Remote Online Notarization in California: When Is It Coming?

If you are a California notary hoping to notarize documents over a video call, you cannot do it yet. As of 2026, California law still requires the signer to physically appear before the notary for every notarial act. A video image or any other non-physical representation does not count as personal appearance under current California law. This catches many people off guard because California did pass a law authorizing remote online notarization (RON) back in 2023. The law exists on the books, but it is not yet in effect. Understanding the difference between what was signed and what is actually active is important for both practicing notaries and anyone studying for the California notary exam.

Remote online notarization, commonly called RON, allows a notary and a signer to complete a notarial act using live audio-video communication technology instead of meeting face to face. The signer appears on camera, the notary verifies their identity through digital tools, and the notarization is completed electronically. More than 40 states already allow some form of RON. The practice gained significant momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person meetings were restricted and demand for remote document signing surged. States like Virginia, Texas, and Florida adopted RON years ago, and many others followed. California has been one of the last major states to authorize RON, and even after passing the enabling legislation, the rollout has been slow.

Senate Bill 696, known as the Online Notarization Act, was signed into California law in 2023. The law is codified under Gov. Code Section 8231 and its related sections. It authorizes California notaries to perform remote online notarizations using audio-video communication technology once the necessary infrastructure is in place. However, SB 696 did not take effect immediately upon signing. The law includes a built-in delay tied to the completion of a technology project by the Secretary of State's office. The act will take full effect when the Secretary of State completes the Notary Automation Project 2.0 (NAP 2.0), or by January 1, 2030, whichever comes first. This means there are two possible activation dates: whenever the Secretary of State finishes building and deploying the NAP 2.0 system, or the hard deadline of January 1, 2030. If the technology project is completed in 2027, RON could become available then. If the project faces delays, notaries will have to wait until 2030 at the latest.

NAP 2.0 stands for Notary Automation Project 2.0. It is the technology platform the Secretary of State must build to support remote online notarization in California. While the specific technical details have not been fully disclosed to the public, the project is expected to include systems for verifying notary credentials during online sessions, recording and storing audio-video sessions, managing digital seals and electronic journals, and ensuring the security and integrity of remote notarizations. The timeline for completing NAP 2.0 has not been publicly committed to a specific date. The January 1, 2030 deadline in the statute serves as the backstop, but the Secretary of State's office could finish the project earlier.

While remote online notarization is not yet available, California does allow electronic notarization. These are two different things, and confusing them is a common mistake on the notary exam. Electronic notarization means that the notary can notarize documents that exist in electronic form, as long as every requirement of a traditional paper-based notarial act is still met. The signer must physically appear before the notary in person. The notary must verify identity using the same methods required for paper documents. The notary must use their official seal (with one exception noted below). The notary must maintain their journal as required. The only difference is that the document itself is digital rather than printed on paper. The signer is still in the same room as the notary. There is a limited exception: a seal is not required on electronic real estate documents under Gov. Code Section 27391(f) or on final subdivision plat maps under Gov. Code Section 66436(c). The bottom line: electronic notarization (digital documents, in-person signing) is legal now. Remote online notarization (digital documents, video call signing) is not legal yet.

The personal appearance requirement is one of the most fundamental rules in California notary law. Under current law, the signer must physically be in the presence of the notary. This applies to both acknowledgments (Civil Code Section 1189) and jurats (Gov. Code Section 8202). For an acknowledgment, the signer must personally appear before the notary and acknowledge that they signed the document. For a jurat, the signer must personally appear, sign the document in the notary's presence, and take an oath or affirmation. A notary who completes a notarial certificate without the signer being physically present is committing a serious violation. Under Gov. Code Section 8214.1, this is grounds for revocation or suspension of the notary's commission. Under Civil Code Section 1189(a)(4), knowingly making false statements in a certificate of acknowledgment can result in civil penalties of up to $10,000. When RON becomes available, the law will redefine what counts as personal appearance to include appearing via approved audio-video technology. Until then, physical presence is the only option.

Remote online notarization and electronic notarization are tested on the California notary exam. The exam draws from the California Notary Public Handbook, and these topics appear in the chapter covering electronic notarizations and the Online Notarization Act. Here are the key facts you should know for the exam: California notaries can perform electronic notarizations if all paper-based requirements are met, including physical presence of the signer. California does not currently allow remote online notarization via video call. A video image is not considered personal appearance under current California law. SB 696 (the Online Notarization Act) was signed in 2023 and is codified under Gov. Code Section 8231. RON will become effective when the Secretary of State completes the NAP 2.0 technology project, or by January 1, 2030, whichever comes first. Expect the exam to test whether you understand the difference between electronic notarization (allowed) and remote online notarization (not yet allowed). A common trap question describes a scenario where a signer wants to appear by video call and asks if the notary can proceed. The answer is no.

If you are a current California notary or preparing to become one, here is what the RON situation means for you in practical terms. You must continue to require physical presence for all notarizations. No exceptions exist under current law, regardless of what other states allow. If a client asks you to notarize over Zoom, FaceTime, or any other video platform, you must decline. You can offer electronic notarization if you have the tools. If you can handle digital documents while still meeting with the signer in person, electronic notarization is legal. This can be useful for signers who have documents in PDF format or who are working with platforms that use electronic signatures. Stay informed about NAP 2.0 progress. When the Secretary of State completes the technology platform, RON will become available and could open up significant new business opportunities. Notaries who are prepared to offer RON services early will have a competitive advantage. Do not advertise RON services. Advertising services you are not yet legally authorized to perform could be considered misleading advertising, which is grounds for disciplinary action under Gov. Code Section 8214.1. Ready to start studying? NotaryExamPro has AI-powered practice questions, study guides, and an AI tutor built from the official handbook.