A Guide to Remote Online Notarization in Georgia

Remote online notarization (RON) refers to the process of having a state of Georgia-licensed notary public notarize a document remotely through the use of electronic signature, identity verification, audio-visual and electronic notarial journal and record keeping technologies.

These technologies enable notaries in Georgia to securely notarize documents for anyone around the world with a valid government issued ID while also saving time and travel for themselves and the parties involved. Instead of meeting in a physical location to sign a paper document, the notary public and the signer can conduct a notarial act on their devices from wherever they happen to be located, as long as their state laws permit.

For anyone who has had to locate and visit a notary public to sign a document, the convenience of RON is obvious. But there are other benefits that RON offers over in-person, paper-based notarization, including:

1. Increased access to notarial services

2. Security and enforceability

3. Reduced risk of identity fraud

4. Remote Online Notarizations are legal in Georgia

More and more states are authorizing the use of RON, a trend that has only accelerated since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The criteria for performing RON varies slightly by state, but most legislation includes the following mandates:

1. Notary commissioned and RON certified with the state of Georgia

2. Use of audio-visual communication technology

3. Utilization of credential analysis technology to verify government-issued ID

4. Application of electronic signatures and electronic seals

5. Reliance on recordings, electronic journaling (i.e. digital audit trail creation) and storage

6. Adherence to common data privacy principles

1. The signer contacts the Notary or a RON service provider to request a remote online notarization.

2. The signer’s document is sent to the Notary so it can be signed and notarized. Typically, the document is uploaded in an electronic format such as PDF to the online technology platform used to perform the remote online notarization.

3. The signer’s identity is screened according to the requirements of the Notary’s commissioning state. This may include answering questions based on the signer’s personal and credit history (KBA), verifying the signer’s identification documents online (credential analysis), the Notary remotely viewing the signer’s ID during the notarization, or other RON identification methods by statute.

4. During the remote online notarization, the Notary and the signer communicate online using audiovisual technology — for example, via webcam. The Notary and signer do not meet face to face.

5. Once the signer's identity has been verified and all other requirements for the notarization have been completed, both the signer and the Notary must sign the document and the Notary's seal attached. For electronic documents, this requires electronic signatures and an electronic version of the Notary's seal.

6. The Notary records any required information for the Notary's journal records. The Notary must typically also retain an audio and video recording of the notarization session.

7. The remotely notarized document is returned to the signer. more details about your site, a customer quote, or to talk about important news.

Over a billion documents are notarized each year, a significant portion of which—ranging from powers of attorneys and affidavits to wills and deeds—are included as a service by U.S. law firms. Traditionally, notarizations have been done in-person and on-paper which can be time consuming and inefficient. But in recent years that has begun to change, with the acceptance of remote online notarization (RON). Demand for RON is also accelerating as more individuals transition to remote work and state legislatures continue to pass permanent RON laws and regulations.

Now, well established e-signature and audio-visual technologies have enabled the adoption of remote online notarization (RON), which makes it easier and more efficient for law firms to notarize documents and provide their clients with a better digital experience. RON offers multiple benefits, including a better client experience, increased access for signers, reduced administrative costs, consistent and reliable identification, a more complete record of the notarial transaction; and enhanced privacy, security, and coercion safeguards. It also creates a digital audit trail, which helps notaries public and law firms track notarial activity over time to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.

According to (DocuSign 2022) law firms in the U.S. can start modernizing their notarization process today, using remote online notarization. The 3 impact areas in the legal industry include: