7.1 Arizona Remote Online Notarization (RON) Overview

Arizona Remote Online Notarization (RON) Overview

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is a notarial act performed for a remotely located individual — a signer who is NOT in the notary's physical presence — by means of communication technology that lets the notary and signer see and hear each other simultaneously in real time (A.R.S. § 41-263).

RON is the single most modern topic on the Arizona exam. The current RON authority is in A.R.S. § 41-263 and Secretary of State rules R2-12-1302 through 1309. Distinguish it from traditional paper notarization and in-person electronic notarization.

Why RON Exists and How It Became Permanent

Arizona enacted statutory RON in 2019 SB 1030 (Chapter 56), effective after June 30, 2020. A separate 2020 emergency order addressed pandemic conditions; it was not the origin of statutory RON. The 2022 RULONA legislation reorganized the provisions, and the current authority is A.R.S. § 41-263. For current practice, follow that section and the applicable Secretary of State rules rather than repealed article numbers.

What You Need Before You Can Perform RON

RON is not automatic. Three things must be true:

1. You hold an active traditional Arizona notary commission (the four-year, $5,000-bond commission).
2. You have separately registered with and received written authorization from the Secretary of State to perform RON, identifying the specific communication-technology platform you will use.
3. You use compliant communication technology, an electronic journal, and an audio-visual recording. Establish identity by personal knowledge, a qualifying credible witness, or at least two types of identity proofing under § 41-263(B); credential analysis and KBA are relevant only when the chosen proofing method and rules require them.

Arizona currently charges no additional fee and no additional bond for the RON (or eNotary) endorsement — but you cannot apply for RON unless you are already a commissioned notary. A common exam trap is the claim that "any Arizona notary can immediately notarize remotely." That is false: RON requires the extra Secretary of State authorization first.

RON vs. eNotary vs. Traditional — Three Different Things

Arizona recognizes three distinct notarization modes. Confusing them is the most-missed RON concept:

The key insight: eNotary still requires physical presence. The signer sits in the same room with the notary and identity is established through a lawful in-person route — only the document, signature, and seal are electronic. RON is the only mode where the signer never appears in person. A separate, well-known concept called remote ink-signed notarization (RIN) — where the signer signs paper on camera and mails it — is NOT the same as RON and is not the authorized Arizona electronic remote process; do not select RIN when the question describes Arizona's statutory RON.

The Required RON Technology Stack

Every compliant RON act involves five technical components, all defined in statute:

• Communication technology — two-way, simultaneous, real-time audio AND video (a phone call or pre-recorded video fails this test).
• Tamper-evident electronic signature — unique to the notary, under the notary's sole control, and linked so that altering the document invalidates the signature (A.R.S. § 41-268 and AAC R2-12-1204).
• Tamper-evident electronic seal — an electronic image containing the words "Notary Public," the commission county, the notary's name, the commission number, and the expiration date (AAC R2-12-1301(7) and R2-12-1205).
• Permanent, tamper-evident electronic journal — RON acts must be logged electronically; a RON act may NOT be recorded in the paper journal used for traditional acts (AAC R2-12-1309(A)).
• Audio-visual recording — the notary (or the platform on the notary's behalf) records the entire session and keeps a protected backup.

Where the Signer May Be Located

The notary must always be physically in Arizona, but A.R.S. § 41-263(B) lets the signer be (1) in Arizona, (2) outside Arizona but inside the United States, or (3) outside the United States if the record relates to a U.S. public official, court, governmental entity, or other entity subject to U.S. jurisdiction, or involves U.S. property or a transaction substantially connected with the United States; the notary must also have no actual knowledge that the signing or statement is prohibited by the signer’s foreign state. Expect at least one question on "who can be remote" — the answer is "the signer," never the notary.

Example: Maria, a RON-authorized Phoenix notary, is at her Phoenix desk. A signer in Denver needs a power of attorney notarized for an Arizona property sale. Maria launches an approved RON platform, they connect by live video, Maria uses the compliant two-method identity-proofing route, including credential analysis and KBA, and watches the signer e-sign, she applies her electronic seal and signature in tamper-evident format, the platform logs the electronic-journal entry, and the whole session is recorded. Because this example involves a power of attorney, the journal must include the signer’s identification credential number and the audiovisual recording must be retained at least seven years to use the remote fingerprint exception under § 41-254(D)(3). This is a valid RON — the signer was remote, the notary stayed in Arizona, and every required component was present.