I have a customer who needs her grandmother’s signature notarized. The grandmother has issues with dementia. The customer has had issues scheduling an appointment with a Notary, so she recorded a video of her grandmother signing the document instead. Is showing me the video sufficient for me to notarize the grandmother’s signature? — C.S., Salt Lake City, UT
Using a video recording is not an acceptable substitute for a signer’s personal appearance before the Notary in Utah. At this point the customer may need to consult with an attorney to assist them with the grandmother’s needs.
The use of video technology in place of personal appearance during a notarization is permissible only in Virginia, which allows the use of “video and audio conference technology” to virtually appear before a Notary.
Several states and territories — including California, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, the Northern Marianas, Rhode Island and Washington — have issued public statements or consumer alerts that notarizations using online communication technology are prohibited and signers must still appear in person before the Notary in those states.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
David Thun is an Associate Editor at the National Notary Association.
Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call (888) 876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.