Remote online notarizations are electronic transactions conducted via an internet connection between two parties who do not meet face-to-face.
Remote online notarization allows an individual who does not physically appear in front of a notary to attest to their signature by submitting it electronically through the internet.
When it comes to real estate closings, RON allows parties to close on a property even when they're not in the same room, state or country for that matter.
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Notaries must be located in the state where they are commissioned as a remote online notary, signers may be located anywhere with most RON laws. (proplogix.com)
Remote online notarizations have recently been on an upward trend in that more people are using RON and more states are authorizing remote online notarization.
The notary industry is slowly adopting new technologies, as remote notarizations are becoming more popular.
Online notarizations are becoming more secure and more efficient, and with the growth of digital services, it makes sense that notaries will be able to do their work remotely.
Online notarizations are not the only option, but rather a trend that will only grow as more people become comfortable with and aware of the availability of remote notarizations.
No longer do we have to travel to a notary to get a signature. Now we can be anywhere in the world and notarize documents. All you need is a secure internet connection and notary software.
Consider that five years ago, only five states had authorized remote online notarization. Here is the current RON status of all 50 states:
According to PropLogix, here are the states that have fully implemented remote online notarization:
1. Alaska
2. Arizona
3. Colorado
4. Florida
5. Idaho
6. Indiana
7. Iowa
8. Kentucky
9. Louisiana
10. Maryland
11. Michigan
12. Minnesota
13. Missouri
14. Montana
15. Nebraska
16. Nevada
17. New Jersey
18. North Dakota
19. Ohio
20. Oklahoma
21. Oregon
22. Pennsylvania
23. Tennessee
24. Texas
25. Utah
26. Vermont
27. Virginia
28. Washington
29. West Virginia
30. Wisconsin
31. Wyoming
RON has been implemented with limitations in South Dakota and remote online notarization legislation has been introduced in Georgia, Hawaii, South Carolina and New York.
That leaves us with 14 states that have no permanent RON bills: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
With the coronavirus pandemic still a threat, the adoption of remote online notarization has been accelerated, perhaps by as much as five to ten years.
By offering a no-contact solution, remote online notaries are able to provide a service that their clients greatly appreciate during these trying times.
In a recent industry survey conducted by OneNotary.us, the majority of respondents who had not completed a remote online notarization to date stated that they plan to give RON a try in a month or two.
What's more, notaries who performed a RON session favor it over in-person and would recommend it to their customers.
So, let's revisit the question, is online notarization here to stay?
We believe so. It’s here today, but there is still much room for growth. As technology advances, new opportunities arise. In fact, one of our goals at RON University is to help people understand what this means for them personally and professionally.
If you want to learn more about online notarization, then you'll definitely want to register for RONLINE '21.
Find out all about remote online notarization, from how to get started to which platforms to use, you're sure to benefit from attending.