IL Notary Electronic and Remote Online Notarization (RON) Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Illinois law, what technology is required for remote online notarization (RON)?
- Telephone conference call
- Two-way audio-video communication (Correct answer)
- Email with digital signature
- Secure text messaging platform
Correct answer: Two-way audio-video communication
Illinois requires real-time, two-way audio-video communication technology for remote online notarization.
The Illinois Notary Public Act requires that remote online notarization be conducted using communication technology that allows real-time, two-way audio and video interaction between the notary and the signer.
Question 2: What type of electronic seal must an Illinois notary use for RON transactions?
- A scanned image of their physical stamp
- A tamper-evident digital seal (Correct answer)
- Any electronic image file
- No seal is required for RON
Correct answer: A tamper-evident digital seal
Illinois requires notaries performing RON to use a tamper-evident digital seal that can detect any alterations to the document after notarization.
For remote online notarization in Illinois, the notary must use a tamper-evident digital seal rather than a simple image of their physical stamp. This digital seal is cryptographically linked to the document and will reveal any unauthorized modifications made after the notarization.
Question 3: How must an Illinois notary verify a signer's identity during a RON session?
- The signer's verbal confirmation is sufficient
- Through credential analysis and identity proofing (Correct answer)
- By having the signer mail a copy of their ID afterward
- Only through personal knowledge of the signer
Correct answer: Through credential analysis and identity proofing
RON sessions require multi-factor identity verification including credential analysis of government-issued ID and identity proofing through knowledge-based authentication or similar methods.
Illinois RON requirements mandate robust identity verification since the notary and signer are not physically co-located. This typically involves credential analysis (examining a government-issued photo ID via the video feed) combined with identity proofing through knowledge-based authentication (KBA) questions.
Question 4: What must an Illinois notary retain as a record of each RON session?
- Only the signed document
- An audio-video recording of the entire session (Correct answer)
- A written summary of the session
- The signer's social security number
Correct answer: An audio-video recording of the entire session
Illinois requires notaries to retain an audio-video recording of the complete RON session as part of their notarial records.
The Illinois Notary Public Act requires that notaries performing RON maintain an audio-video recording of the entire notarization session. This recording serves as evidence that proper procedures were followed.
Question 5: Can an Illinois notary perform RON for a signer located in another state?
- No, both parties must be in Illinois
- Yes, as long as the notary is in Illinois and follows Illinois law (Correct answer)
- Only if the other state also permits RON
- Only with prior approval from the Secretary of State
Correct answer: Yes, as long as the notary is in Illinois and follows Illinois law
An Illinois notary may perform RON for a signer in another state, provided the notary is commissioned in Illinois and follows all Illinois RON requirements.
Illinois law authorizes its commissioned notaries to perform RON for signers regardless of the signer's physical location, as long as the notary follows all Illinois RON requirements. The governing jurisdiction is determined by where the notary is located, not the signer.
Question 6: What additional registration is required before an Illinois notary can perform RON?
- No additional registration beyond the standard commission
- Registration as a RON-authorized notary with the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- Certification from a private RON platform vendor
- Approval from the Illinois Supreme Court
Correct answer: Registration as a RON-authorized notary with the Secretary of State
Illinois notaries must register specifically as RON-authorized notaries with the Secretary of State before performing remote online notarizations.
In addition to holding a valid Illinois notary commission, a notary must complete a separate registration process with the Illinois Secretary of State to be authorized to perform remote online notarizations.
IL Notary Electronic and Remote Online Notarization (RON) Procedures 2
Under Illinois law, what technology is required for remote online notarization (RON)?