Remote online notarization (RON) is simply the practice of having a state-licensed notary public notarize a document remotely using various record-keeping technology.
The ease of RON is apparent to anybody who has had to locate and visit a notary public to sign a document. However, RON has some advantages to in-person, paper-based notarization, including:
- Increased availability of notarial services
- Safety and enforceability
- Identity theft is less likely.
Many people have grown disillusioned with the old paper-based, in-person notarization procedure, having gotten accustomed to the ease of the growth of electronic signature technology. But, because of RON technology, notarization is bringing its digital facelift.
Notaries and the industries that employ them are lowering the time it takes to provide services to their clients and conduct permitted transactions by utilizing RON. In addition to making business more efficient and improving the customer experience, RON helps prevent risk and fraud throughout the notarization process. Many states have already passed RON laws, and the tendency has only intensified because many employees have been compelled to work remotely and from afar.
This article will guide you through all you need to know about RON and the benefits of using a remote notary service.
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What is Remote Online Notarization?
Remote online notarization is remotely notarizing a document using an electronic signature, identity verification, audio-visual and electronic notarial journal, and record-keeping technologies.
Online notary service allows notaries to notarize documents securely while saving time and money for themselves and the concerned parties. Instead of meeting in person to sign a paper document, the notary public and signer can do a notarial act on their devices from wherever they happen to be, as long as their state laws allow.
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Is Electronic Notarization the same as Remote Notarization?
Many people mix up electronic and remote notarization, thinking they are the same thing. They are not.
Electronic notarization, or e-Notarization, entails notarizing papers electronically, with the notary and document signer signing with an electronic signature. However, all other aspects of a traditional paper notarization, including the necessity for the signer to physically present before the notary, apply to electronic notarization.
The misconception stems from the fact that remote notarizations often involve digital papers that are electronically signed and notarized. They go a step further, though, by conducting the purchase online rather than in person.
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What Kinds of Remote Notary Services Are There?
Several online notary service provides end-to-end remote notarization systems. DocVerify, eNotaryLog, Nexsys (mainly for companies), Notarize, Pavaso, NotaryCam, DocuSign, NotaryLive, OnlineNotary.us, Safedocs, and SIGNiX are notable examples of them.
In practice, joining one or more of these firms will supply most online Notaries with the necessary technologies.
More information on your state’s unique technology provider criteria and a list of approved providers (if any) may be found on your state’s Notary agency website. Keep in mind that each state that allows remote notarizations may have its technical standards and restrictions. Some states may not give a list of recognized suppliers, and the NNA does not endorse a particular provider.
What are the advantages of using RON?
Convenience and Enhanced Access
Notaries no longer need to convene in the same area as signers to conduct notarial services using RON. By removing this obstacle, RON makes notarization more accessible to persons who lack appropriate mobility, reside in distant locations, work irregular hours, or have health difficulties that keep them at home.
Fraud Control
Notarization is intended to guarantee that the person signing a document is who they claim they are. RON goes beyond in-person notarization by utilizing known identity proofing methods, such as:
- Identity verification: Signers show a government-issued ID to the device’s camera. The RON solution validates the ID’s visual, physical, and cryptographic security aspects, resulting in a more complicated procedure than an in-person evaluation by a notary with relevant competence in this field.
- Knowledge-based authentication (KBA): In many states, signers must accurately answer multiple personal background questions, which are subsequently checked against a third-party database. This provides additional verification of the signer’s identity before they join the audio-visual session.
Security and Enforceability
RON incorporates a few extra security elements to help demonstrate the authenticity of a signed and notarized document. These include:
- Robust audit trail: The electronic journal and audio-visual recording prove the completion of a notarial act.
- Tamper-evident seal: A digital seal created automatically assists authorities in determining whether a document notarized using RON has been changed.
Remote Ease and Work Productivity
A RON session can be done from the convenience of the Notary Public’s home and span as far as the limits of your state. With no travel time, you may notarize more papers and make more money.
Reduction In Use Of Paper, Printing, And Mailing
Remote online notarization completely digitizes the notarization process, eliminating the need for paper, printing, and mailing. Stacks of paper, FedEx courier bags, and many empty ink cartridges have vanished. Your running expenditures will be significantly reduced, allowing you to enjoy the savings in your bank account.
Enhance And Accelerate Your Notarization Procedure
With everything electronic, you can sign, notarize, and e-mail documents on the same day. These papers may be saved, filed, and readily searched for on your computer, enhancing information storage and recall.
Your Own Electronic Notary Journal
Using RON eliminates the need to carry about that notebook you’ve been using for years. Rest easy knowing that an electronic notary journal has all the crucial information captured and securely kept digitally, whether your basement floods or you unintentionally misplace your notepad with all your notarization data.
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Reasons to Consider Remote Notary Services
Cost efficiency
Remote notary services reduce the costs associated with traditional closings, such as going through a mountain of records to identify property ownership, recreating paperwork in the case of an error, and recording the deed on paper.
Transparency
The law requires that signed copies of the documentation be delivered to all parties engaged in the transaction, making RON transactions transparent and trustworthy.
Improved Customer Experience
Remote notary services improve the entire client experience. Documents do not take days to reach the client, and signing papers does not necessitate an appointment. The attorney completes the final phase of the deal, transferring the deed online, making RON a hassle-free procedure.
Conclusion
You may be interested in using RON to complete your team’s notarization duties now that you’ve learned about its benefits. But, before you choose a remote provider, make sure it is reliable, fits your state’s legal standards, and promotes notarization best practices.
