On Wednesday, January 25th, the New York Department of State adopted new online notarization regulations that took effect immediately and without notice.
Although New York notaries had been performing online notarizations under temporary guidance for nearly a year, the regulations added new requirements that both notaries and the Notarize platform — needed to comply with.
Although select competitors chose to continue operating, we chose the road less traveled, temporarily shutting off access to the platform for all New York notaries until we could ensure that our platform was meeting all of the state’s new requirements, including a process to verify that a notary has obtained the newly required remote online notary commission.
“As the leader in online notarization, we play a crucial role in protecting the integrity of the notarial process and have a fundamental responsibility to safeguard the reputation of the industry that we helped build – even when doing so hurts us. I am proud of the quick and right action undertaken by our team. [These events] demonstrate our strict adherence to the laws and regulations that govern online notarization in each state. That is not changing. At Notarize, we don't believe in shortcuts.”
- Notarize Founder and CEO Pat Kinsel
We might not all be Irish, but we’re feeling all the luck of St. Patrick’s Day early — TODAY, March 13, we’re able to welcome New York’s notaries back to the platform. The best part? We’re able to do so in a way that’s compliant and sets notaries up for success as they serve businesses and customers.
Whether you’re a signer or a notary, here’s everything you need to know about the new regulations and what they mean for your experience on the Notarize platform:
To ensure compliance with the new identity proofing standards, signers will be required to pass an automated selfie comparison in addition to Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) and credential analysis. The notary will then review your captured selfie and request a retake during the meeting if they encounter any issues.
To reinstate a compliant status on the Notarize platform, you (the notary) will need to register with the New York Department of State to obtain an electronic notary commission — which will then authorize you (the license holder) to provide both remote online and traditional in-person notary services.
Once you have obtained your electronic notary commission, you’ll be eligible to return to the Notarize platform by completing the following steps:
After you’ve completed the above updates within your notary profile, the Notary Onboarding team will be automatically notified to begin their full review of your credentials for compliance. Upon approval, you’ll be returned to an active (and compliant) status on the Notarize platform. If you have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out to notaryonboarding@notarize.com. If you need a refresh on the RON compliance requirements in the state of New York, we’ve got you covered there, too — click here.
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