In 2020, North Carolina passed a temporary law authorizing Emergency Video Notarization (“EVN”) to alleviate the requirement that notaries be in the physical presence of signers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This law was set...more
Since the COVID-19 pandemic upended life as we knew it, the use of remote communication and collaborative technologies have become a permanent addition to everything; from schools to workplaces and everything in between....more
Recently, the House of Representatives passed the SECURE Notarization Act of 2022 (H.R. 3962). The legislation that creates federal minimum standards to allow notaries in all states to perform remote online notarization...more
On December 22, New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, signed Senate Bill 1780C (S1780C), which allows the state’s notaries to conduct remote online notarizations (RON). The law is to be effective on June 20, 2022. Among other...more
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many states implemented temporary measures allowing public notaries to perform notarial acts virtually. Over a year and a half after the initial states of emergency were instituted, some...more
Methods for getting a document notarized were changed temporarily at the outset of the pandemic because it was not practical – or at times even possible – to meet with a notary public in person. Now New Jersey is making that...more
One of the many inconveniences imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic has been the difficulty in obtaining notarization of documents. Yesterday, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber held a Zoom hearing to discuss whether remote...more
Remote notary law became effective in Colorado on December 31, 2020 thanks to Colorado SB20-96. Many of us spent much of 2020 performing remote notarizations under the temporary authorization and rules suspending the...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift away from ink-and-paper and toward electronic signatures and records. Such electronic options offer not only convenience, but also safety (in the form of social distancing) and...more
Governor Lee signed Executive Order No. 52 on June 29, 2020, extending remote notarization and witnessing of documents previously suspended in Executive Order No. 26 and Executive Order No. 37 through August 29, 2020. This...more
UPDATE: By an order dated May 7, 2020, the use of audio-visual technology for notarization and witnessing as provided below is permitted until June 6, 2020....more
Background on Notarization - Most of us have had a legal document, such as a real estate deed, mortgage, or power of attorney, notarized. Many people don’t realize is that there are two categories of notarized documents:...more
On March 30, 2020, we released an article which provided a brief overview of Remote Online Notarization (RON). That article also links to several resources that provide updates on the adoption and implementation of RON...more
Governor Greg Abbott has suspended a statute concerning appearance before a notary public to acknowledge real-estate instruments. This suspension will temporarily allow for appearance before a notary public via two-way...more
President Signs New COVID-19 Relief Bill into Law, Funding Additional PPP Loans - The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on April 24, providing $484...more
On Monday, Governor Baker signed a temporary measure into law allowing notaries to notarize documents by videoconference during the current state of emergency. This means that Massachusetts residents can—among other...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the way we live and conduct business. Most non-essential businesses have closed their offices and established entirely remote workforces, and many individuals may be in...more
On April 14, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a bill that allows a notary public or other officer authorized to take oaths, affirmations, affidavits and acknowledgments in the State of New Jersey (e.g.,...more
On April 15, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed bill A-3903 into law. The new law allows for New Jersey notaries (or an officer authorized to take oaths, affirmations, and affidavits, or to take acknowledgements) to...more
At a news conference on April 20, Governor Wolf announced he is extending his stay-at-home order until May 8, 2020. But in a nod to a construction industry that has been particularly hard-hit by the Governor’s shutdown and...more
On April 9, 2020, the governor suspended certain statutes concerning appearance before a notary public to execute a self-proved will, a durable power of attorney, a medical power of attorney, a directive to physician, or an...more
On April 6, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order extending New York’s density-mitigation measures through April 29, 2020. In addition, among other things, the Order provides for the virtual witnessing of wills,...more