Washington State now allows (see licensing endorsement requirements) its notaries to conduct notarizations online over live audio-video calls. Specifically, the signer must appear before the notary during the signing event taking place in an audio-video call. This law enables online notarizations and created the concept of a remote notary. The establishment of strict requirements for ID verification, tamper-proofing, and document retention have made remote notarizations safer and more reliable than a standard in-person notarization.

Remote online notarization is when documents are notarized in an electronic form where the signer uses an electronic signature and appears before the notary using online audio-video technology. Simply put, you can connect with a notary anywhere, anytime, without physically needing to meet them.

A remote notary is a legally commissioned notary public who is authorized to conduct notarizations over the internet via digital tools and a live audio-video call.

All notaries, no matter how they perform their service, must watch as someone signs a document. Historically, this has required that the notary and signer must travel to meet one another in-person where the notary serves as a witness during the signing event.