Remote Online Notarization (RON) allows documents to be signed and notarized online through a secure video session. While many states already use RON, California follows different rules that real estate agents, buyers, and sellers should understand.
For California real estate agents, understanding how RON currently works in the state is important for managing client expectations and closing timelines, since California’s rules on this are still being phased in.
How Remote Online Notarization Works
Instead of requiring clients to meet a notary in person, the entire signing session takes place through secure audio-video technology. The process includes several layers of verification designed to prevent fraud:
- Identity proofing: Signers upload a government-issued ID, which the platform reviews using automated software to check for signs of tampering or forgery
- Knowledge-based authentication (KBA): Signers must correctly answer a set of security questions, generated from their personal credit history, within a limited time frame
- Tamper-evident sealing: A digital seal is applied to the signed document using public key infrastructure. If anyone attempts to alter the document afterward, the seal breaks, which alerts recording offices to the change
Benefits of Remote Online Notarization
Remote Online Notarization makes the signing process more convenient, especially for clients who are traveling, living out of state, or unable to attend an in-person appointment. It can reduce scheduling delays, speed up document signing, and provide a secure digital record of the notarization process. For many real estate transactions, it offers greater flexibility while maintaining identity verification standards.
Is Remote Online Notarization Legal in California?
California law draws a distinction between where the notary is commissioned and where the signer is physically located.
California-commissioned notaries
Senate Bill 696, known as the Online Notarization Act, officially legalized Remote Online Notarization within California’s legal framework. However, California-commissioned notaries are not yet permitted to perform online notarizations. The state is following a phased rollout, and California notaries will gain this authority once the Secretary of State completes a technology upgrade called the Notary Automation Project 2.0, or by January 1, 2030, whichever comes first.
California residents using RON today
Even though California notaries cannot yet perform RON, California residents can still use the service now. California law recognizes notarial acts that are validly performed under the laws of another state.
This means a person physically located in California can log onto an approved RON platform and sign documents with a notary commissioned in a state where RON is already fully active, such as Texas, Virginia, or Arizona. The resulting notarized document is legally valid and binding in California.
Recording RON Documents in California
One practical challenge for online closings involves how county recorders handle digital files. Some California counties have electronic recording capability, while others still require physical paper documents with original signatures.
Assembly Bill 2004 was passed to address this gap. It allows title insurance companies and escrow holders to print a certified paper copy of an electronic document that includes digital signatures and an out-of-state online notarization.
County recorders are required to accept these certified paper copies for recording, as long as a title service professional certifies that the printed copy matches the original electronic file. This means RON can be used to close transactions in any of California’s 58 counties, regardless of a particular county’s technology limitations.
Why Real Estate Agents Should Understand RON
Understanding how Remote Online Notarization works helps real estate agents answer client questions, set realistic closing expectations, and avoid unnecessary delays. Since lender requirements and county recording processes may differ, knowing when RON is an option allows agents to coordinate more efficiently with escrow and title service professionals.
FAQs
Can a California-commissioned notary perform an online notarization today?
No. Under the Online Notarization Act, California notaries cannot perform remote online notarizations until the Secretary of State finishes its technology infrastructure project, which has a statutory deadline of January 1, 2030.
How can a California resident notarize a document online right now?
By using an approved online platform to connect with a notary commissioned in a state where RON is already authorized, such as Arizona, Texas, or Florida. California law recognizes these out-of-state notarial acts as valid.
Will mortgage lenders accept documents signed through RON?
RON is legally binding under California law, but individual lenders set their own underwriting requirements. Some lenders still require wet-ink signatures on the final promissory note, so it is important to confirm with the lender before scheduling a RON session.
What happens if a document needs to be recorded in a county that only accepts paper?
Under Assembly Bill 2004, the escrow or title company can print a certified copy of the electronically notarized document. California county recorders are required to accept this certified paper copy for recording.
Disclaimer: This blog is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or professional advice. Readers should consult their own qualified attorney, CPA, financial advisor, or other professionals before making any decisions. Nesi Title and Escrow Company makes no warranties and assumes no liability for reliance on this content.
Need guidance on escrow and title services in California? Contact NESI to help keep your real estate transactions smooth from escrow to closing.
