In our increasingly digital world, online notarization is becoming more and more common. It offers convenience and efficiency by allowing notarization of documents to occur remotely, without the need for a physical presence. However, with this convenience comes the need for robust security measures, particularly when it comes to emailing sensitive documents. In this blog, we’ll explore the most secure way to email documents for online notarization, ensuring the protection of your confidential information.  Emails are a common way to send documents for online notarization, but they can be ..read more

Florida Notary Publics have been conducting remote notarizations since it became effective on January 1, 2020.  Remote Notarization, also known as Online Notarization, provides an efficient, secure, and convenient way to get documents notarized outside typical office settings.  We noticed that even though online notarization has been accepted since its legal date, some notaries still don’t know how to conduct a notarization online.  Our e-book launch is for Florida notaries who have questions about how to conduct an online notarization in accordance with Florida law. Additionall ..read more

Check out my most recent interview with CanvasRebel where I revealed how education really played a critical role in building my business and reputation within the legal community. For the full article, please visit: Meet Genna Rubolino – CanvasRebel Magazine. Written by: Genna Rubolino, FRP, Founder Florida Notary Public and Florida Online Notary Guardian Ad Litem: 15th Judicial Circuit The post How education shaped my career appeared first on Florida Virtual Notary ..read more

Many notaries assume that because we are a full service Remote Online Notarization “RON” company that we use our own platform to conduct our notarizations.  However, we outsource our RON service providers to deliver added security and reliable support to our signers. The two (2) platforms we utilize the most are SIGNiX and DocVerify. Below is a brief description of the benefits and details of each platform we use.  SIGNiX utilizes Zoom which most signers feel comfortable using. Additionally, the signer conducts their mandatory online identity verification with the notary present. Con ..read more

To understand why Florida Online Notaries are using biometrics to conduct their remote notarization over KBA (“Knowledge Based Authentication”), we first need to understand the difference between them. As a reminder, there are up to three (3) acceptable screening processes used for the identification of individuals seeking a remote notarization by a Florida Notary Public pursuant to Chapter 117 Section 265 – 2022 Florida Statutes – The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov). The acceptable identity screening processes are (1) Personal knowledge; (2) KBA; (3) Another method that meets the standards of t ..read more

A Notary Public in any state is still a human and they can make common mistakes especially when signing a unique document or document that they are not used to notarizing. I am not saying that this behavior is acceptable, but I am telling you, as the signer, to consider checking these five (5) things before leaving your notary after a signing to avoid having to redo a signing due to a notary error. Has the correct date been inserted by the signer and by the notary? Has the notary used a stamp? Bear in mind not all states require a Notary Public to use a stamp.  However, in the state of F ..read more

Great question, the obvious answer seems to indicate “Yes”. However, beginning on January 1, 2022, the Florida Statutes on Remote Online Notarization were modified to address this question. There are selected individuals and businesses under Chapter 117 Section 255 – 2020 Florida Statutes – The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov) that are eligible to retrieve the e-records of the signer without their explicit consent upon request. So, who are these individuals and businesses? Pursuant to Florida Law, they are as follows: “(a) The parties to an electronic record notarized by the online notary public ..read more

There are up to three (3) acceptable screening processes used for the identification of individuals seeking an online notarization by a Florida Notary Public pursuant to Chapter 117 Section 265 – 2022 Florida Statutes – The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov). The acceptable identity screening processes are as follows: Personal knowledge. The Florida Notary Public knows the signer and therefore can forego an online identity verification. 2. Knowledge Based Authentication (“KBA”).  This verification method contains four (4) main components along these lines: Credential analysis of the signer ..read more

As a notary, we have the unique ability to meet new individuals every day in our practice of signing documents, remotely or in-person. Some individuals may be signing documents of extreme importance, for example, estate planning documents such as a Last Will and Testament or real estate documents, for instance loan forms.  In Florida there are laws in place to ask questions to signers when signing such documents to gauge the signer’s competency at the time of signing. Besides these key questions, a Florida Notary Public can also utilize the following information to gauge a signer’s mental ..read more

For starters, many legal professionals and Florida Notary Publics don’t know that the Florida Statutes on online notarization have been modified effective January 1, 2022, due to House Bill 121 (“Bill”) being passed. We are the first state Bill to amend remote notarization provisions. The Bill adds new rules for recordings of remote notarizations and privacy. This is why it is important to pursue constant education on RON.  Some of the modifications include, but are not limited to, updated obligations for online notaries and RON service providers (also known as platforms) as follows: The ..read more