Posted by MichaelB/IL on 4/27/12 1:03pm
Msg #419154

Tablet signing?

I recently did a closing at a Chase Branch and the branch manager mentioned that within a year Chase would have their closings done on a tablet. The idea is that the customer would sign once to have a sample of their signature, and then as they review the documents they just have to touch screen the signature line and the signature would be placed. Recordable documents would still be signed as original, and this would still happen face to face with a notary.

Not a bad idea, as it would reduce the signing strain on customers. Especially for the elderly or those that have difficulty signing. I am wondering if anyone else has heard of this and others thoughts.

In the future will we all need iPads or some other type of tablet? Does this take us down the road of one day being obsolete?

Reply by Clem/CA on 4/27/12 1:15pm
Msg #419156

I wonder if an electronic sig going to qualify as "signed in front of me" for our noterizations

Reply by MichaelB/IL on 4/27/12 1:43pm
Msg #419157

Thanks Clem. When I said that recordable documents would still be signed as original I should have qualified it that documents to notarize would still be original. Obviously, not all documents we notarize are recorded. Thanks for the help in clarifying that distinction.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 4/27/12 2:01pm
Msg #419158

Electronic notarizations are already allowed and the signer must be in front of the notary. Virginia plans to allow webcam notarizations in the future but that bill has not gone into effect yet.

Reply by AR_razormac on 4/27/12 2:05pm
Msg #419161

I recently did some research concerning this very concept considering NNA use to support electronic loan closings. This is a fabulous idea however when it was concieved the technology was not there to make it economical and the hassles of registering the software, getting the equipment, ect... I belive that it will be a possibility with the cost of tablets lowering and the technology increasing at almost three times the rate it did in the early 2000's. I bought a Lenovo Think Pad Tablet because it supports signatures with a pen. If organizations like NNA would lobby to reinstitue this concept life could be much easier on the professional notary.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/27/12 5:01pm
Msg #419189

Be careful what you wish for. In my opinion, if they did, they'd want to have something proprietary so that notaries would have to buy at least some portion of the set-up from them. At least that's been their track record in the past, in my experience.

I think that we will inevitably end up in that direction. Getting there, however, I think is likely to be a long, probably messy process, with fits and starts before some kind of technology becomes somewhat standardized. I'm visualizing the transitions from 8-track tapes to VCR to DVD to blue ray to... ??

Reply by Christine/OK on 4/27/12 6:29pm
Msg #419201

Hmmm . . . sounds like it is moving in the direction of 'eliminating' the human factor - as has been happening in so many industries. :-(

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/28/12 4:10am
Msg #419226

I dunno, Christine... I hope there will always be a need for someone to personally appear and for ID to be examined. After all, isn't that what a notarization is supposedly all about? We'll just be recording the transaction electronically. I certainly hope so, at least!!

Reply by ToniK on 4/27/12 3:00pm
Msg #419174

Well VA is a wet state...so Ive heard. lol Also we have a electronic seal option. But I have yet to sign up for that or have any company ask me.

Reply by Doris_CO on 4/27/12 6:02pm
Msg #419199

MichaelB, what you just described is known as an E-signing and it's already being done. Nothing new there. This is not an electronic notarization since the documents that are to be notarized must be printed and wet signed. There has been plenty of discussion on this subject on this forum and other forums.