Remote Notarization Approved by U.S. House
The U.S. House passed a bill to allow remote notarizations, a move NAR says it “has strongly supported … since 2018.” It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
WASHINGTON – While the technology for remote notarizations has been around for years, a patchwork of laws has many times blocked its use.
However, a legal framework for expanding remote notarizations passed the U.S. House on Monday. It now goes to the Senate for consider, and if passed and later signed by Pres. Joe Biden, it will become law.
In addition to authorizing remote notarizations, the Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act would also create national standards and protections for its use.
Among other things, the bill version passed by the House would authorize notaries to create minimum standards for, electronic notarizations and remote notarizations “that occur in or affect interstate commerce. It also would require federal courts to recognize notarizations performed by a notary in any state, and would establish national minimum consumer protection and fraud prevention standards, while allowing states the flexibility to supplement the federal standards with their own.”
“NAR has strongly supported remote online notarization since 2018 and commends members of the House for passing the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023,” NAR President Kenny Parcell said in a statement issued after the bill passed.
“Should the legislation become law, Americans will benefit greatly from this long-awaited technological advancement by allowing immediate, nationwide use of remote online notarization technology. The reliability and validity of notarized public records is central to the real estate market and provides a foundation for all parties when mortgaging, purchasing, and selling real property.”
Parcell says NAR will “continue to advocate for the bill’s passage in the Senate.”
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