6.4 Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Key Takeaways
- Louisiana authorizes RON under R.S. 35:625 et seq.; the notary must be physically located in Louisiana, in a parish where the notary may exercise the function, during the act
- Registration requires an approved course, a passing quiz, the PDF certificate, online filing with the Secretary of State, and a one-time $100 filing fee
- Authentic acts cannot be done by RON because the two witnesses must be physically present, not remote
- Under R.S. 35:626, any witness to a remote online notarial act must be in the physical presence of the signing party
- RON works for acknowledgments, affidavits, and oaths but not for documents requiring authentic form, such as most real estate closings and notarial testaments
What Remote Online Notarization Is
Remote Online Notarization (RON) lets a notary notarize for a signer who is not in the notary's physical presence, using two-way audio-visual technology, identity-proofing, and a tamper-evident electronic document. Louisiana enacted its RON statutes at R.S. 35:625 and following. RON answers questions about a signer in another city or state; it does not loosen Louisiana's authentic-act rules.
| Feature | Traditional notarization | RON |
|---|---|---|
| Signer location | Physically with the notary | Remote, may be in or outside Louisiana |
| Notary location | With the signer | Physically in Louisiana, in a parish where the notary may act |
| Medium | Paper | Approved electronic platform with A/V recording |
| Identity proofing | Personal knowledge or ID | Credential analysis + knowledge-based authentication + ID |
Becoming a RON-Authorized Notary
To register for RON with the Louisiana Secretary of State you must hold a current commission and complete each step:
- Complete the state-approved RON instruction course.
- Pass the associated online quiz.
- Obtain the PDF certificate of completion.
- Complete the RON registration through your online notary account and upload the certificate.
- Pay the one-time filing fee of $100 (separate from any technology-provider charges).
The $100 is a single filing fee, not an annual charge, and is unrelated to per-notarization platform fees.
Where the Notary Must Be
Under R.S. 35:626, a notary may perform a RON only while physically located in a parish of Louisiana in which the notary has the power to exercise notarial functions. The signer can be anywhere, in another parish, another state, or abroad, but the notary cannot leave Louisiana during the act. The notary should document his or her physical location for the record.
The Decisive Limitation: Authentic Acts and Witnesses
This is the most heavily tested point in the section. R.S. 35:626 requires that any witness to a remote online notarial act be in the physical presence of the party signing the document. Witnesses may not appear by video.
Because an authentic act requires two witnesses present with the signer, and an authentic act is the form Louisiana law prescribes for sales, mortgages, and donations of immovables, an authentic real estate closing cannot be completed purely by RON. The witnesses' physical-presence requirement is what blocks it, not a flat ban on real estate.
| Document | RON permitted? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Simple acknowledgment | Yes | No two-witness authentic form required |
| Affidavit / sworn statement / oath | Yes | Notary administers oath remotely |
| Authentic act (act of sale, mortgage, donation of immovable) | No | Two witnesses must be physically with the signer |
| Notarial testament (will) | No | Statutory witnessing and form requirements |
Hybrid (eClosing) Workflows
Lenders sometimes run a hybrid closing: ancillary documents that do not need authentic form (certain affidavits, acknowledgments, disclosures) are handled by RON, while the act of sale itself is executed in person as an authentic act with two physically present witnesses. The hybrid approach is the practical reconciliation of RON convenience with Louisiana's authentic-form mandate.
Technology and Recordkeeping
- Use an approved RON platform that performs credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication.
- The platform creates and the notary retains an audio-visual recording of the session.
- Maintain the electronic notarial record/journal of the act.
Exam Traps
- "The notary can be anywhere in the U.S." is wrong: the notary must be physically in Louisiana.
- "Witnesses can join by video" is wrong: witnesses must be physically with the signer.
- "RON consent makes an authentic act remote" is wrong: party consent cannot waive the physical-presence requirement for witnesses.
How RON Identity Proofing Works
RON replaces the in-person look at an ID with a layered electronic process the exam may reference:
- Credential analysis: the platform examines the security features of the signer's government ID to confirm it is genuine and unaltered.
- Knowledge-based authentication (KBA): the signer answers dynamic, out-of-wallet questions drawn from public and credit records within a time limit, typically requiring a high passing threshold.
- Live audio-visual session: the notary observes the signer in real time and confirms the signer matches the ID.
If identity cannot be established through these steps, the notary must refuse to proceed, exactly as with an unverifiable in-person signer.
What RON Does and Does Not Replace
RON changes the medium and the signer's location; it does not change Louisiana's form requirements. The clearest way to reason through any RON question is to ask first, "Does this document require an authentic act or two witnesses?" If yes, RON cannot complete it because the witnesses must be physically present. If no, RON is available.
| Use case | RON outcome | Controlling reason |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-state seller signs an acknowledgment | Permitted | No two-witness authentic form |
| Affidavit of small succession or oath | Permitted | Notary administers oath remotely |
| Act of sale of a home requiring authentic form | Not permitted by pure RON | Two witnesses must be with the signer |
| Authentic donation of immovable | Not permitted by pure RON | Authentic form requires present witnesses |
Practical Workflow and Records
A RON-authorized Louisiana notary keeps the audio-visual recording of each session and the electronic journal entry, typically for the retention period the platform and statute require. The notary's electronic signature and seal are applied through the approved provider, and the tamper-evident technology must show any post-signing alteration. Because the notary's authority is tied to physical presence in Louisiana, traveling out of state, even briefly, suspends the ability to perform RON until the notary returns.
Summary for the Exam
Remember three anchors and you will answer most RON questions correctly: the notary must be physically in Louisiana; witnesses must be physically with the signer, so authentic acts cannot go fully remote; and registration costs a one-time $100 filing fee after the approved course, quiz, certificate, and online filing with the Secretary of State.
Where must a Louisiana notary be physically located while performing a remote online notarization?
Why can a Louisiana authentic act, such as an act of sale of immovable property, generally NOT be completed purely by RON?
What is the Louisiana Secretary of State's one-time RON registration filing fee?