IA Guidance on Remote Online Notarization (2020)
Guidance
State: Iowa
Signed: March 22, 2020
Effective: March 22, 2020
Chapter: N/A
SummaryThe Iowa Secretary of State has issued guidance on performing notarial acts for remotely located individuals under the Governor's executive order waiving the requirement of personal appearance for notarial acts.
AffectsAll Iowa Notaries Public.
Changes
- Directs Notaries to select a remote online technology that complies with the provisions of House File 475 that is to take effect on July 1, 2020, as opposed to services that primarily offer video-conferencing ability.
- Reminds Notaries that they must follow all of the provisions in Section 6 of House File 475, including making a recording of the notarial act and retaining that recording, and registering with the Secretary of State before performing their first remote online notarization.
- Directs Notaries to take and follow the training provided by the remote online notarization platform provider so that they can utilize the identity proofing, oath-administration, e-signing and other important features of the platform.
- Directs Notaries to carefully verify the identity of the signer and to make certain the video resolution and audio clarity through the service used is sufficient for this purpose.
- Directs Notaries to use their best judgment when deciding if the signer is answering their questions truthfully.
AnalysisIowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has provided Iowa Notaries with official guidance to follow in performing remote online notarizations under the Governor's proclamation of the temporary waiver of the in-person requirement for notarial acts. The Governor's order specifically provided that in performing remote online notarial acts Notaries were to comply with any additional guidance provided by the Secretary of State. This guidance provides the temporary rules which Notaries are to follow.
Read the Secretary of State's guidance.