A new year brings new notary rules. As of December 2019, twenty-two states have agreed to bills that allow an online notary to execute RON transactions— remote online notarizations. Here’s a look at what this means going forward.
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What is RON?
When a document is notarized in an electronic form it’s called a remote online notarization. The individual meets with an online notary through a video call and signs with an electronic signature.
RON is convenient because it eliminates any need to meet in person. The state of Virginia was first to pass a regulation in 2011 that permitted documents to be stamped by an online notary. Since then, many states have followed suit, adopting similar bills. We can expect to see RON become commonplace in the coming years.
How Does Hiring an Online Notary Service Work?
Step 1: Proof of ID
Documents to be notarized are uploaded, but before a video meeting with an online notary even begins, the individual needs to take a picture of both the front and back of their ID. A laptop or phone camera will work fine for this.
Step 2: Knowledge-Based Authentication
After uploading the ID, an individual must also answer a series of questions. This is to verify identity. Other personal information is also requested. For example, your full name, address, DOB, and the last four digits of your social security number. This starts a procedure which is known as knowledge-based authentication, or “KBA.”
It’s become easier to steal, copy, or duplicate IDs issued by the government, but it’s harder to access personal information. In fact, knowledge-based authentication is commonly used to prevent fraud. There are two different types of KBA, but an online notary should use the safest version: “dynamic KBA.” It links to a third-party database of questions and answers.
Step 3: Notary Review
After completing these first two steps, both parties connect through a video call. The notary examines the credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication results. An online notary will also confirm that the individual’s face matches the picture on the uploaded ID. This is the third and final verification to prevent identity fraud. An electronic signature is used during the video chat, and the official will notarize the document.
Finally, the form is then returned to the individual through email.
If you have any questions about notary rules for 2020, please contact us (310) 276-5076 or visit our contact page.