How to Find a Notary Online
There are certain types of documents that require notarization before they become legally valid, such as wills, marriage certificates and powers of attorney. Notaries, who are appointed by the state as “honest officials”, are responsible for verifying the identity of the signers, ensuring that no signer is coerced and attesting the signatures. As soon as the notary makes sure that the integrity is preserved, the notary puts a mark (or notarizes ) the document with a seal or seal.
But how to work with a notary during periods of quarantine or quarantine? When I reached out to Chas Rampenthal, General Counsel of LegalZoom , to learn more about how people can make legal wills during the coronavirus pandemic, he suggested using the services of a mobile notary. This is a service that brings a notary to you, not a service where you can get a document notarized on your smartphone – and once the notary arrives at your place, Ramental recommends that everyone stand at least six feet apart , put on gloves and used separate ink to sign documents.
But mobile notary services aren’t the only way to access notaries during quarantine, and in some states, you can actually get a notarized document through your smartphone (or laptop, if you like). Notarize.com , NotaryCam , Safedocs and other online notary services will connect you with notaries who can certify signatures over webcams and provide electronic notarization.
NationalNotary.org has a list of states that currently allow remote notary services , including states that have agreed to allow remote notarization in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of this writing, remote notarization is available on a temporary or permanent basis in 23 states, giving you a decent chance of living in a location that allows you to access online notary services.
If you can use online notary services during a pandemic, here is NationalNotary.org’s advice on how to ensure your document is notarized in accordance with your state’s laws:
If you live in a state where remote notarization is permitted, simply follow that state’s requirements.
To find out what your state requires, visit your secretary of state’s website or check the NNA Notary Law Database for details on each of the laws mentioned above. The NNA will also continue to publish information as states roll out their remote notarization programs.
If you have used the services of an online notary before, which one would you choose and recommend it to others?