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.

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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

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


Digital Closing Articles

Recent 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019

The Legal and Regulatory Landscape for Digital Closings
AZ Big Media  |  December 30, 2019
In a recent report aimed at identifying improvements to the regulatory landscape that will better support financial technology and foster innovation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury offered three key recommendations to improve the electronic closing and recording process.
The Different Ways to Close Real Estate Purchase or Refinance
AZ Big Media  |  December 29, 2019
The ability to digitally purchase a home or refinance a mortgage is contingent on the laws in each state. While a digital closing is an option is many states, there are many ways consumers can complete their transactions.
Qualia Raises $55M to Transform Real Estate Transaction Infrastructure
November 14, 2019
Qualia announced it has raised $55 million in Series C financing led by Tiger Global, along with existing investors Bienville Capital, 8VC and Menlo Ventures.
First American Launches Mobile-focused Title and Escrow Company
November 12, 2019
Developed as a new stand-alone company, Endpoint combines First American’s title and settlement expertise with a startup to provide a digital real estate closing experience from start to finish. First American has invested $30 million to drive the company’s development and growth.
Survey: Most Title Companies Interested in Offering Digital Closings
November 7, 2019
Eighty percent of title companies are interested in conducting digital closings or have already closed some type of hybrid, electronic or remote online closing, according to recent ALTA survey. Read on to learn what top factors affect a title company's timeline to implement technology to conduct digital closings.
Snadocs Raises $25 Million to Bolster Digital Closing Platform
November 7, 2019
San Francisco-based real estate technology company Snapdocs has raised $25 million in series B funding to further develop its digital closing platform as well as its artificial intelligence offerings.
Ginnie Mae Seeks Input on Digital Mortgage Guidelines
October 29, 2019
Ginnie Mae issued a Request for Input (RFI) on the requirements that address the acceptability of digital promissory notes and other electronic documents as well as participation in its Digital Collateral Pilot.
Survey: Consumers Prefer In-person Closing but Want More Digital Experience
October 29, 2019
According to a new survey from Solidifi, eight in 10 consumers still prefer to complete their transaction in person. The results reinforce the importance of having a professional and qualified closing agent at the table as they proceed through the closing process on a home purchase or refinance.
Fidelity Launches Digital Closing Hub
October 23, 2019
The Digital Closing Hub is available to FNF title agents nationwide and provides content focused on industry news, educational materials for agents and their office staff, marketing tips when it comes to dealing with lenders and real estate agents, and a list of approved vendors to help with the digital closing process.
Quicken Pushes Out E-closing Capabilities to All 50 States
October 9, 2019
Through Amrock, a sister company of Quicken Loans, there are three ways to complete a mortgage electronically: an in-person hybrid e-closing, an in-person electronic notarization and a remote online notarization.
Get Help Going Digital
October 1, 2019
You asked, we answered: We have added two new dates to the Digital Closing & eMortgage Boot Camps! ALTA and the Mortgage Bankers Association have teamed up to bring you a series of live events in 2019-2020 to help your business navigate the digital closing process.
Ohio Remote Online Notary Legislation Goes Into Effect
September 26, 2019
Ohio’s remote online legislation, which follows key principles of the ALTA-MBA model, went into effect Sept. 20. The state adopted MISMO’s standards in its administrative rules for implementing the Notary Public Modernization Act.
ALTA Whitepaper Addresses Redaction of Info in Public Land Records
September 10, 2019
ALTA’s Real Property Records Committee has finalized a white paper titled “Privacy, Redaction, and Public Land Records,” which provides guidance on the redaction of information in the public land records. The paper makes recommendations for effective solutions to protect privacy in the public land records.
Have You Gone Digital?
September 10, 2019
Digital closings and the companies facilitating them are undoubtedly on the rise. Whether you have participated in a hybrid closing, remote online notarization or a full in-person e-closing—or even if you have no experience with digital closings at all—we want to hear about it by taking ALTA's Digital Closing Survey. Among the questions, the survey will capture information on whether companies have been asked to conduct a digital closing, when they expect to conduct these types of closings and a company's readiness for digital closings.
SoftPro Integrates With Black Knight’s Digital Closing Solution
August 28, 2019
Users of SoftPro 360 business exchange platform have access to the integration with Expedite Close and securely sign and notarize documents online.
ClosingLock Offers E-Signing Service
August 1, 2019
“We worked diligently to give our customers the ability to securely share documents and also have those documents electronically signed, all within the same system,” said Andy White, ClosingLock’s CEO and co-founder. “Several of our current clients gave us great insight into their system needs, and we believe our new e-signing feature fulfills those needs.”