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Notarizing a document remotely is now possible with the use of the Internet and various digital tools like electronic certificates, proof of identity, etc., all of which need the presence of a state-licensed notary public. This process is known as online notary services. Technology like this has made it possible for notaries to perform their duties in a safe and efficient manner, saving both time and money for everyone concerned. In states where electronic notarization is legal, a notary public and a signer need not physically meet in order to complete a notarial act; instead, they can do it using electronic equipment rather than having to go to a central place.
Why online notary service is in demand nowadays
The online notary is a time and cost saver for anyone who has had to physically go to a notary public to get a paper notarized. Nevertheless, online notary service has complementary benefits over traditional notarization methods, such as:
- Expanded availability of notarial services.
- Trustworthiness and legal bindingness.
- Safer from identity theft.
Many people nowadays are annoyed by the time-consuming and laborious procedure of traditional notarization since they are accustomed to the ease that has accompanied the advancement of digital signatures. However, with the advent of online notary technology, the notarization process is now going digital.
Notaries and the businesses that use them may speed up service delivery and the closing of legally binding transactions with the help of an online notary. In addition to streamlining operations and enhancing the customer service they receive, online notary also aids in reducing the likelihood of fraud and other security issues occurring during the notarization process. Since many workers were obliged to work remotely during the epidemic and have continued to do so, the trend toward online notary legislation has only grown in several states.
The basic requirements for online notary
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of states that have passed legislation legalizing the use of online notary services has increased dramatically. Slight variations in online notary requirements exist throughout the states, although the following are often included in mandates:
- A state commission as a notary is required.
- Utilization of state-of-the-art means of transmitting visual and auditory information.
- Technology for analyzing credentials is used to check official documents for authenticity.
- The use of digital certificates, electronic seals, and signatures.
- Keeping and relying on electronic diaries and recordings, or keeping a digital audit trail.
Also, consistent application of data privacy best practices is obligatory.
Does online notary service work in every state?
Even though online notary is accepted in many states, it is still a developing process subject to changing regulations. Many people are skeptical about online notary’s applicability outside of the states that have already adopted it. The notarization of documents executed in another state is generally recognized under state law.
Documents notarized remotely and digitally are just as legally binding as those notarized in person and should be recognized as such throughout the country, so long as the notary public who performed the online notary followed all applicable laws in the state in which he or she was seated and commissioned. Furthermore, the location of the signer (inside the US or abroad) is irrelevant in most states with online notary laws. The notary handling the transaction, however, must be duly commissioned and based in a state that actually has such laws on the books.
