Notaries based in the nation’s capital can now perform online notarizations! On Aug. 27, 2022, Bill 24-457 enacted permanent RON legislation. So, effective immediately, Washington, D.C., allows remote online notarizations (RON). Notaries may serve their clients conveniently and securely in the district and beyond via secure electronic records and paper documents signed in ink, notarized, and delivered to all parties. In addition, Washington, D.C., now recognizes online notarizations that notaries of other states correctly perform through interstate recognition laws.
Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) enactment
The bill authorizing RON in Washington, D.C., is a Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) enactment. This law also includes Remote Ink-Signed Notarization (RIN) and RON authorization.
RULONA was created by the Uniform Law Commission (ULC), a non-governmental body originally formed to promote standardized laws for business and commerce in different states. It is a uniform act that encourages uniformity of other state notary laws and administrative rules. RULONA addresses electronic notarization in general terms, and it is adopted in Iowa, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
How to Conduct RON in D.C.
To complete an online notarization in Washington, D.C., a notary needs:
- An original, unsigned document to upload
- A computer, iPhone, or Android phone with audio and video capabilities.
- A government-issued photo ID
- A U.S. social security number for secure identity verification
Notaries must also register with D.C., and the district mandates notaries to notify the mayor’s office for RON transactions. Notaries must provide the names of the technology providers they plan to use before their first transaction. The district has the authority to issue rules that govern the specific technologies notaries use.
eNotaryLog, Anytime, Anywhere
Remote online notarization offers residents of Washington, D.C., flexibility, and accessibility as well as security. With a secure Wi-Fi connection, RON transactions can take place anytime, anywhere. Signers do not need to even be in the capital at the time of the transaction; the same is true for lenders, real estate agents, and title and settlement agents. Now consumers have options in how they sign their mortgage documents. For example, a homebuyer in D.C. may execute documents using RON even if traveling overseas. This is important as many diplomats and government workers live and work in D.C. Also, people serving in the U.S. military can now use RON to buy or sell a home even if they are working outside of D.C.
