Online notarization has become incredibly popular in recent times. Chances are that you might have heard of the service and thought to yourself whether the service is legal or not. Is it possible to get documents notarized online? Being able to trust an online notary transaction is necessary for being able to use the service. However, you have nothing to worry about as the service is very much legal. This means that each document you notarize online would be completely valid. By using a remote online notarization service, you get to streamline the creation of all types of legal documents such as deeds of trust, wills, and powers of attorney.
A Growing Trend
Ever since the coronavirus pandemic broke out, remote online notarization has proved to be a game-changer. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) have been at the forefront for encouraging the use of online notarization. In fact, there was an increase in online notarization by 200% for real estate transactions in 2020. Since most businesses rely on notarization, remote notarization is the way to go.
Federal and State Government Laws Support Online Notarization
Many states have passed laws for regulating online notarization. Around 30 states have made it a viable option, whereas, other states had permitted online notarization during the pandemic. The SECURE Notarization Act aims to permit remote online notarization. Around 29 states have authorized remote online notarization by passing relevant laws. These include Wisconsin, Washington, Wyoming, Virginia, Vermont, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota, Nevada, Nebraska, Minnesota, Montana, Missouri, Michigan, Maryland, Louisiana, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Hawaii, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, and Alaska. However, many other states are expected to allow remote online notarization.
Is It Safe To Notarize Documents Online?
There are two factors that influence safety as mentioned below.
- The ability of the platform to keep personal information safe.
- The identity verification process.
Safeguarding Information
There are strict security protocols in place that a remote online notarization platform has to follow. It ensures that your confidentiality and privacy are safe by using encryption technology. Online notarization ensures that your private documents or information goes into the wrong hands.
Identity Verification
A reliable online notarization platform would utilize dynamic KBA (Knowledge-Based Authentication) which is normally used by banks and institutions that require top-of-the-line authentication. The notary would ask security questions to verify your identity in KBA. The questions would come from private and public data including transaction history, credit reports, and marketing data. You should have no trouble responding to them.
Advanced Safety Measures
A great thing about online notarization is that follows advanced safety measures. It ensures that you do not have anything to worry about.
Examination of Your Identity Documents
A remote online notarization platform would accept an identification document that can be photographed from both sides. Identification that has already expired would be rejected. This means that notarization would not be possible if the person is unable to provide a valid identification document.
Secure Records
Secure automatic record-keeping helps protect your identity. A well-known remote online notarization platform would record transactions by affixing a date and time stamp on them. Most states require such platforms to store information for up to 10 years. The notary would also maintain an online journey for each transaction. It would provide a record for validation purposes. Thus, protection is provided.
How You Can Notarize Documents Online Legally?
If you are interested in online notarization, you can head over to the main page of Blue Notary to get started. You will only need to follow the steps mentioned below.
- Create an account to schedule the notarization appointment by providing your email address.
- Provide payment details
- Upload all relevant documents.
- Provide pictures of your driver’s license or other identification card. You may also need to provide your tax identification number and social security number.
- Respond to identification questions.
- Meet the notary online.
- Sign the documents virtually. Then, your notary would sign the legal document and place the digital seal.
- Finally, you can download the notarized document onto your device. The platform might also provide the session’s video recording which would act as evidence of the notarization process.
Safe Online Notarization with Blue Notary
If you have documents that you want to notarize online, you can rely on Blue Notary to help you out. Get documents notarized safely and legally without having to stress about anything. You can rest assured knowing that your identification would remain safe. Besides, you would get to save money when you use the service.