Customer FAQs

• What is online notarization?

  Online notarization allows a person to appear before a commissioned notary public in real-time using audio/video technology.

• 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.

• 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.

• Can online platforms be used to notarize documents that will be used in another country?

  No. Online platforms are generally 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.

• Which documents can be notarized on the online platforms?

  Nearly every document that can be notarized in the paper world can be notarized online. 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.

• What do I need for online notarization?

  • The document(s) that need to be notarized.

  • A device with audio and video capabilities..

  • A valid government–issued photo ID.

  • A U.S. social security number for secure identity verification.

• How much does it cost to get a document notarized?

  A single document requiring one notary seal is $25.  Most documents require only one notary seal, but if the document requires more than one, each additional notary seal is $10 more.

• If Notarize is unable to notarize a particular document, will I be charged?

  No, a Notary will only charge a fee for successful notarizations.

• When can I get a document notarized?

  Documents can be notarized on multiple online platforms 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• What forms of identification are acceptable for online notarization?

  Each state provides its notaries with a list of acceptable forms of ID for online notarization. Commonly acceptable forms of ID include the following:

  • U.S. State Issued Driver’s License

  • U.S. State Issued Photo ID

  • U.S. Passport Book

  • U.S. Passport Card

  • Certificate of US citizenship

  • Certificate of Naturalization

  • Foreign Passport

  • Alien Registration Card with Photo

• Can physical paper documents be notarized on online platforms?

  No, documents must be in electronic form.

• 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.

• Can witnesses be added to transactions?

  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.

• How do online platforms verify my identity?

  Your identity is verified through a multi-step identity verification process during which you must complete a set of questions generated from your personal information and an automated analysis of your government-issued ID.
  

  I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW AND I MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE.