Does California Allow Remote Online Notarization Yet?

Remote online notarization in California is not yet available from California-commissioned notaries, but you still have a legal path to get a document notarized over video today: use a remote notary commissioned in another state. Senate Bill 696, signed in 2023, created the Online Notarization Act and will eventually let California notaries notarize by live video, but the Secretary of State has to finish building the required technology platform first, with a hard deadline of January 1, 2030. Until then, out-of-state RON and traditional in-person notarization are your two options.

Why California Notaries Can’t Notarize by Video Yet

California law requires you to physically appear before a notary for any notarial act, like an acknowledgment or jurat. A video image doesn’t count as a personal appearance under current state law.¹

The Online Notarization Act bars California notaries from performing online notarizations until two things happen: the notary registers with the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State certifies that its technology project is complete.² Neither has happened. A California notary who notarizes a document over video right now is acting outside their authority.

Using an Out-of-State Remote Notary for a California Document

California gives full legal effect to remote online notarizations performed by notaries commissioned in other states. The recognition took effect on January 1, 2024 as part of SB 696’s initial phase. A document notarized remotely by a notary in Virginia, Florida, Nevada, or any other RON-authorized state is treated the same as if a California notary had handled it in person.³

The notarization has to fully comply with the laws of the state where the notary is commissioned. If that state requires credential analysis and identity proofing, those steps happen. If it requires a recorded session, the session gets recorded. You don’t skip any of the out-of-state requirements because the document will be used in California.

The signing itself is simple. You pick a RON service provider, connect with a commissioned notary through a secure video call, show a government-issued photo ID on camera, and answer identity-verification questions drawn from your personal history. The notary watches you sign the electronic document, applies an electronic seal, and the platform stores a recording of the session. Typical RON services charge roughly $25 or more per notarization, with additional fees for extra signatures.

When California Will Launch Its Own RON System

The Secretary of State must finish building and certifying the state’s online notarization platform no later than January 1, 2030. The law allows an earlier launch if the technology is ready sooner. There is one escape valve: if the Secretary of State notifies the Legislature and the Governor in writing by January 1, 2029 that the project won’t be finished in time, the deadline could shift.⁴ No such notification has been made, so 2030 remains the outer boundary.

Until certification is published, no California notary can legally perform an online notarization, no matter what training they have completed.

What California Notaries Will Need Once RON Launches

A California notary who wants to offer online notarization will first need a standard notary commission, which requires a six-hour approved course and a written exam. On top of that, the notary must complete a separate two-hour course focused on online notarization duties and pass an additional written exam prescribed by the Secretary of State.² Online notaries must also post a $25,000 surety bond, separate from and in addition to the standard notary bond.⁴

Identity proofing must meet at least Identity Assurance Level 2 under NIST standards, and a third party must perform credential analysis to confirm the validity of the signer’s government-issued ID.² Every online notarial act must be recorded by audio and video and stored on encrypted media under the notary’s exclusive control.

California will cap the fee for an online notarization at $30 per signature, double the $15 maximum for a traditional in-person notarization.² Platform providers may charge their own fees on top of the notary’s fee, so the total cost to the signer will likely run higher than $30.

In-Person Notarization Options Available Right Now

Traditional in-person notarization is widely available across California. Banks, credit unions, and shipping stores often have notaries on staff. The state-regulated maximum fee is $15 per signature for an acknowledgment or jurat.⁵ Some institutions waive the fee for account holders, so ask.

Mobile notaries are another option. A commissioned notary travels to your home, office, or anywhere else you need them, which helps with complex signings like real estate closings or when you can’t easily get to a notary’s office. Mobile notaries charge a travel fee on top of the $15 per-signature maximum, and that travel fee varies by distance, time of day, and the number of signatures. For a single-document notarization, expect the total to run somewhere between $50 and $150 depending on location. Notarization of vote-by-mail ballot envelopes and veterans’ benefit applications must be provided free of charge under California law.⁵

1
California Secretary of State. Customer Alerts
2
California Legislative Information. California Government Code Title 2 Division 1 Chapter 3 Article 2 – Online Notarization Act
3
California Legislative Information. California Code GOV Title 2 Division 1 Chapter 3 Article 3 – Section 8232
4
LegiScan. California Senate Bill 696 – Notaries Public – Enrolled Text
5
California Legislative Information. California Code GOV Title 2 Division 1 Chapter 3 Article 1 – Section 8211