How Online Notarization is Making Legal Services More Accessible

How Online Notarization Works

The process involves multiple steps, namely: 

1. The person who wishes to have their documents notarized must verify their identity by uploading their ID, answering security questions, and performing other steps as required. 

2. The document for notarization is uploaded for system verification. 

Deeds, contracts, and affidavits are just some of the documents that can be notarized online. Real estate transactions and wills, on the other hand, often require in-person notarization due to legal requirements.  

3. The notary public and the client have a live video call. Here, the former will review the documents while the latter signs their name electronically. 

4. The notary public then signs the document and attaches their official seal. They will also provide a certificate that the process was done through online notarization. 

How Online Notarization Makes Legal Services More Accessible

Online notarization has been getting more popular these days, and it’s easy to see why. It makes legal services easily accessible, thanks to the following benefits: 

Convenience

With online legal notary services, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home or office. Moreover, you don’t need to go on a long drive/commute, deal with traffic, or pay exorbitant parking fees to get things notarized. 

As such, online notarization is the way to go if you are out of town/country or live in a rural area. It’s also good if you have a disability or live with circumstances that prevent you from getting traditional notarial services. 

Online notarization also works well if the co-signer for a document lives far away and is unable to join you for signing during the required timeframe. 

With the accessibility provided by online notarization, you can have your documents signed (together with other co-signers as needed) immediately. 

Ease of Access

Even if you are not well-versed with computers or don’t have anybody tech-savvy to help you out, you will find the online notarization process to be easy. The system is intuitive, and you will be guided electronically through the various steps. All you need is a laptop/PC, webcam, and microphone to get your documents notarized online. 

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/online-connection-laptop-plant-4208112/ 

Efficiency

Nobody likes waiting. With online notarization, you don’t have to waste a lot of time in line, waiting for the notary public, etc. The process is usually scheduled, which means you can get the signed documents within the expected timeframe (even earlier.) 

Flexibility

If you’re a typical worker in legal services, then you will definitely have a hard time fitting notary public service into your already busy schedule. But since online notarial services are widely flexible, you don’t have to interrupt your day just to get your documents signed. 

In fact, many companies offer 24/7 services, which means you can schedule an online notary service whenever you’re free. You can also file a notarial request in advance just to be sure. 

Accuracy

With the many documents and signatures involved, it could be easy to miss one page or line to sign during the traditional notarial process. Should this occur, you will have to drive back to the notary public’s office to sign the documents. This could lead to a delay, which is not good if the signing is time-sensitive. 

With online notarization, however, this can be easily prevented. The platform itself will inform the notary or the client regarding missed signatures, making it a more accurate and reliable process. 

Cost-Effectiveness

Online notarial services usually cost around $25 per document/service, which is cheaper if you need to have several pages notarized. Traditional services, after all, cost around $10 per page.

And, even if you only need one page signed, the cost of an online notarial service remains commensurate with the benefits. For one, you don’t have to spend money on gas or commuting anymore. There’s also no need to spend money on printing papers. More importantly, you get to save time, which is arguably priceless.

The cost-effectiveness of remote notarial services goes beyond the client side, too, as it benefits the providers as well. There’s no need for the notary public to spend money on travel, papers, printing, and whatnot. As such, it’s not surprising that online notarial services often cost cheaper than traditional ones. 

Source:https://www.pexels.com/photo/security-logo-60504/ 

Security

Fraud is often an issue with traditional notarization, as physical documents can easily be tampered with or altered.

With online notarization, there’s no need to worry about the security of your transaction as it follows stringent laws. In Florida, for example, the notary public must place strict security measures in place, such as multi-factor identity verification and tamper-proof electronic seals. Each transaction also comes with a unique ID, in case you want to verify that the transaction is ‘legit.’

Multilingual Feature

If the language barrier is getting in the way of notary services, know that the online service is perfect for you. The company can get you in touch with a notary who speaks your language or an interpreter, so you can easily understand each step of the process. 

Sustainability

Traditional notarization involves paper—lots of it. According to 8 Billion Trees, 42 million trees are being cut down every day to make paper and related products.

If you’re environmentally conscious, then the paper-reliant nature of traditional notarial services may be hindering you from getting them. That’s why you’re best off with online notarization, where everything is done online, so no papers are involved. 

And, should there come a time when you need to get rid of the document, all you just need to do is hit ‘delete.’ No need to shred paper, which will eventually end up in a landfill! 

The Takeaway

Online notarization helps assure the authenticity of documents and transactions, albeit in a novel way. Everything is done electronically, making legal services more accessible to people. With key features such as convenience, ease of access, efficiency, and flexibility, to name a few, it has become a more popular (and better option) for people seeking secure and timely notarial services.