It would be fair to say that the COVID-19 pandemic would emerge as a major inflection point in our lives. The world would change in more ways post this pandemic than what we can foresee now. With the shelter-in-place habits and the social distancing protocols refusing to bid goodbye, the world is slowly learning to live with the virus. Over the last 10 months we have seen increased access to remote and contactless delivery of services. Wherever possible, people and businesses are looking to put curbs on physical interactions and deliver services remotely. It is faster and definitely convenient. Today it is possible for you to get dozens of things done without having to step out of your homes, online notarization being one of them.
Though online notarization isn’t a new concept it has found wide acceptance in the Covid-19 hit world. Most people who were used to getting their documents physically notarized have found the same can easily be done without needed to meet a notary public in person. A direct impact of this has been that many people have abandoned the traditional means of getting their documents notarized. Yet there are people who are still apprehensive about remote online notarizations (RONs) and have their doubts about the legality of this process. Below we answer the common queries that people have with respect to remote online notarization.
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What is Online Notarization?
As the name suggests online notarization is a process where you make your appearance before a notary using your desktop/laptop or smartphones without having to physically visit their office. The entire notarization process happens online without the need to exchange any physical documents or having to step out of the comfort of your homes. It can save you time and also allow people with mobility issues to get their documents notarized.
Is Online Notarization Legal?
This is perhaps the most common question that people have in their minds as far as notarization is concerned. After all you don’t wish to get the seal and signature on a paper that wouldn’t be able to stand legal scrutiny. The UETA (Uniform Electronic Transactions Act) passed in 1999 offers the same legal validity to electronic signatures as it does to ink on paper. The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN) passed in 2000 further authorizes the use of electronic signatures and notarizations for transactions.
How Does The Process Work?
In traditional notarization clients were required to appear in person before a Notary Public with proof of identity or get their signature acknowledged based on the requirements of the legal process. Remote notarizations is similar and you can get all this done without having to appear in person. Online notary services make use of video conferencing for virtual meeting. Once this is done you and the notary would sign your respective portions of the document to be notarized digitally. The notary puts in their digital seal on the certificate as against the physical stamp in case of an in-person document notarization. Once this process is over you can print the digital document and this is valid for all legal purposes.
Online notary services also provide you a video recording of the entire process upon demand that can be used in case of any legal challenges. The process is simple and you can get your documents notarized in as little as five minutes. Most online notarization services are available 24/7 and hence you aren’t limited by constraints of time and your location and can get your documents notarized whenever you are in need of these services.
Is Online Notarization Expensive?
Certainly not, and in most cases the online process is far more cost effective than getting your documents notarized in person. This ecosystem is very competitive and hence the clients are the biggest beneficiary. Public notaries can cater to larger number of clients remotely than they would do in person and hence they are able to pass on these benefits to their clients. Additionally you won’t have to drive to the office of a notary public which can be quite expensive if you live in faraway locations.
Is Online Notarization Accepted In All States?
No, they are still to be accepted in all the fifty states but the numbers are increasing. At last count there are 29 states including Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia that have legalized online notarization and we expect more stated in US to join this group. The Coronavirus pandemic might just prove to be the final push required to legalize online notarization through the lengths and breadths of the United States.
What can I do if online notarization isn’t accepted in my state?
In such a scenario you have no other option but to seek help from a Notary Public in person. However, the pace of legalizing online notarization has picked pace since the pandemic. In the year 2020 alone more than a dozen states have legalized this process and we expect the remaining states to follow suit and make it legal. In a matter of the next couple of years it is expected that every state in the country would legalize the process.
We hope we have answered all the common queries you have with respect to online notarization and you can clearly see that this process has several incentives. While some believe that the popularity of this process would wane away once the Covid-19 pandemic becomes a thing of the past, we believe it is here to stay as people are seeing the benefits of accessing a service from anywhere and anytime.
To conclude before you get your documents notarized online you must make sure that this is legal in your state and you find an online notary public with proven track record. This is important has there has been a late instruction of many service providers into online services and not every one of them can offer the same level of professional services. You will enjoy the convenience that comes along and hopefully not have to meet a notary public in person in the future.
