Everyone in the notary industry by now has heard of E-Notary or RON but many are still very confused about how it works. Remote online notary skyrocketed as a result of the COVID19 pandemic in America. Since then, most industries have been forced to create technology platforms and methods that allow for less physical interaction but still being allowed to obtain the same outcome.
In order to become authorized to operate as an electronic notary, you first need to be a commissioned notary public in your state. Be sure to read your state specific handbook to understand what is required to operate as an E-Notary and also how to obtain that authorization. Different states have different processes so do not take the advice of online groups or forums without double checking with your state commissioning office for accuracy.
After you are a commissioned E-Notary, you will need to obtain an E-Notary seal and digital certificate to conduct E-Notarizations regardless of your state of commission. We provide E-Notary seals at www.notary2notary as well. You can purchase a digital certificate from a number of places but we recommend Identrust. Combining the use of both of these items will allow you to properly notarize documents electronically.
The most asked question and least understood in this industry is what platform should I use and why. The reason being is because there are quite a few and some state also have stipulations on which ones are allowed. Also the fee structure varies depending on the platform that you use.
You can use these questions to help you figure out which platform is best for you:
- 1. Does this platform have identity verifying capabilities?
- 2. Does this platform store the video session and journal?
- 3. How long is the video session and journal stored and are there any stipulations to maintain this storage, such as paying a monthly fee?
- 4. Is there a registration fee?
- 5. Is there an application process?
- 6. What are the fees associated with using this platform?
We strongly encourage anyone interested in operating as an E-notary in their commissioned state, to take some formal training. Training will help save you time and effort as well as avoid possible legal trouble for notarizing documents incorrectly. We offer E-Notary training at www.notary2notary.com to help you get started today.
Happy E-Signing