The Current State of RON a/k/a Remote Online Notarizations

The Florida legislature and Governor signed into law effective January 1, 2020, a new law that allows for what is called remote online notarization (RON). This is a huge game-changer in the State of Florida, particularly in the area of real estate closings. No longer do parties all have to get together at a certain set time around the conference room and execute documents. Now, from the comfort of your own home, provided that you have your own laptop or smart phone, you can execute documents online and remotely and have those documents notarized. While the technology is new, it is not that new. It is the same technology that is used to validate your passport or driver’s license when you go through security at an airport. This validation technology is now being used for remote online notarization (RON). Our team at Oppenheim Law have embraced this technology and offer remote online notarization to our clients.

How Does RON effect real estate transactions?    

If, for example, you are in another state and are closing on real estate located in Florida, or, perhaps, you are in a profession (such as being a doctor and on call) that makes it difficult to attend  a closing, you can now  remotely video into the closing  and notarize your documents from the comfort wherever you might be. Documents are produced online for your review, and at the point that you are prepared to execute those documents, you can do so remotely. A notary is present at the time online, not physically with you, and that notary is then able to confirm and validate that you executed the documents without any duress or coercion.

There is a caveat, however, and that is that while remote online notarization, in theory, should work all over the world, it really is more of a domestic service for people within the United States. It is difficult for the technology, at this stage, to validate foreign credentials.

What is the role then of an International Civil Law Notary?

The good news is that if you are in a bind and must get documents executed overseas for a transaction that is occurring in the State of Florida, or even anywhere else in the United States, you still have the opportunity to have an International Civil Law Notary actually travel to that location and take the signatures in such a fashion that those signatures will be accepted here in the United States. This really comes in handy, under certain circumstances, when there is specifically an issue with Florida real estate for those who live overseas.

In any event, should you require the services of remote online notarization (RON), or in the alternative, an International Civil Law Notary, feel free to contact us at Oppenheim Law and Weston Title.

Weston Title & Escrow | Remote Online Notary Services
2500 Weston Rd #404
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331
954-384-6168