Historically, notarizations were conducted in person. In-person notarization would be more valuable given the COVID-19 pandemic and social conventions of distance.
RON is an alternative that allows notaries to complete their duties remotely using audio-video technology. RON services are offered by software companies that specialize in online notarizations.
RON service providers offer a single online platform that provides notaries with advanced identity proofing, document upload, and signature capture.
Verification of Identity
A Notary must verify the signer’ssigner’s identity when performing a remote online notarization. It is accomplished through an audio-video conference that connects the notary to the person requesting the notarization via their computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
The RON process is more secure than in-person notarization because the notary can see who they are communicating with. Additionally, a digital tamper-evident seal is added to the document to help prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the documents.
While there has been skepticism about the safety of RON, many top Notary services offer security as a top priority for their clients and have certifications from third-party providers to ensure they meet national and state requirements for RON.
Document Upload
The document upload process is simple and efficient. Once a document has been uploaded, a streamlined process allows the notary to verify and record any additional information. Documents are always available and kept in a secure environment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, notaries could notarize documents using an executive order that allowed them to do so as long as all parties were in the exact physical location. It was a convenient panacea during the crisis, but it was temporary.
RON solution makes meeting your customer’s needs easier and provides a more consistent, end-to-end experience. The RON solution also streamlines your workflow by securely storing electronic journal entries and signers, so you never lose track of any journal entry or signer. It reduces your exposure to liabilities that can easily manifest into lawsuits against you. It also ensures you meet regulatory compliance requirements associated with documents, including recording the deed of trust.
Video Conferencing
A signer meets with the notary using online audio-visual electronic communication technology to perform a notarization. It is often called remote notarization, webcam notarization, or online notarization.
The RON process requires that the notary verify the identity of the person signing a document remotely by the use of commercial software provided by the third-party provider for credential analysis and identity proofing. Benchmark is currently vetting such third-party providers for New York notaries to ensure their services meet the standards required by the state.
The notary will also ask the signer to upload a copy of their driver’s driver’s license or another form of identification for identification verification. The notary will compare the face in the picture to the one seen on their computer screen and the identifying information to confirm that it is the same person. Then, the notary will record a digital certificate or stamp and the signature to complete the notarization.
Signatures
During a live video session, the notary will ask the signer to place their signature on the document. The notary will also apply their seal or stamp to the document and provide a digital certificate of the notarization.
The notary will then email the notarized document to the client. The client can now use the notarized document as they wish.
Since Virginia first passed a law to enable online notarizations during the pandemic, 37+ states and territories have followed suit, with more signing on the horizon.
