 With the growing acceptance of eNotarization across the country, fueled by a societal transformation from paper to digital, it is essential that Notaries wanting to take advantage of the new career opportunities learn to handle electronic documents. Pennsylvania has instituted a groundbreaking eNotarization system, and several other states are also in the process of developing eNotarization" programs.
Laws already in place in a number of states — for example, California, Colorado, Michigan, Texas and Utah — could accommodate the Electronic Notary Seal (ENS™).
Though Pennsylvania is the first state to implement a functional, fully electronic eNotarization and electronic recording system, other states are expected to follow suit very soon, said NNA eNotarization Director Dr. Richard J. Hansberger.
"Notaries will be important players in the emerging world of electronic documents and electronic identities, and they need to begin preparing themselves now for this transition," he said. "Electronic notarization education provides the foundation Notaries will need to participate in these new opportunities, but it is only the beginning. The services of a Notary will become more important as we transact more and more business online, and the identity screening services of Notaries will provide the trust that makes eBusiness secure and reliable."
The NNA is committed to helping Notaries in all parts of the United States prepare to work with eNotarizations, and the Association this year has unveiled eNotarization training courses in both a traditional classroom and online for Notaries in Pennsylvania, Colorado and North Carolina. Also, Texas has online and classroom courses available. These three states, to a greater or lesser degree, have statutes or regulations in place to accommodate eNotarization. North Carolina has enacted comprehensive legislation to integrate the rules for paper-based and electronic notarization in anticipation of eNotarization procedures, which the state is" still developing; and Texas authorized the use of electronic journals last year.
The historic implementation of the Pennsylvania program has overcome one of the biggest obstacles to eNotarization by ensuring the trustworthiness of notarized electronic documents.
"By providing a means of testing document authenticity, the Pennsylvania eNotarization program will help solve one of the greatest challenges facing our public recording system and the court system, ensuring trustworthy electronic documents," said NNA Executive Director Timothy S. Reiniger. "Pennsylvania has provided a model to the nation for verifying that an electronic document is genuine and unaltered."
|
