RON
What is Remote Online Notarization (RON), and when can a title agency use it?
Remote Online Notarization (RON) is notarization done over a secure live video call instead of in person — the notary verifies the signer's ID, watches them e-sign, and applies an electronic seal with a recorded audit trail. A title agency can use RON when the notary's state authorizes it and the underwriter, lender, and county will accept it — which today is most states, but not all.
RON has moved from novelty to normal for a lot of closings, but the question we hear most from title teams isn't "what is it" — it's "when am I actually allowed to use it, and what do I need for it to go clean." Here's the plain-language version.
What is Remote Online Notarization, in plain terms?
RON lets a notary and a signer complete a notarization while in different physical locations, connected by secure audio-video technology. Instead of meeting at a kitchen table, the signer joins a video session with a commissioned online notary, signs electronically, and the notary applies an electronic seal. Every session is recorded and stored, creating a tamper-evident audit trail that often documents the signing more thoroughly than a traditional one.
How does a RON closing work, step by step?
- Identity verification. The signer's identity is checked — typically knowledge-based authentication (questions only they should be able to answer) plus credential analysis of a government ID.
- Live video session. The signer connects with the online notary over secure video.
- Electronic signing. The signer e-signs the documents on screen while the notary observes.
- Seal and journal. The notary applies an electronic seal and records a journal entry.
- Delivery and recording. The completed package is returned for e-recording with the county and for funding.
When can a title agency use RON?
Three things generally need to line up:
- State authorization. The notary must be commissioned to perform RON in a state that authorizes it. Most states now do, but coverage and rules still vary.
- Acceptance. Your underwriter, the lender, and the recording county have to accept the RON execution for that transaction.
- Document eligibility. The specific documents in the package have to be RON-eligible — most closing documents are in authorizing states, but there are exceptions.
When all three line up, RON can compress a signing that used to take days of scheduling into a session measured in hours — useful for remote signers, tight timelines, and cross-state deals.
What do you need for a RON signing to go smoothly?
- A signer with a camera-and-microphone device and a stable connection.
- A valid, current government-issued ID that will pass credential analysis.
- Confirmation up front that the underwriter and county will accept RON for the file.
- A commissioned online notary who works in an authorizing state.
RON vs. in-person mobile notary — when to choose which?
Reach for RON when the signer is remote or the calendar is tight and everyone in the chain accepts it. Reach for an in-person mobile notary or signing service when a document, county, or underwriter still requires wet-ink, when the signer isn't comfortable with the technology, or when RON isn't authorized for that state. Many title agencies keep both options open and pick per file — and for the in-person side, that often means covering states outside their own footprint. We cover that in how title agencies handle out-of-state closings.
Frequently asked questions
Is RON legal in every state?
No. RON is authorized in most states but not all, and the rules differ. Eligibility depends on the notary's commissioning state and the transaction's requirements, so confirm authorization and acceptance before you schedule.
What does a signer need for a RON session?
A device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a valid government-issued ID. The signer also passes identity verification, which usually combines knowledge-based questions with credential analysis of the ID.
Are all closing documents RON-eligible?
Most deeds, mortgages, and closing documents are RON-eligible in authorizing states, but some documents or counties still require in-person or wet-ink signing. Confirm with your underwriter and the recording jurisdiction for each file.
AJArron Johnson
Founder of 247 Closers, a nationwide notary signing service offering mobile and Remote Online Notarization signings for title agencies.