Remote online notarization (RON)
Remote online notarization (RON) is a notarization performed over a live audio-video connection, where the signer and the notary aren't in the same room and the document is signed and sealed electronically.
Updated October 13, 2026 · 1 min read
How it differs from an e-signature
An electronic signature is just a signature. A notarization adds a commissioned notary who confirms the signer's identity and watches them sign. If a document needs a notary, e-signing it alone isn't enough, and RON is one way to get the notary step done without meeting in person.
Where it's allowed
RON is set by state law. The Uniform Law Commission's model notary act added remote notarization in 2018, using audio-video recording and identity-proofing technology, and states have adopted their own rules since. Our e-signature laws by state pages note whether each state has a remote notarization law.
SignMaster collects electronic signatures. It doesn't provide notaries or perform notarizations.
Questions? Answers.
Can I e-sign a document that needs notarizing?
Only as part of a notarization your state allows, such as a remote online notarization with a commissioned notary. An e-signature on its own doesn't meet a notarization requirement.
Sources
- Uniform Law Commission, Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (2021) · uniformlaws.org