What Is Remote Online Notarization?
Remote Online Notarization (RON) allows notaries to perform notarizations via secure video conference rather than in-person. The signer’s identity is verified digitally through knowledge-based authentication, the notarization is performed over video call, and all records are stored electronically. RON was dramatically accelerated by COVID-19 and has since been permanently adopted by the majority of US states.
How RON Works
The notary uses an approved RON platform — such as Notarize, DocVerify, or NotaryCam — that handles identity verification and manages the video session. The signing session is recorded in full and stored electronically. The notary applies their electronic seal and digital certificate to notarized documents, completing the notarization entirely remotely.
Which States Allow RON?
As of 2025, over 40 states have enacted permanent RON legislation, including major markets like Texas, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and Nevada. Always verify your state’s current RON status with your Secretary of State’s office before adding this service, as requirements vary considerably.
Should You Offer RON?
RON opens new client segments including out-of-state businesses, clients with mobility limitations, and companies seeking faster closing timelines. For most mobile notaries, in-person work remains higher-revenue, with RON as a valuable and profitable supplement that expands your addressable market beyond your physical service area.
The Technology and Equipment RON Requires
Beyond your standard notary equipment, RON requires a reliable high-speed internet connection, a webcam and microphone capable of clear video and audio (most modern laptops are sufficient), and a subscription to an approved RON platform, which typically costs $30-$80 per month depending on the provider and your signing volume. Some states also require a specific electronic notary seal and digital certificate that differs from your physical stamp.
Pricing RON Appointments
RON appointments are generally priced similarly to or slightly above in-person notarizations of the equivalent document, since the identity verification process and video session recording still require your full professional attention even though no travel is involved. Many notaries price RON sessions at $25-$75 per session for general documents, with loan signing RON packages priced comparably to in-person loan signings given the equivalent complexity and liability involved.
Common RON Pitfalls to Avoid
Technical issues — poor internet connections, platform outages, or unfamiliar software — are the most common source of frustration for both notary and signer during a RON session. Do a test run of your equipment and platform before your first live RON appointment, and always have a backup plan (a phone hotspot for internet, a secondary device) ready in case your primary setup fails mid-session, since an interrupted notarization is a far worse client experience than a slightly delayed one.
How RON Affects Your Liability and Insurance
Confirm with your E&O insurance provider that your policy explicitly covers RON appointments, since some older or more basic policies were written before RON became widespread and may not automatically extend coverage to remote notarizations. This is a simple confirmation call that protects you from a coverage gap you might not otherwise discover until it is too late, at the moment of an actual claim.
Explaining RON to Clients Unfamiliar With the Process
Many clients requesting RON for the first time are unfamiliar with exactly how the video session works and may feel uncertain about the process. A brief, reassuring explanation before the session — what identity verification will involve, how long the session typically takes, and that the recording is a standard security requirement rather than anything unusual — puts first-time RON clients at ease and reduces friction during the actual appointment itself.
Weighing Whether RON Genuinely Fits Your Specific Business
RON is not equally valuable to every notary’s specific business model. For signing agents heavily focused on in-person loan closings within a defined local territory, RON may represent only a modest supplemental revenue stream. For notaries serving clients with mobility limitations, international clients, or those in genuinely remote or underserved geographic areas, RON can represent a considerably larger and more strategically important portion of their overall business. Honestly assess your specific client base and market before investing significant time and subscription cost into a RON platform that may not align well with your particular circumstances.
If you are uncertain whether RON is worth the investment for your specific situation, consider starting with a lower-cost, pay-per-use RON platform rather than committing to an expensive monthly subscription before you have real data on your own actual RON demand and conversion rate.
The Bottom Line
RON is a genuinely valuable supplement for the right notary business, expanding your addressable market beyond your physical service area — assess honestly whether it fits your specific client base before investing in it.