Posted by ohionotary on 4/24/08 10:52am
Msg #244848

E-Notarizations

Ok. I know I'm going to sound naive but can someone explain to me what an e-notarization is? I just had a settlement service ask me is I had an "e-notary". I searched and read what I could find on here but I'm still not quite getting it.

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/24/08 11:13am
Msg #244852

Do a search... lots of discussion. But they probably mean e-sign as e-notarization is a whole 'nother animal requiring both State acceptance of this method AND each individual county's ability to accept/record a doc. E-sign... you print the package (just in case this bright idea e-sign stuff doesn't work), drag your laptop and aircard to B's house, connect to internet on your dime, go to secure site, B's view non-notarized docs on line & 'click' accept, over & over. Then you make a CD of these online docs for B (because they are not in the package you printed). Then you get 'wet' signatures & notarize the 'printed' docs. Maybe fax the whole mess back & then overnight 'em. IMO, just say no.

Reply by Gerry_VT on 4/24/08 12:30pm
Msg #244860

If someone asked you if you have an e-notary, the person asking the question has only a foggy idea of what he/she is talking about. It could mean almost anything, or might be completely meaningless.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 4/24/08 3:14pm
Msg #244887

Article to read here

http://forum.notary.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=37

This was written for our state organization, Pennsylvania Association of Notaries. Wherever it says Pennsylvania, substitute your state and it will probably hit close to the mark.

Reply by ohionotary on 4/24/08 4:19pm
Msg #244889

Re: Article to read here

I don't have a laptop or all the other stuff I'd need to do this. Sounds like a royal pain in the @$$. I think I'm going to just say no. That's the safest thing to do.

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/24/08 5:42pm
Msg #244895

Excellent article, but...

to the best of my (granted, limited) knowledge, PA is the only state even attempting this at this point in time. Other states that are actually doing this, please chime in here so we all really are up to speed, state-wise.

Reply by Gerry_VT on 4/24/08 6:51pm
Msg #244910

Re: Excellent article, but...

I believe many states, including Vermont, by passing the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, allow electronic notarization. Although most of them don't have any facilities in land record offices to accept electronic deeds and the like, private parties who want a notarization but don't need to record the document can do so.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 4/25/08 8:38am
Msg #244976

That's true, and. . .

. . . even in states where recorders' offices have been updated to accept electronic documents Secretaries of those states have yet to set up the rules and regulations that would help notaries do their electronic jobs properly and securely. The laws and the technology exist; the souls willing to be among the first don't. It *is* a lot of work for a notary public administrator to prep the office for electronic notarization.

Reply by Mysti_FL on 4/25/08 9:40am
Msg #244986

Re: Fees

So is this a method whereby the notary would charge more because of the technology/cost or would they charge less because the closing is faster and less paperwork to print???

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 4/25/08 10:29am
Msg #244993

Re: Fees

You're charging for your skills and expertise, along with the technology you use. Or at least, you should be. Instead of figuring in toner and paper and copies, you figure in air time, computer cost , software, and knowledge.

Faster and less paperwork does not necessarily equal less expensive. I'm willing to bet electronic recording fees are the same as or higher than paper fees - they have to pay for those expensive electronic recording systems they bought, and the training and support for them.

Reply by Brasring_Ca on 4/25/08 4:11pm
Msg #245051

I do the E-signings and get ***.00 per signing, here in southern California and feel that it is worth it. Jenifer

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 4/29/08 1:50pm
Msg #245560

That could be *100.00* per signing (not worth it) or *500.00* per signing (definitely worth it), so we have no way of evaluating your statement.

And I'm not clear on whether "E-signings" include electronic notarizations as well as electronic signatures. If the Recorder of Deeds can't accept electronic files, then you have to print everything out anyway to record. So it's debatable as to whether it's cheaper for the client or not to do everything electronically.