Secretary of State’s Office already has about 450 remote online notary applications

PHOENIX – The Secretary of State’s Office already has received about 450 remote online notary applications since April 10, when the application first became available.

Remote online notary services were initially scheduled to become available in July 2020. The project was fast-tracked due to the challenges created by the current pandemic and is now available for advanced directives, property deeds, loan approvals, business agreements and more.

"Previously, people were required to be physically present when requesting notary services," Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said. "Now, notaries and their customers can use audio-visual technology to conduct meetings, which is crucial at a time when people are encouraged to practice social distancing."

There are no additional fees associated with applying to become a remote online notary. Applicants must be a registered, commissioned notary to qualify for remote online access. Upon receipt of the initial request, it will be reviewed to determine whether the notary has the appropriate technology to perform the function. Once verified, an application will be generated and emailed to the notary. The application must be printed, signed, and mailed or emailed to the Secretary of State’s Office. Within about a week, the notary will receive the updated certification.

Once approved, remote notarizations can be completed for customers in another state or country, but the notary must be physically located in the state of Arizona.

Customers may not be charged with additional fees for electronic or remote notarization that would not be included in traditional notarizations. According to state law, notary fees can range from no charge up to a maximum of $10 per notarial act.

"We will provide information to notaries about the application process and the timelines from initial application submission to receipt of the new commission. The vendor that the notary selects will provide training on their platform for electronic and remote notarization. We encourage anyone with questions to contact our office for more information," Hobbs said.

The application, and answers to frequently asked questions, can be found here: azsos.gov/business/notary/enotary.

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