In-person electronic notarization (IPEN) is just like a traditional paper-based notarization with one exception: the documents being notarized are electronic. During an IPEN, the signer and Notary meet physically face-to-face, review the documents on a computer or mobile device, and use electronic signatures in place of ink signatures.
Wondering what the differences are between traditional notarizations, IPEN and RON? Check out this guide.
State Requirements for In-Person Electronic Notarization
In-person electronic notarization is permitted in all states and Washington, D.C. that have enacted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (only New York has not done so). Not all states, however, have explicitly enacted legislation to regulate the performance of IPENs. The following states have specific rules, which you can read about below.
Alabama has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must notify the Lieutenant Governor of their intent to notarize electronic records and identify their chosen tamper-evident technology. Notaries may use an electronic official seal when performing an IPEN as authorized by regulations adopted by the Lieutenant Governor.
Individuals who want to perform IPENs must hold an active commission as a traditional Notary Public, read the
Electronic Notary Rules, contract with a technology provider (the Secretary of State provides a
list of vendors, but a Notary is free to choose a provider whose system complies with the rules), and complete the registration
application, indicating the vendor they intend to use.
Notaries with an active commission and who are in good standing as a traditional Notary Public may register to become an electronic Notary and perform IPENs by completing the online application for Electronic Notary Commission, paying the $25 application fee, receiving a notification of acceptance, completing an approved training course provided by the Secretary of State and passing an exam, and registering with an
approved solution provider.
Notaries with a current commission may perform IPENs. They must obtain an electronic seal from a licensed vendor of seals. When notarizing electronic real property documents, an electronic seal is not required if the Notary's electronic signature includes:
- The name of the Notary
- The words "Notary Public"
- The name of the county where the bond and oath of office of the Notary are filed
- The sequential identification number assigned to the Notary, if any
- The sequential identification number assigned to the manufacturer or vendor of the Notary's physical or electronic seal, if any
Notaries are required to notify the Secretary of State that they will be performing IPENs and identify the technology they intend to use on a form provided by the Secretary. An individual may apply for a commission and make the notification regarding IPENs at the same time. Notaries must obtain from the Secretary of State a series of document authentication numbers (DAN). A unique DAN must be used for each IPEN. A DAN may serve as the Notary's electronic signature, or the Notary may use an electronic signature in conjunction with a DAN. Notaries who do not plan to use a DAN as their electronic signature must provide the Secretary with an example of their electronic signature, a description of the electronic signature technology, and contact information for the technology's supplier or vendor.
The following information must accompany the Notary's electronic signature: The Notary's name (as it appears on the commission certificate), the Notary's identification number, the words "Notary Public" and "State of Colorado," a document authentication number issued by the Secretary of State, and the words "My commission expires" followed by the expiration date of the Notary's commission.
Notaries performing IPENs are required to use an official stamp.
Connecticut has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
To perform IPENs, a Notary must obtain an Electronic Notary Public commission. However, Delaware is not accepting Electronic Notary commission applications at this time. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
To register to perform IPENs, Notaries must take a training course provided by the Mayor, take the oath prescribed for civil officers, identify their chosen tamper-evident technologies, and file an example of their electronic signature and official seal. Currently, the District is not accepting applications to perform IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Florida Notaries with a current commission may perform IPENs.
A Notary must use an electronic signature that is unique to the Notary, capable of independent verification, retained under the Notary's sole control, attached or logically associated with the electronic document in a manner that displays evidence of any alterations to the document, and attributes the signature to the Notary identified on the Notary's commission.
The Notary's electronic signature or seal may be affixed by a public key certificate or electronic Notary system.
Georgia has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Notaries with a current commission must notify the Attorney General of their intent to perform IPENs and identify their chosen tamper-evident technology.
Notaries must use an official electronic stamp that is attached to or logically associated with the certificate of notarial act for the IPEN.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs are required to complete an "Authorization for Electronic Notarization" form through the Secretary of State's Sobiz platform online and identify the tamper-evident technology they intend to use to perform IPENs. The tamper-evident technology must utilize a digital certificate complying with the X.509 standard adopted by the International Telecommunication Union or a similar industry-standard technology.
A Notary must attach or logically associate the Notary's electronic signature and official stamp to an electronic record that is the subject of a notarial act by use of a digital certificate.
Illinois has enacted legislation requiring Notaries to obtain an electronic Notary Public commission prior to performing IPENs, but the effective date for the new law is awaiting regulations to be issued by the Secretary of State. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Any Notary Public with a current commission may perform IPENs.
Notaries must use a digital certificate to render an electronically notarized record tamper-evident and affix an electronic seal when performing IPENs.
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must notify the Secretary of State of their intent to perform IPENs and identify the tamper-evident technology they plan to use.
To perform IPENs, Notaries must complete a state-approved training course, pass an exam, use a tamper-evident technology solution that has been
approved by the Secretary of State, and complete a Notary Public Change of Status form (Form NC) to notify the Secretary of State that they will be performing IPENs. There is a $20 information and services fee. Individuals who are applying for a commission and wanting to perform IPENs may use the Notary Public Appointment Form (Form NO) instead. The fee to obtain a commission and perform IPENs is $45.
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must register online with the Secretary of State and select one or more tamper-evident technologies to perform IPENs. A tamper-evident technology must utilize a digital certificate complying with the X.509 standard adopted by the International Telecommunication Union or a similar industry-standard technology.
Use of an electronic official stamp is not required, but Notaries who use one must use the same unique official stamp for all IPENs. Notaries who do not use an official stamp must ensure the certificate of notarial act for an IPEN includes the name of the Notary as it appears on the Notary's commission, the title "Notary Public," and the Notary's commission number and expiration date.
Notaries must attach or logically associate their electronic signature and official stamp, if the Notary uses one, to an electronic record by use of a digital certificate.
Louisiana has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Maine has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Notaries who intend to perform electronic notarizations must notify the Secretary of State of their intent and provide the name of their chosen tamper-evident technology provider.
Notaries must use a digital certificate complying with the X.509 standard adopted by the International Telecommunication Union or a similar industry-standard technology to attach or logically associate their electronic signature and official stamp to each electronic record.
Massachusetts has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Existing Notaries or applicants for a Notary commission may qualify to IPENs by selecting an electronic notarization platform from the state's
list of approved vendors, completing the
Request for Duplicate/Notice of Change form (for Notaries with active commissions) or the
Notary Application and Instructions form (for individuals applying for or renewing a Notary commission) and providing the required information about their chosen vendor. Once the form is on file with the Department of State, Notaries may begin performing IPENs.
Notaries may apply to perform IPENs if they hold a current Notary commission, select a tamper-evident technology to perform IPENs, and notify the Secretary of State.
Notaries may use an electronic official stamp in performing IPENs. If they do not choose to use an electronic official stamp, a certificate of notarial act for an IPEN must be signed in the same manner as on file with the Secretary of State and dated by the Notary, identify the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed, contain the Notary's title, and indicate the expiration date of the Notary's commission.
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must old a current and unrestricted Notary Public commission, submit a registration form to the Secretary of State, receive proof of approval from the Secretary, and choose an electronic notarization system that meets state requirements. The system must allow the Notary to affix an electronic Notary seal and use a public key certificate (digital certificate).
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must be commissioned as a Notary Public, take a training course and pass an exam, complete an electronic registration form and submit it to the Secretary of State.
Notaries must use an electronic signature and electronic seal that are registered with the Secretary and that are used to attribute the application of both to the Notary.
The registered electronic signature must be unique to the Electronic Notary, capable of independent verification, attached to or logically associated with the electronic notarial certificate in a manner that prominently displays evidence of any alterations to the electronic notarial certificate, and kept under the Electronic Notary's sole control.
Notaries with active commissions who want to perform IPENs must select one or more approved electronic notarization systems, complete an approved course provided by the system or a third-party training provider, pass an examination, and submit the Notary Public Information Update form to notify the Secretary of State they will be performing IPENs.
Notaries must use an electronic official stamp when performing IPENs.
Notaries with an active commission may perform IPENs by taking an education course, passing an exam, paying the $100 registration fee, and completing and submitting the Electronic Notary Public Registration form to the Secretary of State.
The Notary's electronic signature and electronic seal must be independently verifiable and unique to the Electronic Notary, retained under the Electronic Notary's sole control, accessible and attributable solely to the Electronic Notary to the exclusion of all other persons and entities for the entire time necessary to perform the IPEN, and attached to or logically associated with the document in a manner that produces visible evidence of any alterations to the underlying document or notarial certificate.
The Electronic Notary's electronic signature must contain an image of the Notary's handwritten signature. The Electronic Notary's electronic seal must contain the Electronic Notary's name exactly as it appears on the commission, the words, "Electronic Notary Public," the word "Nebraska," and the Notary's commission expiration date.
Electronic Notaries must use an approved solution provider. A list of solution providers may be found on the Secretary of State's website.
Notaries must keep a journal of all IPENs they perform.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs must hold an existing commission as a traditional Notary Public or be applying for one at the same time, take a training course and pass an exam, select an
approved technology provider, and submit an electronic registration form along with the $50 registration fee, proof of course completion, and an exemplar of the Notary's electronic seal and electronic signature from their technology provider to the Secretary of State at nvnotary@sos.nv.gov.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs must first hold an existing commission as a Notary Public, select a tamper-evident technology provider and obtain a digital certificate, and notify the Secretary of State of their intent to notarize electronic documents by completing an
Electronic/Remote Notarization Notification Form and providing the name of the tamper-evident technology and provider of their X.509 digital certificate.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs must notify the State Treasurer and identify the tamper-evident technology they intend to use to perform notarizations with respect to electronic records. Notaries must buy an electronic signature and electronic stamp before performing their first notarial act.
The Notary's electronic signature and seal must be unique to the Notary, capable of independent verification, attached to or logically associated with the electronic notarial certificate in a manner that prominently displays evidence of any alterations to the electronic notarial certificate, and retained under the Notary's sole control.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs must notify the Secretary of State that they will be performing notarial acts on electronic records and identify the tamper-evident technology they intend to use. Currently, the Secretary of State does not have instructions or procedures on its website make this notification. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
A Notary must use an electronic signature and seal that the Notary has previously provided to the Secretary of State.
In New York, Notaries may notarize electronic documents related to real property using an electronic signature that is unique to the Notary, capable of independent verification, attached to or logically associated with the electronic notarial certificate in a manner that prominently displays evidence of any alterations to the electronic notarial certificate, retained under the Notary's sole control, and implemented in accordance with New York State laws, rules and regulations, and the Property Records Industry Association Notary version 2.4.1 October 2007 standards.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs must (1) hold or obtain a Notary commission, (2) take a three-hour course at a local community college and pass the exam, (3) complete the
registration form online, (4) print the registration form and have it notarized, (4) deliver or bring the notarized registration form to the Department of the Secretary of State along with a $50 registration fee, (5) receive an Electronic Notary Oath Notification Letter from the Department, (6) take the Electronic Notary oath of office at their local county Register of Deeds within 45 days, (7) obtain from the Register of Deeds an Electronic Notary Certificate, and (8) purchase an Electronic Notary signature and seal from an
authorized Electronic Notary Solution Provider by presenting the Electronic Notary Certificate to the provider.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs must notify the Secretary of State and identify the tamper-evident technology they intend to use.
A Notary may use an electronic official stamp to perform IPENs. If the Notary does not use an electronic official stamp, the Notary must sign and date, identify the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed, and indicate the Notary's title and commission expiration date in each notarial certificate for an IPEN.
Ohio Notaries has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Notaries with a current commission may perform IPENs as long as they use an electronic Notary seal that legibly reproduces the required elements in a traditional Notary seal and they follow all laws pertaining to a traditional paper notarization performed in the physical presence of a Notary.
Notaries who want to perform IPENS must complete an Electronic Notarization Notice form, include a sample of your official stamp, electronic signature and electronic notarial certificate in general sample and not an actual notarized private record PDF-A format, and email the form and attached document with the subject line "Electronic Notarization Notice" to program-services.sos@oregon.gov.
Notaries may use an electronic official stamp when performing IPENs. If they do not choose to use one, they must ensure that each notarial certificate for an IPEN that they complete contains the signature and date affixed by the Notary, the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed, the Notary's title; the name of the person for whom the notarial act is performed, and the Notary's commission expiration date.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs must be a commissioned Notary Public, submit a completed Electronic Notary Public Application to the Department of State, that If approved will prompt them to log into the Department's website to choose from a list of approved eNotary technology vendors. The Department will forward a Notary's electronic Notary authorization to the chosen vendor(s) with whom the Notary will work to get set up.
The Notary must sign their electronic signature in a manner that attributes the signature to the Notary identified in the commission and may use an electronic official stamp. If the Notary does not use an electronic official stamp, the Notary must sign and date, identify the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed, and indicate the Notary's title and commission expiration date in each notarial certificate for an IPEN.
Individuals wanting to perform IPENs must hold an existing commission as a traditional Notary Public or apply for one at the same time they register to perform IPENs, choose a technology solution from the state's list of approved vendors, complete the New Notary Application, Renewal Application or the Notary Information Update form, as applicable, mail or bring the applicable application or update form and a copy of their electronic signature and electronic seal to the Rhode Island Department of State. The Department will email you an approval letter to perform IPENs.
Notaries must use an electronic signature and electronic seal that is unique to the Notary, capable of independent verification, retained under the Notary's sole control, and attached to or logically associated with the electronic record in a tamper-evident manner.
South Carolina has enacted legislation to regulate IPENs and is in the process of adopting rules to implement the new statutes. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Notaries must keep an electronic journal for all IPENs they perform.
South Dakota has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Tennessee has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Texas has not enacted specific legislation to regulate IPENs but authorizes all Notaries with active commissions ("Traditional Notaries Public") to perform IPENs. When performing IPENs, a Traditional Notary must follow all rules that apply to notarizing paper records.
A Notary's electronic seal must reproduce the required elements of the Notary's traditional seal.
Notaries who hold an existing Notary commission may perform IPENs.
Notaries may use an electronic seal, but a notarial certificate on an electronic document is considered complete with the imprint of the Notary's seal if the Notary's name and commission number appearing on the Notary's commission, and the words, "Notary Public," "State of Utah," and "My commission expires on (date)" appear electronically within the electronic document.
Vermont has enacted Legislation to regulate IPENs, but it is not effective until the Secretary of State adopts rules to implement IPENs. We will update this page when more information becomes available.
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must first hold an existing Virginia Notary commission, complete the eNotary Application and pay the $45 fee online, obtain a digital certificate with which they will sign electronic notarial acts. sign the application using the electronic signature they described in the Application, and receive an email confirmation if the application is approved. If the Application not approved, the Secretary of the Commonwealth will reply with an email stating the reason(s).
Notaries must use an electronic seal and electronic journal when performing IPENs.
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must select a tamper-evident technology with which to perform IPENs and apply for an Electronic Records Notary Public endorsement at any time during the commission term for a fee of $15, or apply for the endorsement simultaneously with applying for a commission, which costs $45. Within 30 days after receiving the endorsement and before performing IPENs, Notaries must provide the DOL the name of the tamper-evident technology they selected.
Electronic Records Notaries Public must use an electronic official stamp in performing IPENs.
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must either hold an existing commission as a traditional Notary Public or be applying for one, select a tamper-evident technology provider that meet the requirements under West Virginia law, complete the e-Notarization Authorization through the Enterprise Registration & Licensing System, and receive a confirmation from the Secretary of State.
Notaries may use an electronic official stamp when performing IPENs. If they do not choose to use one, they must ensure that each notarial certificate for an IPEN they complete contains the signature and date affixed by the Notary, the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed, the Notary's title, and the Notary's commission expiration date.
Notaries also must keep an electronic journal of all IPENs they perform.
Notaries who want to perform IPENs must be commissioned as a Notary and use tamper-evident technology.
Notaries may use an electronic official stamp when performing IPENs. If they do not choose to use one, they must ensure that each notarial certificate for an IPEN they complete contains the signature and date affixed by the Notary, the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed, the Notary's title, and the Notar's commission expiration date.
Notaries wanting to perform IPENs must notify the Secretary of State first.
Notaries must use an electronic official stamp, that if it is an electronic image, be in the same format, color, content and approximate size as the tangible official stamp and be capable of being copied together with the record to which the official stamp is affixed or attached or with which the official stamp is logically associated.