Remote online notarization (RON) has become legal in most states, letting you get a document notarized over video call instead of in person — but it's not universally available for every document type or in every state, and the rules are still catching up in some places.
How online notarization actually works
A commissioned online notary verifies your identity through government ID and knowledge-based verification questions, watches you sign electronically during a live video session, and applies an electronic notarial seal — creating an audiovisual record of the whole transaction.
Not every state recognizes it the same way
Most states have passed RON-enabling legislation, but the specific requirements — and whether an out-of-state RON notarization will be accepted for a document used in your state — vary. This matters most for real estate and estate planning documents that get recorded with a county or court.
Some documents still require in-person notarization
Certain document types, or certain uses (like some real estate closings in specific states), may still require traditional in-person notarization, or a specific hybrid process — worth confirming before assuming remote notarization will work for your particular document.
Why this matters for documents you order online
If a document you're having drafted needs to be notarized — a power of attorney, certain estate planning documents, some real estate filings — knowing whether remote notarization is available and accepted for your situation avoids a last-minute scramble to find an in-person notary.