Remote and Electronic Notarization — Notary Public practice questions

RON (Remote Online Notarization) requires:

1. Physical presence in the same room with the signer, because a notarial act performed over an electronic connection is not recognized in any United States jurisdiction
2. A recorded telephone call in which the notary asks the signer security questions drawn from public records, relying on the caller's ability to answer them correctly as proof of identity
3. Two-way audio-video technology, identity proofing (commonly knowledge-based authentication plus credential analysis), and a state-approved platform, with the session recorded and retained
4. An exchange of scanned pages by email, with the signer replying to confirm the signature is genuinely theirs, after which the notary applies the seal to the printed copy of the signed page

Answer: C — Two-way audio-video technology, identity proofing (commonly knowledge-based authentication plus credential analysis), and a state-approved platform, with the session recorded and retained

A) Wrong — many states now authorize remote online notarization, so physical presence is not the only lawful route. B) Wrong — audio alone gives the notary no view of the signer or the credential, and knowledge questions by phone are not accepted identity proofing. C) Correct — RON combines live two-way audio-video, layered identity proofing, and an approved platform; the specific requirements differ from state to state. D) Wrong — email confirmation involves no live interaction and no identity proofing at all.

A notary commissioned in a state that has not authorized remote notarization is asked to perform a RON session. She should

1. decline, because RON needs state authorization and usually a registration
2. proceed, since federal electronic signature law authorizes RON nationwide
3. proceed if the platform she plans to use is approved in the signer's state
4. proceed if the document will be recorded in a state that does permit RON

Answer: A — decline, because RON needs state authorization and usually a registration

A) Correct — RON authority flows from the notary's commissioning state, which typically requires a separate application, an approved platform, and training. B) Federal e-signature law validates electronic records; it does not confer notarial authority. C) The signer's state does not commission the notary. D) The recording jurisdiction does not supply the notary's authority either.

In a remote online notarization, identity proofing and credential analysis refer to

1. the notary's own visual comparison of the signer's face against the live video image
2. the recording of the session that is retained after the act is completed
3. the platform's verification of the signer's knowledge and of the ID's authenticity
4. the tamper-evident technology applied to the electronic document afterward

Answer: C — the platform's verification of the signer's knowledge and of the ID's authenticity

C) Correct — identity proofing typically uses dynamic knowledge-based questions or biometrics, while credential analysis tests whether the presented ID is genuine. A) Visual comparison is part of the session but is not what these terms name. B) Recording retention is a separate requirement. D) Tamper-evidence protects the record, not the identification.

A notary shares her electronic signing credentials with an assistant so notarizations can continue while she is on vacation. This is

1. acceptable if the assistant seals only documents the notary approved by email
2. acceptable, because the credential belongs to the office that paid for it
3. improper, since sole control is required just as with a physical seal
4. improper only if the assistant is not herself a commissioned notary public

Answer: C — improper, since sole control is required just as with a physical seal

C) Correct — exclusive control is a defining requirement for electronic notarial credentials, and sharing them enables acts the notary never performed. A) Email approval is not personal performance of the act. B) Payment does not transfer control of a personal commission credential. D) Another notary's commission does not authorize use of this notary's credential.

Knowledge-based authentication in a RON session generally consists of

1. the notary asking personal questions drawn from conversation with the signer
2. questions generated from third-party data, answered within attempt and time limits
3. an on-camera comparison of the signer's face against the photograph on the credential
4. a sworn statement from a credible witness who personally knows the signer

Answer: B — questions generated from third-party data, answered within attempt and time limits

B) Correct — KBA uses dynamically generated multiple-choice questions from public and proprietary data, with limited attempts and a time constraint. A) Ad hoc questioning by the notary is not KBA and proves little. C) That describes credential analysis or biometric comparison, a different component. D) A credible witness is a separate identification method, not KBA.

What is RON (Remote Online Notarization)?

Notarization conducted over audio-video technology with the signer in a different location. Permitted in most states (40+) as of 2024 with platform certification + state-specific rules.