ALTA strives to help members identify the benefits and risks associated with digital closings in order to put the industry in the best position to solve problems and inspire innovative ideas. ALTA is your source for tools and education about various aspects of digital closing and provide information about the availability of technological advances such as remote online rotary (RON).
Remote Online Notarization Videos
Introductory Videos on RON
Introduction to Digital Closings
Get a quick overview of the various types of digital closings, as well as the benefits and operational efficiencies they can provide.
Digital Closings: A Closer Look
Get the 411 on all the terms and acronyms associated with digital closings. Understand what they mean and the processes associated with each of them.
Remote Online Notarization
Learn about the various steps and requirements for performing a RON.
Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts Video Series
That Darn Promissory Note
Sponsored by Qualia
Listen to the first installment of the Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts video series as we discuss "That Darn Promissory Note." Joining Lisa Steele of Mother Lode Holding Co. and Eddie Oddo of First American Title Insurance Co. is Camilia Martin with Falcon Capital Advisors.
Agent Spotlight Boots on the Ground
Sponsored by Qualia
Eddie Oddo, vice president of First American Title's corporate business solutions, speaks with Web Raulston, CEO of Team Title Services in Tennessee, and Kelli Flores, vice president of First American's direct operations in Colorado. Learn how these title agents are approaching RON and RIN.
Boots on the Ground, The Real Story
Sponsored by FNF Family of Companies
During this third Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts video series, Lisa Steele of Mother Lode Holding Co. and Eddie Oddo of First American Title Insurance Co. discuss how title companies are handling remote online notarizations with Celia Flowers of East Texas Title and Dennis Pospisil of Republic Title of Texas.
The 411 on MISMO's RON Certification
During this latest installment of Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts, Lisa Steele of Mother Lode Holding Co. and Eddie Oddo of First American Title Insurance Co. talk with Rick Hill of the Mortgage Bankers Association about MISMO's Remote Online Notarization Certification.
Agent Spotlight Boots on the Ground
Check out this bonus Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts video as Lisa Steele of Mother Lode Holding Co. and Eddie Oddo of First American Title Insurance Co. talk with Celia Flowers of East Texas Title and Dennis Pospisil of Republic Title of Texas about how remote online notarizations have affected E&O coverage.
Resources
- 2022 Digital Closing Survey Results (Member-only Access, Log In Here)
- Remote Online Notarization FAQs - February 2021
- RON Workflow
- ALTA's Principles for Remote Notarization
- ALTA's 2017 Principles for Remote Online Notarization (RON)
- Notarization Types and Terminology
This infographic breaks down the various ways notarizations can occur and explains their capabilities and requirements. - Digital Closing Readiness Checklist
- Digital Closing Statutes
ALTA members have access to this state-by-state list of digital closing statutes. - List of MERS eRegistry Participants
RON Explained
This video walks through the remote notarization process, which connects consumers and notaries using two-way audio and video conferencing technology.
State Laws Authorizing Remote e-Notarization
Emergency orders and guidance issued by states on RON do not necessarily conform with the ALTA-MBA model or RULONA standards for consumer protections and anti-fraud safeguards. The powers of entities to issue such orders should to be reviewed on a state-by-state basis. Prior to relying on any emergency order or guidance, you should contact your underwriter. 48 states and the District of Columbia have either passed a RON law or issued an executive order pertaining to remotely notarizing documents, some have done both.
Please email any additional orders or guidance not listed to eblosser@alta.org.
Green indicates when RON laws were passed with darker green more recently. Click on each state for links to Laws and Regulations. Click "x" to close.
Federal Legislation
The Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2020 (SECURE Notarization Act) would permit immediate nationwide use of remote online notary (RON) with minimum standards and provide certainty for the interstate recognition of RON.
State Legislative Tools
Model Emergency Notarization Order Language
Resources for Finding RON Vendors
- ALTA Marketplace
- Fannie Mae Vendor List (scroll to middle of page)
- Freddie Mac Vendor List
- MISMO
- Vendor Data on Increased RON Usage in 2020
Digital Closing Articles
Recent 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Many Still Prefer In-person Closings, 19% Prefer RON
A large share of borrowers wants some digital closing tools, but the majority still prefer in-person interactions, according to survey data from Solidifi, a vendor that provides valuation, title and settlement services to the residential mortgage lending industry. The 2022 consumer mortgage experience survey, which had over 1,000 participants, found that about 81% of borrowers want a face-to-face closing and 19% prefer remote online notarization.
RON Use Projected to Increase in 2022
Companies currently offering remote online notarizations (RON) expect these types of closings to increase in 2022, according to ALTA’s latest 2022 Digital Closing Survey. The survey of 390 title professionals showed that 62% of companies offering RON believe this offering will increase over the next year, while a third reported they don’t anticipate any change. Read on for more survey results.
Data Shows Digital Notarizations Help Remove 800K Cars From Roads
According to data from Notarize and The Bridgespan Group, digitizing the entire notarization market across all industries by 2031is expected to reduce nearly four million metric tons of GHG emissions, or the equivalent of over 800,000 cars a year.
Virtual Real-estate Closings Go Mainstream, but Some States Hold Out
Real-estate closings can now take place remotely in most states, a shift that accelerated as much of life moved online during the pandemic. Mortgage lenders are pushing the remaining states to come on board, too, though lawmakers have reservations. In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a series of bills rolled into a package that included the ALTA-supported Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act (H.R. 3962). the bipartisan bill has 128 cosponsors in the House. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mark Warner (D-VA) have introduced a companion bill in the Senate. The bill has 12 cosponsors in the Senate.
North Carolina Passes RON Bill With Geolocation Requirement
North Carolina passed a bill that permits the use of remote online notarization (RON). The statute will go into effect July 1, 2023. One wrinkle in the statute that is causing concern requires notaries to verify the geolocation via communication technology of the remotely located principal. In addition, the ability to provide the geolocation of the remotely located principal is a requirement for a RON platform provider to get licensed by the Secretary of State.
MISMO Certifies DocMagic Platform
DocMagic attained MISMO’s eClosing System and remote online notarization (RON) certifications for its Total eClose solution.
SoftPro Integrates With Notarize
Notarize’s On-Demand Notary service connects SoftPro users with a nationwide network of commissioned Notarize notaries.
Study Finds RON Drives ROI for Title Agents, Lenders
Title agents can save up to $100 per transaction and lenders up to $444 per loan when electronically closed with Remote Online Notarization (RON), according to a study by MarketWise Advisors.
ALTA Partners With MISMO for e-Eligibility Exchange Initiative
ALTA announced that it will be the sole provider of title and settlement data for the MISMO e-Eligibility Exchange, powered by Snapdocs. The e-Eligibility Exchange features information on trading partner requirements, e-notarization regulations, county recording requirements, settlement agent readiness and title underwriter restrictions. The platform helps real estate and finance professionals navigate these factors so each closing can be as digital as possible. Get your free listing in the ALTA Registry so your company is part of the e-Eligibility Exchange.
Paymints.io Integrates With Notarize
Paymints.io announced an integration with online notarization provider Notarize that will allow users to see if a transaction is eligible for a digital closing, including online notarization.
N.Y. Governor Signs Bill Amending RON Law
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law Senate Bill 7780, which makes significant updates to the prior remote online notarization (RON) bill that was signed in late 2021. New York became the 39th state to allow RON. Among other things, the amendment moves the effective date the state's notaries can conduct RONs to Jan. 31, 2023, and starting Feb. 24, 2022, the bill temporarily authorizes notaries to perform notarial acts using a video conference notarization process, known as remote ink-signed notarization (RIN), until the full RON law goes into effect.
39 States Have Passed RON Legislation
New York became the 39th state to pass legislation allowing the use of remote online notarization (RON). The law is supported by the New York State Land Title Association (NYSLTA) and ALTA.
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