Digitally competent remote notaries are vital for mortgage lenders completing electronic closings, as they bring expertise, efficiency, and reliability to the eClosing process. The notary-focused DocMagic Agent’s Lounge stands as a crucial eClosing resource, supporting lenders’ use of DocMagic’s eClosing platform by offering a unique blend of comprehensive notary training, community support, and real-time insights. In a recent discussion, our Senior Training Manager, Steve Truitt, shed light on the complexities of eClosing and the crucial role notaries play in the process.

Truitt emphasized, “Completing the eClose process for our customers has to be clean and easy—and that includes the notaries.” An efficient eClosing process will benefit lenders and borrowers alike, and this process includes notaries who may not be employed by a lender but are integral to the success of the electronic closing.

Read on to learn about the importance of notaries and how DocMagic fosters proficiency in this crucial stage of eClosing.

Why Lenders Need Well-Trained Notaries

Trained notaries play a crucial role in the successful completion of eClosings for mortgage lenders. Notaries with expertise in eClosing accomplish the following:

• Ensure compliance: Trained notaries are well-versed in the legal and regulatory requirements surrounding electronic closings. Their knowledge ensures that the eClosing process adheres to all relevant laws, reducing the risk of legal complications for mortgage lenders.
• Enhance efficiency: Proficient notaries contribute to a streamlined eClosing process. Their familiarity with the eClosing software and electronic notarization procedures allows for quicker and more efficient transactions, reducing the time it takes to close.
• Minimize errors: Training equips notaries with the skills to accurately handle electronic documents and navigate the eClosing platform, which minimizes the likelihood of errors.
• Build borrower confidence: Trained notaries instill confidence in borrowers by facilitating a smooth and professional eClosing experience. This positive interaction reflects well on the mortgage lender, fostering trust and satisfaction among borrowers.

Whether the notaries used in eClosings are employed by the lender or are third parties contacted through DocMagic’s vetted eNotary database, their familiarity with eClosing software is an important aspect of the closing process.

The Role of Notaries in eClosing Efficiency

Addressing the different levels of eClosing familiarity among notaries, Truitt acknowledged the importance of eNotaries being proficient in the pertinent software—like the natively-built remote online notarization (RON) functionality of DocMagic’s all-in-one Total eClose™ platform.

“It has been a great challenge in the fact that RON is the last piece of electronic closing that most people have accepted,” noted Truitt, “and so it’s the least talked about and least understood aspect, I believe. And yet, a crucial one.”

Training notaries goes beyond just software knowledge; it involves familiarizing them with accessing the software and understanding its functions.

Truitt highlighted the significance of notaries in the electronic closing landscape, stating that successful remote eClosings rely on seamless RON transactions. He stressed the importance of ensuring notaries, whether employed by the lender or not, are well-prepared. Their performance reflects on the overall success of the process for borrowers and can even impact borrowers’ perceptions of their lender.

Success Within Reach: Training at the Agent’s Lounge

Despite the importance of notaries within the eClosing process, Truitt noted that there are inherent training challenges that come with self-study courses. On the other hand, a guided experience—facilitated by eClosing experts like those at DocMagic—ensure far-reaching comprehension of the processes involved.

The answer? Our exclusive Agent’s Lounge.

Truitt described the resounding success of the Lounge, a live training space where notaries can participate in simulated eClosings and get immediate answers to their eClosing questions.

A variety of notaries join the lounge, ranging from those experienced with electronic closings to newcomers. Truitt noted how the lounge accommodates different learning styles, offering a live, interactive experience that includes troubleshooting and addressing real-time questions.

The lounge is held every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00am PST and serves as an open forum for notaries, offering a platform to share insights, troubleshoot challenges, and stay updated on the latest developments.

DocMagic eNotaries and Available Resources

Becoming a certified notary in DocMagic’s database involves a meticulous onboarding process, including a comprehensive landing page with resources and encouragement for new notaries to join the weekly Agent’s Lounge sessions.

Truitt added, “You know, we created the product training page, and we created videos and guidebooks, and they all work hand-in-hand together. We also have FAQ pages and hacks and bonus materials”—all designed to support notaries in becoming proficient with eClosing and gaining a place in DocMagic’s database.

The focal point of the materials is the Lounge. It’s primarily attended by notaries, but we’ve even extended invitations to settlement agents and title agents to round out the comprehensive training environment and welcome input from all angles.

In addition, notaries in our database are regularly encouraged to address the complexities of RON eligibility by exploring our comprehensive resource hub. Notably, a dedicated webpage categorizes states based on RON activity, providing clarity on where RON is active, whether DocMagic is an approved provider for notaries, and links to each state’s Secretary of State. This valuable resource is regularly updated to ensure accuracy.

Adapting to the Future of eClosings

Notaries play a pivotal role in eClosing, and we’re engaged in ongoing efforts to ensure their effective integration into the process. RON has revolutionized the notarial process, offering convenience and efficiency; however, the landscape is dynamic, with eligibility varying across states and updates rolling out frequently.

Having access to tech-savvy remote notaries is an important digital transformation element for lenders. These notaries—a large group of which are always available through the database in our Total eClose platform—bring a mix of expertise, efficiency, and reliability to the eClosing process, ensuring it complies with regulations and elevates the overall experience for everyone involved. DocMagic’s Agent’s Lounge takes center stage as a pivotal resource, spotlighting how holistically we support lenders through our eClosing platform.

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This post is adapted from a detailed update on the new SB 696 bill in our Compliance Edge publication authored by Gavin T. Ales, Chief Compliance Officer at DocMagic.

On Saturday, September 30th, the California governor signed a bill into law, SB 696, that paves the way for legalization of remote online notarizations (RON) by California notaries. The groundbreaking piece of legislation has stipulations to review the technological requirements for RON, study laws of other states governing remote notarization, and determine appropriate regulations and rules necessary to enable the conduct of remote notarizations.

However, what sets this legislation apart is its forward-looking approach, with its full scope perhaps not becoming effective until years after its passage.

• Ask the eClosing Team: Unlocking the potential of hybrid eClosings (9/21/2023)

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• Compliant IRS transcript requests: Adapting to changes in form 4506-C (8/17/2023)

Recently, we reported that the House passed the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023, which is a bipartisan bill leading the charge to modernize the notarization process with remote online notarization (RON). The bill has been introduced multiple times in the House of Representatives and finally passed in late February; now, it’s arrived in the Senate and is with the Senate Judiciary Committee after two official readings.

The passage of the bill in the House is a positive development as it recognizes the need for making notarization-dependent processes, like eClosing and other real estate transactions, more accessible and convenient for all.

Clearing The Path To eClosing

One of the key ways the bill can achieve convenience for all is by solidifying the way forward for complete eClosing processes in any state in the U.S., which can significantly reduce the time and costs involved in loan closings.

Since RON allows for remote capture of one of the final legal requirements for a smooth closing—the notarial official’s seal on key documents—a federal law establishing rules around RON could pave the way to a future with fewer state-based obstructions to a digital closing process. And the benefits of a Total eClose are clear: loans close faster with fewer mistakes, and costs go down even as business improves for lenders, loan officers (LOs) and notaries.

However, the fact that the bill has stalled out before, despite its current status as under review by the Senate Judiciary committee, is cause for concern for all proponents of digital adoption. The bill needs to be passed by both the House and the Senate before it can become law, and any obstacle in the process only delays clarification of nationwide rules on RON. The Senate Judiciary committee needs to carefully consider the bill and its implications for the real estate industry—including its implications as a final step in pursuit of complete end-to-end eClosings.

The Steps Before RON: Hybrid eClosings & eNotes

While the bill implicitly clears the way for increased use of eClosings, it also draws attention to the fact that RON and digital notarization are only one aspect of closing digitization (albeit an important aspect). The solution for lenders anxiously awaiting passage of this bill? Hybrid eClosings.

Some parts of the lending industry still require paper—in fact, to complete a closing and sell the note to an investor, some lenders are required to paper out two document classifications: the note and anything requiring recordation and notarization. Aside from these essential documents, though, lenders may move toward a more efficient closing by generating electronic (e-enabled) documents for everything else, from the initial disclosure to the closing package. This can be achieved with the use of a software solution built for document generation of e-enabled, eSign-capable digital documents.

Want to discuss what a hybrid eClosing would look like for your organization? Schedule a demo and get your questions answered.

Once lenders have integrated a hybrid eClosing, they can take advantage of the next step in eClosing: eNotes, which are electronic versions of promissory notes. These eNotes are legally enforceable and can be transferred and sold much more easily than traditional paper-based notes, helping to increase liquidity in the market and provide greater flexibility for lenders.

Digital Adoption And Advancement

The SECURE Act is particularly important for lenders who have been seeking to increase their digital adoption in recent years. By allowing for RON and electronic signatures, the SECURE Act makes it easier for lenders and other entities to conduct business in a digital environment. This can help to increase efficiency and reduce costs, ultimately benefiting consumers as well.

Overall, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023 represents a significant step forward in the modernization of the notarization process. At DocMagic, we’re watching this bill’s progress with excitement and anticipation, and we’ll report any updates here on our blog. Ultimately, we believe the Senate’s passage of the SECURE Act will benefit both lenders and consumers, making notarization faster, more efficient and more convenient.

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This week, the House passed the SECURE Notarization Act—a bipartisan bill supporting new federal rules around remote digital notarization. The act aims to increase access to Remote Online Notarization and complement current state laws by creating a set of minimum federal standards while allowing states to add their own regulations and rules surrounding RON.

 H.R. 1059, also known as the SECURE Notarization Act, establishes nationwide minimum standards for electronic and remote notarizations, which align with DocMagic's Remote Online Notarization (RON) platform's features. Its passage could increase adoption of digital mortgage and eClosing solutions by lenders and settlement agents. In turn, this advancement could accelerate the shift toward fast and completely digital loan solutions, benefiting lenders and notaries alike.

The bill also requires that states accept notarizations from notaries in all other states when those notarial acts involve or include interstate commerce, which would effectively establish a basis for digital notarization in all 50 states. MBA, the Mortgage Banker’s Association, supports the bill and previously called on its members to campaign in its favor as well as contact their representatives in support.

Overall, this bill could lead to more widespread adoption of RON by lenders and settlement agents, including the RON tools in DocMagic's Total eClose™ platform, as the bill aims to increase access to RON and provide a secure and efficient way to complete documents remotely. DocMagic also supports the bill's requirement of multifactor authentication for identity proofing, video recording of notarization, and other scam preventatives so the mortgage industry can move toward ever-safer closings. The SECURE Notarization Act could help to further accelerate the shift towards digital mortgage and eClosing solutions, achieving easier interstate closings and more secure transactions for all.

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• DocMagic provides eClosing and eVault technology for Barr Group Mortgage’s First eNote Transaction through Click n’ Close’s non-delegated correspondent eNote program (2/16/2023)

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We’re happy to announce that Coastal Credit Union has chosen DocMagic’s Total eClose solution for completely paperless electronic mortgage loan closings and completed their first eClosing ceremony using Remote Online Notarization (RON) in North Carolina. What’s more, we were able to implement fully digital eClosing with RON in only two weeks! 

“Every lender is progressing toward their own vision of digital mortgage lending, but few are bypassing the hybrid eClose and going directly to the completely electronic ceremony,” said Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. “Not only did Coastal Credit Union go from traditional closings directly to fully electronic loan closings with Total eClose, but they completed that journey in a very short period of time.”

Many lenders are still operating under the mistaken assumption that the work involved in going fully electronic -- investor relations, servicer coordination, MERS connections, etc. -- will take many months to complete. As a result, many opt to enjoy the benefits of a hybrid eClosing process as an intermediary step in their transformation to fully digital lending.

Coastal did not want its members to wait for the benefits eClosing offers and chose a different path. The credit union’s management took advantage of the industry downturn to focus their attention on future-proofing their organization by implementing Total eClose. Management was committed to the process, but no one guessed they would be ready to eClose so quickly.

Within just a few weeks of the management team’s decision to go with DocMagic’s Total eClose solution, the credit union closed a mortgage loan for a member who was purchasing a home in North Carolina but was unable to leave Colorado to attend a traditional closing. The solution operated flawlessly, and its built-in RON capabilities made it possible for the member to close at their convenience.

Coastal was under an emergency order during COVID that allowed the use of RON. Afterward, as the state of North Carolina completed its RON Authorization legislation, the company reverted to IPEN (in-person electronic notarization) using an eNotary agent. Coastal can now close electronically in either manner.

“For us, it’s all about the member experience,” said Wendy Dawson, Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Coastal Credit Union. “We’re always looking for better ways to provide our members with a service that is convenient and accessible, wherever they find themselves. Total eClose provides a transparent and streamlined process through which our members' questions are answered before the closing so they can focus on more important issues -- like how to get the keys to their new homes.”

Coastal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned, financial cooperative, offering a full range of financial products and services.

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On Wednesday July 27^th, the United States House passed the “Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2022”, also called the “SECURE Notarization Act”, by a vote of 336 in favor to 90 against.  The SECURE Notarization Act would immediately grant remote notarization abilities to all commissioned notaries in the United States, subject to additional state requirements where those exist.  The Act has not yet been passed by the Senate which has introduced its own companion bill that currently remains in committee review.

Notary laws enacted throughout the United States before the proliferation of communication technology required the “personal appearance” of a signer before a notary, often requiring a “physical presence” within a certain distance of each other. The SECURE Notarization Act would achieve its purpose by immediately authorizing all commissioned notaries to conduct a notarization with a “remotely located individual” which still requires the personal appearance before the notary of the signer but allows it to be accomplished through the use of “communication technology.”  The Act also modifies any state law requiring physical presence to now be satisfied through the use of communication technology.

As is now common with remote notarization authorizing statutes, the SECURE Notarization Act establishes minimum identification requirements on the notarization, including:

• Personal knowledge of the signer
• Proof of the signer’s identity by oath or affirmation of a credible witness
• Completion of at least two forms of identity proofing using information obtained from public and private sources, such as a knowledge-based assessment.

The Act also requires that a recording of the notarization be made and stored by the notary in an electronic journal for at least 5 years if a state has a shorter requirement or at least 10 years if there is no state rule.

While the Act would immediately authorize commissioned notaries to conduct notarizations with remotely located individuals, it would not prevent states from enacting additional requirements, including requiring a separate application or approval by the state.  However, states are preempted from enacting laws which directly contradict the federal authorization to conduct a notarization with a remotely located individual or outside the physical presence of the signer.  The Act would also require all states to recognize the validity of notarizations validly completed under the laws of any other state or the Act.

Senate Bill 1625, which is the senate’s version of this bill with the same name, remains pending in the Senate, as we last discussed here.  DocMagic will continue to monitor developments both at the federal and state level and provide updates to our documents and systems as necessary to enable our customers to easily adopt electronic closings.

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DocMagic has launched eSign 3.0, an upgrade to our eSignature platform, with new features designed to help lenders easily facilitate remote online notarization (RON) eClosings.

One of the new features is a secure eClose portal that enables notary and settlement service providers to access and update closing document packages. When the notary or closing agent adds documents, our AutoPrep tool automatically applies the essential e-tag information for electronic execution, eliminating the labor intensive and error-prone process of manually preparing documents.

In addition to new RON and eClosing capabilities, eSign 3.0 dramatically improves signer functionality. With a growing percentage of borrowers using their mobile devices to participate in the mortgage process, eSign 3.0 offers a much more intuitive mobile experience for borrowers.

“We developed eSign 3.0 by making the borrower experience our primary focus,” said Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. “The workflow takes both the user's physical and emotional experiences into account. We paid close attention to the way users physically handle their phones as well as their emotional responses to technology. The result is a far more satisfying borrower experience.”

Additional eSign 3.0 upgrades include built-in knowledge-based authentication (KBA) and identity validation; a redesigned workflow to give borrowers additional time to read and review documents in a single, centralized view; an accelerated signing phase where intuitive tools track progress at every stage; and full oversight until all documents are executed. The platform’s integrated progress-tracking tools can be used on a computer or mobile device to keep borrowers aware of their progress every step of the way.

“It all starts with a robust API,” Iannitti said. “eSign 3.0 is powered by a comprehensive suite of web services designed specifically for seamless integrations. The end result is that eSign 3.0 makes borrowers feel more connected and informed, so they’re confident about working with their lender and walk away having enjoyed a more positive and memorable engagement.”

eSign 3.0 leverages DocMagic’s suite of eMortgage solutions, including its end-to-end Total eClose™ platform, dynamic document and MISMO Category 1 SMART Doc® eNote generation, automatic eNote registration with MERS®, and secure storage within its certified eVault.

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At both the federal and state level, remote online notarization (RON) appears to be gaining momentum. But at the same time, the practice is also being scaled back as various states’ pandemic-related states of emergencies come to an end. We break down all the action here.

Federal RON action:

In mid-June, the SECURE Notarization Act — which would allow the use of RON nationwide — was re-introduced in the U.S. House, a month after being re-introduced in the Senate. The bipartisan bill was immediately hailed by a variety of industry groups, including the American Land Title Association (ALTA), Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and more.

At least one organization opposes the bill: the California League of Independent Notaries. CLIN is the most vocal opposition in California, a state that itself presented the most vocal opposition to the SECURE Act when it was first introduced last year at the start of the pandemic. That bill never made it out of committee.

The current Senate bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, while the House version has been referred to two committees: Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce. 

State RON action:

At least 38 states have permanent laws allowing remote notarization; 36 of them allow RON, while the remaining two only permit remote ink-signed notarization (RIN), in which notarization takes place over video but only with paper documents and wet signatures. New Jersey and Illinois became the latest states to enact RON, with bills signed just last week (however, some state laws, including theirs, have yet to take effect).

Meanwhile, states are beginning to end their pandemic-related states of emergencies, meaning state leaders have to decide whether to extend or end their temporary remote notarization orders.

New York ended its disaster declaration; almost immediately the New York Department of State updated its website to state that notaries can no longer perform their services remotely. Mississippi’s state of emergency is set to end Aug. 15, prompting the Land Title Association of Mississippi to post this tongue-in-cheek headline: “Bye Bye RON/RIN — We hardly knew ye.” 

Other states are opting to extend their temporary laws. Georgia officially ended its public health state of emergency on June 30, but Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed an executive order to allow remote notarization to continue. Maine recently passed a law to allow remote notarizations until Jan. 1, 2023, while also laying the groundwork for permanent legislation: The new law directs the Secretary of State to conduct a study and develop recommendations for a permanent remote notary law.

What about RIN?

RIN gained popularity during the pandemic as a host of states allowed it on an emergency basis. Unlike RON, it hasn’t been seen as a permanent solution. Fannie Mae’s early-pandemic RIN guidance noted, “We do not expect these temporary governors’ executive orders and authorizations related to RIN to extend beyond the COVID-19 national emergency.”

However, in June, Fannie Mae updated its selling guide to announce minimum standards for RIN for loans issued on or after July 1, 2021. A few days later, Freddie Mac followed suit, while also clarifying that its RIN guidance requires multifactor authentication. The GSEs’ moves appear to acknowledge that RIN may be more permanent than initially expected.

Before the pandemic, two states — South Dakota and Montana — had permanent laws allowing RIN. Now another two states have joined them: Wyoming, which passed a law in February to allow both RON and RIN, and Alabama, which enacted a RIN-only law in April.

And don’t forget IPEN…

RON and RIN have received the bulk of the eNotary attention, but in-person eNotarization (IPEN) has also increased, as the states that passed permanent RON laws usually automatically allow IPEN as well.

However, over the last year another two states enacted permanent IPEN-only laws: Mississippi and South Carolina. The latter is notable because South Carolina was one of just two states (along with California) that, at the height of the pandemic, wouldn’t even pass a temporary order to allow remote notarization.

Mississippi and South Carolina borrowers may not be able to do a RON closing yet — but with IPEN they can now conduct a 100% paperless eClosing.

Related Content:

• Senators reintroduce bill to allow remote online notarizations nationwide (5/18/21)
• Should longtime RON-holdout California allow it? Secretary of State considers it (5/6/21)
• RON update: First new remote online notarization law of 2021 passes (2/12/2021)

The number of title and settlement companies that offer eClosings increased 228% in 2020, according to ALTA’s 2021 Digital Closing Survey of 300 title professionals.

The 2019 version of the survey showed that before the pandemic only 14% of companies offered digital closings. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 crisis and a raft of stay-at-home orders, that figure shot up to 46%.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, title and settlement professionals rapidly adapted their processes to meet the needs of their customers and to continue facilitating safe and secure closings,” said Diane Tomb, ALTA’s chief executive officer.

She added that one of the title industry’s most important tools has been remote online notarization (RON), adoption of which rose 547% in 2020, according to an earlier ALTA survey of vendors.

The 2021 Digital Closing Survey found that 35% of title and settlement companies offer RON technology, while more than 5% of transactions were closed using some version of RON.

“RON is a convenient alternative to traditional in-person notarization for all consumers, but it is especially beneficial to consumers who are unable to easily travel to access notarial services, serve in the military overseas or have time constraints,” Tomb said.

Additionally, 64% of survey respondents expect RON closings to increase in 2021. The factors most likely to affect a company’s timeline to implement RON technology are lender and consumer requests, access to RON providers, and changes to state laws.

At least 36 states have permanent laws on the books to allow some form of remote notarization, and 34 of those states permit RON (the other two states, Alabama and South Dakota, only allow remote ink-signed notarization, RIN, a lower-tech form of virtual notarization that doesn’t use electronic signatures).

Additionally, the federal Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act has been introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House. It would allow “immediate nationwide use” of RON nationwide.

While RON adoption has increased significantly, paper still comprises the bulk of the mortgage business. Only about 5% of ALTA survey respondents reported that their closings were fully digital, while 85% said all their closings were paper-based.

Additionally, getting set up for RON can be expensive. The average cost of implementing RON, including software, equipment and training, was almost $30,000 per office, according to the survey.

Those who implemented RON, however, reaped some key benefits: 52% of respondents said closing times were lower due to the number of documents that could be signed ahead of time, and 43% reported cost savings.

RON was used most often in transactions involving sellers only (40%), followed by cash deals (23%), refinances (17%) and purchases (14%).

Related Content:

• Senators reintroduce bill to allow remote online notarizations nationwide (5/18/21)
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Two U.S. senators from both sides of the aisle have reintroduced a bill that would allow “immediate nationwide use” of remote online notarization (RON) by every notary in the country, more than a year after introducing a similar bill at the start of the pandemic.

The Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act, co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), would require the use of tamper-evident technology and multifactor authentication during RON transactions to help prevent fraud.

“The pandemic exposed several flaws and outdated methods used in the American economy, and the notary process is a prime example,” Kramer said. “Our bill would bring this process into the 21st century.”

Currently 33 states have permanent laws to allow some form of remote notarization, and 32 of those states permit RON (South Dakota only allows remote ink-signed notarization, or RIN). During the pandemic, 48 states allowed remote notarization, much of that via temporary emergency orders.

The SECURE Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the American Land Title Association (ALTA), which reported that RON adoption jumped 547% in 2020 compared to 2019. A number of state chapters are also supporting the bill.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic presented a number of obstacles to essential tasks … many states demonstrated how to effectively deploy this type of technology to meet the needs of Americans,” Warner said.

Last year’s SECURE Act never left the Judiciary Committee. Its most prominent opposition came from then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who informed the committee that the bill “would create significant issues regarding authenticity and the potential for increased fraud.”

California has long been resistant to RON; during the pandemic it was one of only two states that didn’t even pass a temporary order to allow remote notarization.

The 2020 election may have changed the state’s RON landscape a little, however; Becerra is now the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. California’s previous Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, is now its junior senator while his replacement, Shirley Weber, has shown an open mind when it comes to RON. She hosted a Zoom briefing on April 28 where she invited experts to speak about its pros and cons.

“I have taken no position on this item. My interest in hosting this webinar is because I want to learn,” Weber said, noting that she’d likely be asked to weigh in on any state RON legislation.

Related Content:

• Should longtime RON-holdout California allow it? Secretary of State considers it (5/6/21)
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• RON update: Remote online notarization sees forward momentum — and a setback (6/26/2020)