How to get a document notarized online (2026)
Yes, it's real, and it usually takes about fifteen minutes: a state-commissioned notary meets you on a recorded video call, verifies your ID digitally, and seals your document electronically. Here's how it works and what to check before you pay.
Quick answer
- Is it legit?
- Yes — 47 of 51 US jurisdictions authorize remote online notarization by their commissioned notaries
- How long
- Typically 10–20 minutes on a platform, available around the clock on the big ones
- Typical cost
- Commonly around $25 for the first notarized signature (platform pricing varies; extra acts and extras cost more)
- You need
- The unsigned document (PDF), a current photo ID, and a device with camera and mic
- Watch for
- A few recipients (some courts, agencies, or foreign uses) still insist on ink — ask your recipient first
The process, start to finish
- Ask your recipient first. The single most common failure isn't the notarization — it's a recipient that wanted ink. Confirm the receiving party accepts electronic/remote notarization.
- Upload your document (unsigned — you'll sign on camera) to a RON platform. National platforms include Notarize (Proof), OneNotary, BlueNotary, and others; we don't currently earn from or endorse any of them.
- Pass identity verification: ID scan plus a short timed quiz built from your public records. Have a current photo ID.
- Meet the notary on video. They confirm your identity and willingness, watch you sign electronically, then apply their electronic seal. The session is recorded and retained under the notary's state rules.
- Download the sealed PDF. It carries a tamper-evident digital certificate; anyone can verify it hasn't been altered since sealing.
Will it be accepted?
A remote notarization performed legally under the notary's state law is generally valid across state lines — the same recognition paper notarizations get. Rejections almost always come from the receiving end: a court clerk with an ink policy, a county recorder with e-recording limits, or a foreign authority requiring an apostille on a paper original. None of that makes RON "invalid" — it means the recipient's requirements control. When in doubt, ask them, not the platform.
Want to be on the other side of the camera?
If you're a notary (or want to become one) and you're here to learn how to offer online notarization: become a remote online notary — which states allow it and what each adds. Not commissioned yet? Start here.
Online notarization FAQ
Is an online notarization valid in a state that doesn't authorize RON?
Generally yes. States without their own RON programs still generally recognize notarizations lawfully performed by out-of-state notaries under those notaries' state law — the same interstate recognition that applies to paper notarizations. The practical exception is the recipient: if a specific court, recorder, agency, or foreign consulate demands wet-ink notarization, their preference wins. Ask before you pay.
How does the notary check my ID online?
Twice, typically: software scans and validates your photo ID (credential analysis), and you answer timed personal-history questions generated from public records (knowledge-based authentication). Then the notary compares your face on camera to the ID. The session is recorded and stored.
What does online notarization cost?
Platform pricing commonly starts around $25 for a single notarized signature — several states cap the per-act RON fee at that level — with add-ons for extra signatures, extra signers, or expedited handling. Some platforms charge subscriptions for businesses. Compare the total, not the headline price.
Can I just video-call my local notary instead of using a platform?
No — RON isn't a FaceTime call. It must run through technology that meets the notary's state requirements: identity proofing, tamper-evident sealing, and session recording. That's why the process lives on dedicated platforms.
What documents can't be notarized online?
It varies by state, but wills, codicils, and certain estate or family documents are excluded in a number of states, and some recipients (courts, some county recorders, many foreign authorities) require ink regardless. When the stakes are high, confirm acceptance with the receiving party before booking a session.