12 Days of Online Notarization

With Notarize, it’s never been easier to connect with an online notary anywhere. It takes just 15 minutes to upload your document, confirm your identity, and connect with one of our commissioned notaries to complete the process. 

We’re closing out 2022 by counting down 12 interesting facts about online notarization and how you can take advantage of our online, secure services for help with all of life’s most important documents. 

12. One billion notarizations and counting.

Today, there are over 4.5 million public notaries in the U.S., completing over 1 billion notarizations each year! A process that dates back to the ancient Egyptians, visiting a public notary in the modern era used to mean collecting paperwork, tracking down an ID, and waiting in line to get your documents signed and stamped. With Notarize, you can connect with a notary 24/7 from any Wi-Fi enabled device.

11. Who allows online notaries?‍

In 2011, Virginia became the first state to legalize Remote Online Notarization (RON). Today online notarization is legal in the U.S., with the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for remote commissioned notaries who can complete document execution digitally. 

10. Snap, prove, connect.

‍Online notarization is easier than ever.

• Step 1: Snap a picture of your document in Notarize’s award-winning app.
• Step 2: Use our multi-step verification process to confirm your identity.
• Step 3: Connect with a commissioned notary any time of day on our secure video call. And that’s it. Download and share your notarized documents instantly. 

9. Hail to the Chief!

‍Dating back to the late 1700s through the early 1900s, public notaries in Washington D.C. had to be appointed by the President of the United States. Appointed public notaries were given a five-year term and could be removed at the request of the President. Thankfully today, it’s not quite so difficult to become a public notary. 

8. Which is more secure, in-person or online notarization?

‍As fraudsters have developed new, nefarious methods for forging signatures and stealing identification, online notarization has become much more secure than paper-based. With credential analysis, e Signatures, and Knowledge-based Authentication (KBA), digital platforms are the trustworthy way to notarize. 

7. I’m ready to Notarize, what do I need?‍

To start the online notarization process, you need four things:

• A device with audio/video capabilities and stable internet connection;
• A document in need of notarization;
• Your US Social Security number, and;
• A valid government-issued photo ID.

6. A day dedicated to celebrating notaries.‍

Since 1975, National Notary Public Day has been celebrated every November 7th to “recognize notaries for their public service and their contributions to national and international commerce.” The date was chosen in honor of Thomas Fugill, America’s first notary appointed on November 7th, 1639.

5. Two or more signers? Say no more.

‍Scheduling two signers for one document used to be a headache, but online notarization makes it easier than ever. Multiple signers have the option to complete a transaction together on a shared device, at the same time on multiple devices, or in totally separate notary meetings. 

4. Mythbusting: Online notarization means automation and bots.

‍Notarize puts you on a secure video call with a real-life human notary to help you through the process, validate your identity, and notarize your documents. 

3. These notaries have serious star power.

‍Celebrities with a notary side hustle? It’s a thing! Mark Twain, Stanley Tucci, and even Jennifer Lopez are each counted among the notary ranks. There’s even evidence that William Shakespeare worked as a Warwickshire Notary in the 1500s. The Bard later drew on these experiences to write his play The Merchant of Venice. 

2. Go ahead, retire your file cabinet.

‍Notarize’s cloud-based hosting platform means tossing your old file cabinet and making space in your office. Protected by AES-256-bit encryption and tracking of all application access, Notarize securely stores your notarized documents giving our customers peace of mind. 

1. Need to notarize on-the-go? No problem.

‍Not only can you now have your documents notarized from anywhere at any time, but a properly notarized document is accepted as such essentially anywhere in the U.S.