Business Customer FAQs

1. What is online notarization?

   Online notarization allows a person to appear before a commissioned notary public in real-time using audio/video technology. To learn how it works, click here.

2. Is online notarization legal?

   Yes! Online notarization is just another method of performing notarizations. A document notarized online is as legally valid as one notarized via traditional paper-based notarization.

3. Where are online notarizations valid and enforceable?

   Online notarizations are valid and enforceable in every state with their validity determined by applying the law of the notary’s commissioning state. As public officials of their state, notaries must perform notarizations in compliance with the laws of their state, and every state recognizes properly performed notarizations of other states.

4. Should the Notarize platform be used for documents that will be used in another country?

   No. The Notarize platform is specifically designed to comply with the requirements for notarized documents that are being used in the United States. In addition, the unique authentication process needed to use these documents in another country is not available for electronic documents in most states.

5. Which documents can be notarized on the Notarize platform?

   Nearly every document that can be notarized in the paper world can be notarized online on the Notarize platform. However, certain documents are restricted. Always check with your own advisors and document recipients if you have any questions about whether your documents may be notarized online.  For more information on documents with unique restrictions, see this article.

6. When can I get a document notarized?

   Documents can be notarized on the Notarize platform 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

7. Can two or more signers get their signatures notarized in a single meeting?

   Yes. Signers have the flexibility to complete a transaction together on a shared device, simultaneously on multiple devices, or in separate notary meetings. Each signer must complete the identification process separately and signers who miss the initial meeting can still get their signatures notarized in a subsequent notary meeting.

8. Can witnesses be added to transactions on the Notarize platform?

   Yes. Witnesses who are physically with the signer can be added to the transaction by the notary during the notary meeting. They can not be added by the signer or the person creating the transaction.
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   Note: Remote witnessing is only available on Notarize’s real estate platform for closings of Florida property with witnesses who are personally known to the notary.

9. Can Notarize accept two forms of identification if the document requires it?

   Yes.

10. How are signers identified on the Notarize platform?

    Signers on the Notarize platform can be identified in one of the following ways -

    • Multi-step Identity Verification: The signer’s identity is confirmed through successful completion of a set of questions generated from their personal information (Knowledge-Based Authentication or KBA) and an automated analysis of their government issued ID (credential analysis).
    • Personal Knowledge: The signer is personally known to the notary.
    • Credible Witness: The signer’s identity is indirectly verified by the oath of another person who has already been identified through multi-step identity verification.
11. How does Notarize ensure the security and privacy of personal information on notarized documents?

    Notarize employs various measures to ensure the security and privacy of personal information including the encryption and protection of all data in transit and at rest using AES-256 bit encryption and tracking of all application access. The Notarize platform has also been subjected to various comprehensive information security audits and penetration testing. For more information on Notarize’s privacy practices, see Notarize’s Privacy Policy.

12. How does Notarize vet notaries before allowing them to perform on-demand notarizations on the Notarize platform?

    The following processes and procedures are used to ensure notaries have the necessary training, tools, and credentials when performing on-demand notarizations on the Notarize platform:
    
    Notaries complete a state-specific onboarding process to ensure they are properly commissioned and that they have the training and tools they need to perform notarizations in compliance with the unique requirements of their state.
    
    A dedicated team of specialists reviews their profiles for accuracy and confirms their commission information against state databases before allowing them onto the platform.
    
    Once approved, the platform intelligently monitors their profiles, blocking them if their information expires and requiring reapproval if they update their information.
    
    Notaries are also required to maintain errors and omissions insurance with sufficient coverage whenever they perform notarizations on the platform.
    
    Finally, notaries must complete specialized training (including Notarize administered courses and assessments and the National Notary Association’s Notary Signing Agent exam) and pass yearly background checks.
    
    Note that notaries must also upload their digital certificate to perform notarizations on the Notarize platform. Digital certificates are only issued to notaries after they successfully complete identity proofing, further ensuring the identity of all notaries performing notarizations on the Notarize platform.