RON Explained: How Notaries Can Start Doing Remote Online Notarizations

If you have been hearing the term RON thrown around in notary spaces and nodding along without fully understanding what it means or how to get started, this post is for you. Remote Online Notarization (RON) is one of the most significant shifts the notary industry has seen in decades, and notaries who understand it early are positioning themselves well.

What RON Actually Is

Instead of meeting a client in person, you connect with them through a secure video platform, verify their identity digitally, witness their signature in real time, and apply your electronic seal to the document. The entire appointment happens online, and the completed document is delivered digitally.

For clients, it means no driving, and faster turnaround. For you, it means your business is no longer limited by geography.

Is RON Legal Where You Are?

This is the most important question to answer before anything else, and it is the one notaries sometimes skip in their excitement to get started.

In the United States, the majority of states have passed RON legislation, but the rules are not the same everywhere.

Some states have strict platform requirements. Others limit which document types can be notarized remotely. A few still do not permit it at all.

In Canada, the adoption has been more gradual. Some provinces have updated their frameworks to allow virtual commissioning while others are still working through the process. Check directly with your state notary division or provincial governing body before advertising RON services to clients.

What You Need to Get Started

Once you have confirmed that RON is permitted in your jurisdiction, the setup is more straightforward than most notaries expect.

You will need a reliable internet connection and a device with a quality camera and microphone. You will also need to choose a RON-approved platform. In the U.S., platforms like BlueNotary, Proof, and DocVerify are widely used and built to meet state compliance requirements. For Canadian notaries, NotaryCentral is worth exploring depending on your province. Finally, check whether your state or province requires specific training or authorization before you can begin performing RON sessions. Some do. Others simply require that you use a compliant platform. Know before you go.

How a RON Appointment Actually Works

Here is what the process typically looks like from start to finish.

Your client uploads their document to the platform and verifies their identity using a government-issued ID. Most platforms also use knowledge-based authentication, which involves answering security questions drawn from public records. Once their identity is confirmed, they join a live video session with you. You review the document, guide them through the signing, apply your electronic seal and signature, and the completed document is delivered to both parties digitally.

The whole appointment often takes less time than an in-person visit, which means you can serve more clients in the same amount of hours.

RON Is Not a Replacement for Everything

It is worth being clear about this. Some documents still legally require a physical presence regardless of what your state or province permits for RON. Some clients also simply prefer to meet face to face, especially for sensitive or complex signings. RON works best as an addition to your existing services, not a wholesale replacement for in-person work.

The notaries who use it most effectively treat it as another tool in their business, one that expands their reach and gives clients more options.

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