What is Notary Public?

A Notary Public is a public officer appointed by the state government to act as an impartial witness in the signing of important documents. Their primary role is to verify the authenticity of signatures and ensure that the individuals signing the document are doing so willingly and without coercion. Some of the most common documents notarized include wills, deeds, powers of attorney, and contracts. Notaries must follow strict rules and guidelines and maintain accurate records of all documents they notarize. Notary services are widely available, and individuals may seek out a Notary Public at banks, post offices, or other public offices.

Remote online notary (RON) is a process that enables the notarization of documents over the internet. In a traditional notarization, the notary public witnesses the signing of a document in person and applies their stamp or seal to the document to verify its authenticity. With RON, the notary and signer are in different locations, and the notarization process takes place over a secure video conference platform. The notary verifies the signer's identity through various means such as asking for government-issued ID and performing biometric facial recognition, witnesses the signing of the document through the video conference, and applies an electronic seal to the document. RON provides convenience and accessibility to individuals who cannot physically be present for traditional notarizations and has become increasingly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, RON regulations vary by state and country, and not all states allow RON notarizations.