The world is becoming digital at a faster rate than you can think. It’s good, but it also involves learning new jargon and technologies. Aside from ink and paper, the notarial process is moving to the digital era. Busy consumers may now choose from various notary services to have their field trip slips, real estate closing packages, and other paperwork notarized.
So, what’s the difference between mobile notarization, electronic notarization or e-notarization, and remote online notarization? Here are the definitions and distinctions to better understand each option should you want to explore any.
Electronic notarization or e-notarization
Notary publics who do notarizations electronically while all parties are present are known as “electronic notaries.” An E-Notary is another name for an electronic notary. The notary uses an electronic tamper-evident seal instead of an ink signature on paper. You will still face many of the same challenges with a mobile notary and a regular notary, even though this provides a more secure document when the receiver requests the copy online.
It has become more common for governments to allow electronic notarizations or e-notarizations. E-notarization will enable you to notarize a document electronically rather than physically, such as in a PDF file. Public notaries employ analog-digital signature seals, using computer-generated stamps in the same way as conventional notaries do. But the technique and regulations for electronic notarization vary from state to state.
Electronic signatures and stamps must be autonomous, distinct, and verifiable at their core. The official notary stamp is permanently included in the digital document once it has been stamped electronically.
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
You can use a wide variety of online notarization services from anywhere. Notarizing documents remotely and including all parties via video conferencing is much easier than it used to be, thanks to remote notarization.
Remote notarizations were less common a decade ago than mobile and standard paper notarizations. The tide has turned, and Remote Online Notarization has taken center stage in the notary scene, thanks to the advent of the IT revolution.
Because of RON’s accessibility, interoperability, and adaptability, notarization is now faster and easier than ever before. Notarizing papers using RON is a straightforward procedure for businesses. You don’t need to do anything more than submitting the necessary papers and authenticate your identity online. After that, you’ll be able to communicate with the other parties and get a notarized document to download or print.
Mobile Notary
As the name implies, a mobile notary is available anytime and in any location. If you want to perform the notarization, the notary public must go to the designated site. Due to the nature of this profession, the notary officer is referred to as a “traveling notary public.” This company operates on a predetermined schedule and charges a set rate for its services; nevertheless, you will be responsible for covering any associated travel or convenience expenses.
In contrast to other types of notaries, you must schedule an appointment with a mobile notary before the notarization date to use this service. A mobile notary may be more challenging to locate than a typical notary or electronic notary since they don’t have a central location where they work.
The biggest dissimilarities
Unlike electronic notarization, remote notarization does not require participants to be present in person but needs them to be physically present. In addition, not all electronic notarization methods are online or remote, and not all remote notaries are electronic.
Unlike distant notaries, mobile notaries come to your location, and there is no remoteness about this at all for them. A remote notary is less expensive than a mobile notary since you pay for their services and perhaps some internet charges. In most cases, this is a minor inconvenience.
Mobile notaries were often utilized for mortgage closings to meet the demands of both the borrower and the mortgage lender. The mobile notary public traveled to where the other parties were most comfortable.
People’s ability to focus on only a few notary service providers has been more difficult as the industry has grown more crowded. Although notarizations are important events in people’s life, they are not the only ones. If you are getting married, drafting a will, a power of attorney, completing jurats, or transacting real estate, you’ll need a notary to witness your signature. Online notarization services should rise in popularity over the next several years.