In this post, let's define e-notarization as an electronic notarization where the notary and the signer(s) get together in the same physical location. Many states permit this. Those states have varying requirements about a seal. Some, like mine, don't require a seal at all, neither for paper nor for electronic notarizations. Others require a seal for paper but not for electronic. Others require a seal, but define seal to mean the presence in the notary certificate of all the pieces of information that would appear in a seal (like the notary's name, "State of XXX", commission expiration date, commission number, etc.) but the so-called seal doesn't have to look like a seal, it can just be a list of information. In some states there has to be an electronic image that looks like a traditional seal.
A number of states require that seals, including electronic ones, be kept secure, under the sole control of the notary. In those states, a file on the office file server that anyone can get to wouldn't cut it. |
