Remote Online Notarization

Online notarization—also known as Remote Online Notarization (RON)—enables a notary public to notarize documents electronically via a secure audio-visual platform. Here's how it works:

1. Identity Verification: The signer’s identity is verified using methods like knowledge-based authentication (KBA) and credential analysis (e.g., scanning a government-issued ID).
   
   
2. Audio-Visual Session: The signer and notary connect via a live video call on a secure notary platform, during which the notary watches the signer sign the document electronically.
   
   
3. Electronic Notarization: The notary applies an electronic seal and digital signature to the document during the session.
   
   
4. Record Keeping: The session is recorded and stored according to state law, often for several months.
   
   
5. Delivery: The notarized document is then made available for download, printing, or electronic submission.

This process can allow for legal notarizations without requiring in-person meetings.

Laws and requirements for online notarization vary by state, including approved platforms, notary registration, and document types allowed. Always check your state’s specific regulations.

As of 2025, California notaries are not yet authorized to perform Remote Online Notarization (RON). Although California enacted Senate Bill 696 in 2023 to permit RON, its implementation is pending until the Secretary of State finalizes necessary regulations and technology systems, with a deadline set for January 1, 2030.

However, California residents can utilize RON services provided by notaries commissioned in other states where RON is legally authorized. For instance, an Arizona notary can remotely notarize a document for a signer located in California, and such notarizations are recognized as valid under California law.

Until California's own RON system is operational, residents seeking online notarization services should engage with out-of-state notaries who are authorized to perform RON. NotaryCam can help facilitate this.

Yes, a U.S. online notary can notarize documents for someone in another country. The notary must often be physically located in their commissioning state during the notarization. The signer may be able to be anywhere in the world as long as identity verification is completed through the approved platform. The process should follow the notary’s state laws, not the laws of the signer’s location. However, some foreign countries or institutions may not accept online notarizations, so it’s best to confirm with an attorney in advance.