The Secretary of State’s Office now accepting remote online notary applications

PHOENIX – The Secretary of State’s Office is now accepting remote online notary applications, and is reaching to more than 73,000 active notaries to encourage them to apply.

Instead of requiring a person to be physically present when requesting notary services, remote online notarization relies on audio-visual technology to conduct the meetings. The Secretary of State’s Business Services Division is now able to accept remote online notarization for advanced directives, property deeds, loan approvals, business agreements, and more. 

“We fast-tracked development of the system needed to process electronic and remote online notary applications because notaries provide services people rely on when making decisions about their health and wellbeing,” Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said. “Challenges created by the current pandemic could delay those services or make them unsafe. That needed to change sooner rather than later.”

Last year, the Arizona State Legislature passed SB1030: Remote Online Notarization, which was scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2020. Earlier this week, Governor Doug Ducey signed an executive order, allowing the law to go into effect today.

“The governor’s executive order was a key factor in making remote notarization a reality, now,” Hobbs said. “This change will help Arizonans continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which encourages people to telecommute and adopt social distancing practices. It is critical that we continue meeting the essential needs of our community during this difficult time with safe and secure options.”

Additionally, economic sectors including the health care, real estate and financial industries will benefit from electronic and remote online notarization services, and implementation should be relatively easy for notaries, Hobbs said. 

When a registered, commissioned notary applies for remote online access, the information from the initial application will carry over to the new application, which must be mailed or emailed to the Secretary of State’s Office. As soon as officials verify the application and that the notary has the appropriate technology to perform the function, the notary will receive the updated certification within about a week.

The application is now available and can be found here: https://azsos.gov/business/notary/enotary.

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