Summary
Remote Online Notarization (RON) has grown rapidly over the past several years, yet many outdated myths still cause confusion for individuals, businesses, and even professionals. Here are the most common myths about online notarization—along with the facts that matter.
Myth 1: Online notarization isn’t legal
Fact: Online notarization is legal and authorized by statute in the vast majority of U.S. states. These laws expressly allow notaries to perform notarizations over secure audio-video technology, provided statutory requirements are met. Millions of documents are notarized online each year for real estate, legal, financial, and personal transactions.
Myth 2: Documents notarized online won’t be accepted
Fact: Properly performed remote online notarizations are widely accepted by courts, government agencies, financial institutions, and title companies. Acceptance depends on compliance with the notary’s commissioning state law—not on where the signer is physically located at the time of signing.
Myth 3: Online notarization is less secure than in-person notarization
Fact: Online notarization is often more secure than traditional in-person notarization. RON sessions include multi-factor identity verification, credential analysis, recorded audio-video sessions, and tamper-evident digital seals. Any post-notarization alteration to the document invalidates the notarial certificate.
Myth 4: You must be in the same state as the notary
Fact: In most cases, the signer may be located anywhere in the world, as long as the notary is physically located in—and commissioned by—a state that authorizes Remote Online Notarization at the time of the session.
Myth 5: Online notarization was only allowed during COVID
Fact: While use increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, Remote Online Notarization is not a temporary or emergency measure. It is a permanent, statutory solution that continues to expand as more states modernize their notary laws.
Myth 6: Online notarization is only for simple documents
Fact: Complex and high-value documents—including real estate closings, estate planning documents, powers of attorney, corporate filings, and government forms—are routinely notarized online in full compliance with state law.
The Bottom Line
Online notarization is legal, secure, and widely accepted—and it continues to become the standard for notarizing documents efficiently in a digital world. Many of the concerns surrounding RON stem from outdated assumptions rather than current law and practice.