legal name, current or former US address, date of birth, and last 4 digits of your SSN or ITIN ready. Note: an ITIN is accepted, but you still need at least 6 months of US credit history for questions to generate.
- Answer 4 out of 5 questions correctly within 2 minutes to pass.
- If you fail, you can retry immediately. After two failed attempts, wait times of 24 and 48 hours apply.
- If locked out, contact whoever sent you the transaction to let them know.
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