Electronic notarizations is not the same as remote notarizations based on the definitions of the state laws. It is easy to confuse them, but they are not the same, and e-notarizations does not mean remote notarizations.
So, what are the differences?
Electronic notarizations:
Think of e-notarizations as traditional paper based notarizations, but completely electronic without the use of any paper. With e-notarizations, you do everything you do today with the paper based notarial act.
1. In person only, which means that all the participants are physically there with you in the same room. If you were to reach out your arm you could touch them, and make direct eye contact.
2. You must verify each participant with a photo ID that you can physically hold in your hand.
3. You will also enter each participants information into the electronic journal.
Remote notarizations:
Not all states allow this, so make sure your state permits it; otherwise, it is not a legal notarial act.
1. Person is remote, which means you interact with them through a web cam session.
2. If the person is NOT personally known to you, ID verification must be done through a state permitted method. In most cases what's called knowledge based authentication or KBA. If the person's ID cannot be verified in this way then you are not permitted to perform the notarial act.
3. If the person is NOT personally known to you, the participants information is entered automatically if and only if when they pass the KBA or other method of ID verification.
Watch the Video:
https://youtu.be/cg4bf5XD8NQ