5.3 Remote Ink Notarization (RIN) Procedures

5.3 Remote Ink Notarization (RIN) Procedures

Defining Remote Ink Notarization (RIN) vs. Remote Online Notarization (RON)

Illinois distinguishes remote notarial acts involving tangible paper documents from electronic notarial acts involving electronic records.

Remote Ink Notarization (RIN) is authorized by 5 ILCS 312/6-102.5 (Remote notarial acts). It allows a principal to sign a tangible paper document with wet ink while appearing before a notary through real-time audio-video technology. Critically, any commissioned Illinois notary public—not only an electronic notary—may perform these remote acts. The notary still must satisfy identity rules and the bonding consequences of performing remote acts by audio-video communication under 5 ILCS 312/2-105(b).

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is the fully electronic pathway under Article VI-A and Part 176 electronic-notarization rules: electronic records, electronic signatures/seals, and an electronic notary commission with an approved system provider.

Do not cite 5 ILCS 312/6A-105 for RIN. Section 6A-105 addresses electronic certificates for electronic notarial acts, not remote ink procedures.

Statutory Step-by-Step Procedure for RIN (5 ILCS 312/6-102.5)

1. Remote appearance & identity: The notary determines identity from personal knowledge, the oath/affirmation of a credible witness personally known to the notary, or identification documents meeting 6-102.5(a).
2. Audio-video session: Two-way audio-video technology must allow contemporaneous sight-and-sound interaction, and the act of signing must be captured sufficiently up close for observation.
3. Recording: The two-way audio-video communication must be recorded and preserved by the signatory or the signatory's designee for at least 3 years.
4. Transmission of the signed document: The signatory must transmit a legible copy of the entire signed document directly to the notary by overnight mail, fax, or electronic means no later than the day after the document is signed.
5. Notary return transmission: The notary must sign the transmitted copy as a witness and transmit the signed copy back to the signatory by overnight mail, fax, or electronic means within 24 hours after receipt.
6. Optional later original: If necessary, the notary may sign the original signed document as of the original execution date, provided the notary receives the original together with the electronically witnessed copy within 30 days after the remote notarization.

Day of remote signing
        |
        v
Signatory transmits full signed copy  --->  no later than the NEXT DAY
        |
        v
Notary returns signed/witnessed copy --->  within 24 HOURS after receipt
        |
        v
Optional original wet-ink completion --->  within 30 DAYS (if needed)

Location & Certificate Practices

Remote acts still require the notary to have lawful Illinois commissioning authority and to follow the certificate content required for the underlying notarial act. Electronic-notary location and out-of-state principal rules in Article VI-A apply to electronic notarial acts; do not automatically transplant every ENP platform rule onto a 6-102.5 remote ink session. When a certificate is completed for a remote act, it must accurately reflect the remote appearance method actually used.

Recordkeeping Distinction

• RIN (6-102.5): the statute expressly places 3-year preservation of the audio-video recording on the signatory or designee.
• RON / electronic acts: Part 176 electronic-journal and recording rules generally require longer retention (commonly 7 years) for electronic journals and related recordings.

Notaries who perform remote acts by audio-video communication must also maintain the higher bond coverage required by 5 ILCS 312/2-105(b) ($25,000 remote/electronic coverage, or a $30,000 combined bond).

Exam Traps Specific to RIN

1. Wrong statute citation: Choosing Article VI-A sections such as 6A-105 for a paper remote-ink scenario.
2. Wrong actor: Claiming only electronic notaries may perform remote ink acts even though 6-102.5 authorizes any commissioned notary.
3. Wrong deadline: Selecting a multi-business-day mailing window instead of next-day transmission and 24-hour return.
4. Wrong retention: Applying the electronic-act 7-year journal/recording rule to the 6-102.5 signatory-preserved 3-year recording.

A clean way to remember the distinction: RIN moves paper through a remote session under 6-102.5; RON keeps the entire transaction electronic under electronic-notary authority. Bonding may increase for remote audio-video work, but bonding is not the same thing as an electronic notary commission.