Electronic, Mobile, and Remote Online Notarization: Learn the Difference

What would happen if you signed an unauthentic document? Fraud can affect the economy in many ways. Investors, businesses, and individuals can lose billions in assets or cash, causing significant economic roadblocks due to the affected opportunities. This is the main reason documents need to be notarized. During notarization, a notary public screens your identity to ascertain you are who you claim to be. They also screen for volition and awareness. This ensures you are signing the document out of your own will.

Notarization, in simple terms, establishes the authenticity of the documents and ensures that you won’t come back to claim you didn’t sign or were forced to do it. It is the official fraud-deterrent strategy, ascertaining that parties in a transaction use authentic documents that can be trusted. The process, managed by a Notary Public, entails vetting the parties, certifying the process, and record-keeping for reference should issues arise.

A Notary Public is an appointee of the state government. They are impartial witnesses, and their primary duty is to deter fraudulent acts. They use the notary seal to notarize documents, showcasing their authenticity. The common notary publics are found in settings such as legal offices, banks, and shipping stores, to mention a few. Traditionally, the notary public works following set hours. Nonetheless, the field has evolved as tech development and economic shifts continue to shape the digital age.

Today, if you are looking to notarize a document, you will come across terminologies including electronic, online, and remote online notarization. This can be confusing, especially for first-timers. Here is what the terms mean to help you follow an approach best suited for your situation and needs.

Electronic Notary (E-Notary)

The approach is more like the traditional notarization. This means the notary public and the signer must be in the same room. Nonetheless, the process employs electronic documents and signatures instead of paper and pen. The notary public uses an electronic tamper-evident seal. This means any attempt to alter it will be recognized.

E-notary is handy when you are transacting electronically. It means you won’t have to scan the paper documents to manage the process. Moreover, electronic documents are safer compared to paper. With modern security measures, you can securely store the documents and cut risks such as destruction by fire or water.

Mobile notary (traveling notary)

In the mobile notary approach, the notary public comes to you. The arrangement sticks to the traditional settings, where you and the notary public need to be in the same room. The main advantage is that the strategy cuts the heavy lifting. This is since you won’t have to travel or struggle to find the closest office you can find the notary public. You only schedule an appointment, and the notary public comes to the set destination.

A mobile notary is ideal for beginners, especially for first-timers who aren’t sure what to bring for the notarization. The process can be handled in your office, where you are likely to have everything for the process. The main downside is that the arrangement will likely cost you more. The mobile notary is not restricted to a certain fee range. This means they can charge extra, such as considering the travel expenses. It is a worthy cost, considering the convenience of having the notary come to you.

Remote online notary

Remote online notarization (RON), like the name suggests, is done remotely. The notary public and signer don’t have to be in the same room. The process is managed through virtual space. It uses live audio/visual connections to verify your identity and document’s authenticity. The approach gained traction during the travel restriction to curb the Covid-19 spread. More states realized the need to adopt a more digital approach following the many potential benefits.

RON is cost-effective sine a notary public can serve more clients with fewer expenses. It is also convenient since you work from the comfort of your office or couch, and most public notaries are available around the clock. Nonetheless, you need to check if it is accepted in your state since some only adopted the approach temporarily.

The notarization process can seem like extra work. Nonetheless, it is a worthy task since it protects your transactions from potential fraud. Fraud can turn your operations inside out, causing significant losses. With the available options, you are no longer restricted to traditional notarization. This allows you to use an approach that best matches your situation. Remote online notarization has quickly become a go-to, with more states acknowledging its impact in the modern digital-driven economy compared to mobile and E-notarization.