Clarifying Concerns about the SECURE Notarization Act

       The SECURE Notarization Act is expected to have a huge impact on remote notary use in the United States. Following a favorable approval in the U.S. House of Representatives, this bill will make its way to the Senate after the Labor Day Weekend. If this bill passes as expected, every U.S. citizen will have access to the compelling advantages of remote online notarization (RON). Despite this favorable news, there are still concerns registered by some. Questions such as “Will this preempt state laws” or “What sort of regulations will be put in place?” have been raised. While these issues are certainly important, an understanding of the details helps address them.

What National Standards Will Be Put in Place?

      With the nationwide legalization of RON, minimum standards for consumer protection will be in effect to maintain safety and security, and interstate recognition of notarial acts is further clarified. RON platforms will be required to have tamper-evident technology to ensure the notarized documents are not altered. Multi-factor authentication will be a minimum requirement when verifying identities, and there must be an audio/visual recording and e-notary journal for each notarial act.   SIGNiX already meets and exceeds each of these requirements to offer the highest level of security possible together with an intuitive and easy-to-use experience.

Will the SECURE Notarization Act Preempt State Laws?

            The SECURE Act does not preempt state RON laws that meet its minimum-security standards. State data privacy laws will also not be infringed upon. If this bill passes, the legislation will instead reinforce existing state laws. Individual states will still have the freedom to execute RON regulations that augment the fraud protections incorporated in the SECURE Act. The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, called ESIGN, was passed in 2000 and legally recognized electronic signatures as valid. This legislation, as well as the state version called the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), was executed with recognition of state laws. The SECURE Notarization Act will follow similar a similar path regarding the relationship between state and federal law.

Why does the SECURE Notarization Act Really Matter?

            Not only will the SECURE Act enforce positive RON standards, but it also furthers our freedoms as Americans. Notaries will be able to perform a RON transaction with any U.S. citizen. In fact, signers temporarily residing outside of the United States, such as military members and their families, will be able to have documents notarized remotely and safely. Signers can schedule their notarizations more conveniently and can also take their time reviewing documents prior to scheduling time to have everything signed and notarized. Other benefits of RON include superior fraud protection, security, and data privacy.

How is SIGNiX Different from Other Platforms?

            SIGNiX has always held a customer-first perspective. We know how frustrating it is to invest in a new product without any idea of how to get started. That is why significant resources are invested in our live and on demand training sessions, a client success program to facilitate successful utilization, and our customer service via telephone and email.  Along with being a leader in customer service, we are also a leader in terms of security. Our RON software features tamper-evident technology and an audio-visual recording of each transaction. This keeps your RON transactions safe and protects you legally.

            Does RON sound like the perfect solution for you but you still have questions? Meet with one of our team members today to learn more about why SIGNiX is your best choice. We’re equipped to safely bring remote notarization to the entire nation.