What is a Remote Online Notary?
A remote online notarization (RON) is the act of performing a notarization for a remotely located signer who appears before the Notary using two-way audio-visual technology. While state laws vary, remote online notarization generally:
Uses electronic documents, signatures and Notary seals.
Uses a multi-factor identification process to verify the identity of a remote document signer.
Requires the remote online Notary to make and maintain an audio-visual recording of the remote online notarization.
Requires the remote online Notary to use technology to make the remote notarial act tamper-evident. This is usually accomplished by the remote online Notary using a digital certificate to affix the remote online Notary’s electronic signature.
How remote online notarizations work
Below are the steps on how to perform a remote online notarization:
The signer personally appears before a remote online Notary in real time using audio-visual technology.
The Notary verifies the signer's identity. In most states, the Notary must use two or more methods of identifying the signer. These may include knowledge-based authentication (KBA), credential analysis, or other forms of multi-factor identity verification.
Once the remote online Notary verifies the signer's identity, the Notary completes the notarization by electronically signing and affixing the Notary’s electronic seal using tamper-evident technology.
The remote online Notary collects payment and, in most states, records the notarial act in an electronic journal.
