How to become a remote online notary (2026)
Remote online notarization (RON) lets a commissioned notary meet signers over recorded video instead of across a table. State programs differ: some are operational, some remain pending, and remote paper procedures are a separate category. Check the status and official instructions before buying a platform subscription.
Quick answer
- Prerequisite
- State authorization for remote acts; this may be an endorsement or an electronic commission
- Where allowed
- 43 jurisdictions are listed with an available electronic RON route; see status details below
- Typical extras
- A separate registration or application, an approved technology platform, and often a fee, training, or added bond/E&O
- The work
- Signers appear by audio-video; identity is verified digitally; you seal electronically and keep a recording
Looking to get a document notarized online, not become the notary? That's the other guide: online notarization for consumers.
Plan your remote authorization
- Check your commission type — your state may require an endorsement or a separate electronic commission.
- File a separate RON registration or application with your commissioning authority, usually with a fee and sometimes extra training or an exam.
- Choose an approved technology provider — most states require a platform from their approved list (or one meeting statutory standards) for identity proofing, audio-video, and recording retention.
- Get your digital certificate and electronic seal — issued through or alongside the platform.
- Follow the extra rules: session recordings kept for a set period, electronic journal, and in some states an increased bond or E&O requirement.
Platform landscape, described neutrally: national platforms include Notarize (Proof), OneNotary, BlueNotary, DocVerify, Pavaso, and SIGNiX, among others — which ones you may use depends on your state's approved list. We don't currently endorse or earn from any platform.
Where RON is allowed — and what each state adds
| State | RON | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Arizona | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Arkansas | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Colorado | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Delaware | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| District of Columbia | Electronic RON available | Electronic RON is available through ONCA endorsement after at least one year as a DC notary and an IPEN endorsement. |
| Florida | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Hawaii | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Idaho | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Illinois | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Indiana | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Iowa | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Kansas | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Kentucky | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Louisiana | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Maine | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Maryland | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Michigan | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Minnesota | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Missouri | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Montana | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Nebraska | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Nevada | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| New Hampshire | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| New Jersey | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| New Mexico | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| New York | Electronic RON available | Apply for an electronic commission; it replaces the traditional commission and also permits traditional acts. |
| North Dakota | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Ohio | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Oklahoma | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Oregon | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Pennsylvania | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Rhode Island | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| South Dakota | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Tennessee | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Texas | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Utah | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Vermont | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Virginia | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Washington | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| West Virginia | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Wisconsin | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Wyoming | Electronic RON available | A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below. |
| Alabama | Remote paper process only | Video-assisted paper acknowledgments with original signatures; no separate remote registration. |
| California | Enacted; implementation pending | The law is enacted, but the SOS implementation must be operative before California notaries can perform RON. |
| Connecticut | Remote paper process only | Remote paper notarization is permitted for eligible documents; Connecticut does not allow fully electronic RON. |
| Georgia | Electronic RON not authorized | Georgia does not authorize electronic RON by its commissioned notaries. |
| Massachusetts | Enacted; implementation pending | The law is enacted; required training and notification are not yet available according to the Secretary. |
| Mississippi | Electronic RON not authorized | Current SOS rules cover in-person electronic notarization. Historical emergency remote authority has expired. |
| North Carolina | Confirm current authorization | Confirm the operational RON registration process and distinguish it from temporary video notarization. |
| South Carolina | Electronic RON not authorized | Electronic notarization is in person; it does not authorize remote video appearances. |
RON law is the fastest-moving area of notary regulation — every state page shows its source review date, recent checks and official sources. Click through before acting.
Not commissioned yet?
Start at the beginning: how to become a notary. The remote process may add training, approval time and experience prerequisites. Check your state’s sequence before purchasing services.
Remote online notary FAQ
Do I need a separate commission to notarize online?
It depends on the state. Many require an endorsement or registration, while New York issues an electronic commission that replaces the traditional one and permits both kinds of acts. Follow the exact authorization and renewal rules for your state.
How do online notarizations verify identity?
Typically through the platform: credential analysis (software validates the ID document) plus knowledge-based authentication (timed personal-history questions), or in some states remote presentation of ID to the notary. The session happens over recorded audio-video, and the recording is retained for a period each state sets.
Can I notarize for signers in other states or countries?
Generally yes — the notary must be physically in their commissioning state (or follow its location rules), but the signer can usually be anywhere, including abroad, if the document relates to a matter within US jurisdiction. The notarization is governed by your state's law. Confirm your state's specific position before taking cross-border work.
Is RON worth it financially?
Several states allow a higher fee per online act (commonly up to $25), and platforms route consumer demand to registered notaries. Treat platform work as volume-dependent supplemental income; the notaries who benefit most combine RON with an existing practice like loan signings where remote closings are permitted.