Colorado Remote Online Notarization

Update 4/1/2020: The Colorado SOS office confirmed that there has been no change to the amount Colorado notaries can charge for a remote online notarization.  This makes RON cost-prohibitive in most instances.  We will update as we get more information. Colorado has adopted a temporary rule to allow Remote Online Notarization (RON) as a response to Corona Virus (COVID-19) and quarantine and social distancing recommendations at the state and federal level.  Below is the new rule put out by the Colorado Secretary of State Notary Division: As temporarily adopted and effective 3/30/2020 Rule 5. Remote Notarization 5.1 Definitions As used in these Rules, unless stated otherwise: 5.1.1 “Audio-video communication” means communication by which an individual is able to see, hear, and communicate with a remotely located...

Should You Become a Remote Online Notary?

Today's article should not be considered an endorsement of remote online notarization (RON) or an opposing viewpoint.  It is a simple summary of what I have observed since gaining my “boots on the ground” perspective.  I will describe how I got set up and some of the issues that must be overcome. Although, I am in Texas, other states’ notaries will undoubtedly have the same challenges that I had here.  In fact, some states are using Texas online notary laws as a model and tweaking them to fit their needs.  Others states have patterned theirs after the Revised Uniform Law on Notary Acts. Nuts and Bolts of Typical RON Legislation Below are the high points of remote notarization laws in layman terms, without...

Rainbow of Colorful Notary Stamps and Ink

There's a notary myth that rolls around in forums and on social media from time to time about notary stamp ink color.   It goes something like this: the majority of notaries believe that seal ink must be black.   Many believe colors may be blue or black.  The truth is that only one-fourth of the 50 states have laws that require notaries to select a certain color.  All of the other states can choose from any color of ink that can be reproduced darkly on a copier or when scanned.   Notaries who are not restricted to a certain color may select from blue, purple, red, blue, or green in addition to black or blue.  If you are not sure what color you...

What is a Notary and What do Notaries Do?

Do you need a Notary? What can a Notary do for you? If you're looking for an official witness for a variety of documents that require such a service, you may need a Notary Public. Read below for more about what a Notary is and what a Notary does. What is a Notary? According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, a Notary Public is "an official who has the legal authority to say that documents are correctly signed or true or to make an oath (=promise) official." Encyclopedia Britannica defines a "notary, also called notary public" as a "public official whose chief function in common-law countries is to authenticate contracts, deeds, and other documents by an appropriate certificate with a notarial seal." In broad terms, a Notary...

New Laws for California Notaries 2017

New California Notary Laws Effective January 1, 2017, notaries in California will have a few new notary laws to consider while performing their day-to-day notary duties.  The following are the new laws that have been updated: Acceptable forms of ID Maximum Fees Allowed Acceptable Delivery Methods & Notary ID   Acceptable Forms of ID Assembly Bill 2566, in conjunction with Senate Bill 997 amends Civil Code Section 1185, making the following changes: Foreign passports are no longer required to have a current visa stamp from USCIS or DHS. A valid consular identification card issued by a consulate from the applicant's country of citizenship now acceptable. An ID card issued by a federally recognized tribal government is now acceptable. (more…)