We frequently assist clients who are abroad and have no access to a US notary public. In order to conduct business in the United States, they often require notarized signatures, whether for a power of attorney, an affidavit, or a business document like a Certificate of Incumbency.
Until recently, individuals in such predicaments had only two options: either getting their signatures notarized with a US consul at the local US embassy or consulate, or notarizing their signatures locally and then obtaining an apostille or authentication certificate from the government authority (often the Ministry of Justice) that governs notaries in their country of origin. Both of these options were time-consuming and overwhelming, as US embassies and consulates often had months-long wait lists for notarial services, while getting apostilles or authentication certificates in a foreign country could be confusing and lengthy due to language barriers and the lack of consistency from foreign bureaucrats.
Fortunately, a third option has emerged over the past few years. Individuals can now get their signatures notarized via a US Remote Online Notary. Remote Online Notaries verify the identity of signing individuals online through video chat, and the video of the verification process is recorded and stored for future reference. Moreover, State-approved Remote Online Notary services verify signers’ identities by requiring them to upload their passport and/or state ID and either answering personal questions (Knowledge-Based Authentication) or undergoing biometric procedures, including taking multiple photos of their face and comparing them with the provided ID.
The Commonwealth of Virginia was the first US State to legalize remote online notarizations in 2011. As in-person notary services became unsafe during the COVID-19 pandemic, legislation to temporarily or permanently legalize remote online notary services was passed in almost all US states. The map below shows the current legal status of remote online notarizations in the United States. States in dark green have fully legalized remote online notary services. Those in light green have temporary provisions to legalize such services (currently only Alabama, Mississippi, and Rhode Island), while those in orange have not legalized remote online notary services for notaries registered in their states but accept documents notarized via a remote online notary from other states (currently Connecticut and Delaware). States in red are the only ones that do not allow remote online notarizations and do not accept any documents notarized remotely from other states (currently only California and Georgia, as well as the District of Columbia).A federal bill—the SECURE Notarization Act—passed the House of Representatives in 2023 and, if approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President, will require all states to accept remote online notarizations. The bill aims to create uniform standards for notaries and remote online notarization service providers across all 50 states.
Dark Green: fully legal
Light Green: temporarily legal
Orange: Not legal but states accept documents electronically notarized in states where such notarizations are legal
Red: not legal and not acceptable from other states
The types of notarial acts that can be administered remotely vary from state to state. Most states allow notaries to acknowledge signatures and administer oaths/jurats. Some states also permit notaries to produce notarized copies of scanned documents, as well as perform other specified acts, such as certifying the contents of a safety deposit box and verifying a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). States that allow notaries to solemnize marriages—Florida, Maine, Montana, Nevada (if licensed by the county clerk), South Carolina, Tennessee—generally do not allow remote marriage solemnizations. Additionally, state law often prohibits notaries from acknowledging the signatures of or administering oaths to close family members.
A&M Logos International can notarize your document both in person and remotely. As we often need to assist customers located abroad, we offer a wide range of online notary services. Our Florida Remote Online Notary Public frequently produces notarized copies of important employment and education documents for apostilling. We can also acknowledge your signature and administer oaths.
Check out our FAQ about Notaries on our website: https://apostille.us/search/?s=notary&task=search…If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to call us today at (212) 233-7061 or email us at info@apostille.us.