MD Notary Remote Online Notarization 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the context of Remote Online Notarization, what is knowledge-based authentication (KBA)?
- The notary's personal knowledge of the signer from prior meetings
- A dynamic questionnaire using public records data to verify the signer's identity (Correct answer)
- A test of the signer's knowledge about the document being notarized
- Verification of the signer's professional licenses or certifications
Correct answer: A dynamic questionnaire using public records data to verify the signer's identity
KBA is a dynamic questionnaire based on the signer's personal history and public records, designed to verify identity remotely by asking questions only the true person could answer.
Question 2: What is credential analysis in the context of Remote Online Notarization?
- Verifying the notary's active commission credentials
- Reviewing the signer's professional certifications or degrees
- Automated or manual examination of the signer's government-issued ID for authenticity (Correct answer)
- Checking the RON platform's security compliance certifications
Correct answer: Automated or manual examination of the signer's government-issued ID for authenticity
Credential analysis involves examining the signer's government-issued photo ID to verify its authenticity and confirm the signer's identity.
Question 3: Must a Maryland notary maintain a journal entry for Remote Online Notarization transactions?
- No, electronic platform records replace the need for a separate journal
- Yes, a journal entry is required for every RON notarial act (Correct answer)
- Only if the RON involves a real estate or mortgage document
- Only at the notary's discretion
Correct answer: Yes, a journal entry is required for every RON notarial act
Maryland law requires notaries to maintain a journal of all notarial acts, and this requirement applies to remote online notarizations as well.
Question 4: Which Maryland office has oversight authority over Remote Online Notarization regulations and platform compliance?
- Maryland Department of Labor
- Maryland Office of the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- Maryland Judiciary
- Maryland Department of Commerce
Correct answer: Maryland Office of the Secretary of State
The Maryland Office of the Secretary of State oversees notary commissions and the regulations governing RON platform compliance in the state.
Question 5: What is the minimum requirement for audio-visual technology used in Maryland Remote Online Notarization?
- It must be sourced from a state-approved vendor list
- It must enable real-time two-way audio and video communication (Correct answer)
- It must record sessions in a minimum 4K video quality
- It must include facial recognition and biometric scanning software
Correct answer: It must enable real-time two-way audio and video communication
The audio-visual technology for RON must enable real-time, two-way communication so the notary and signer can simultaneously see and hear each other.
Question 6: What distinguishes Remote Online Notarization (RON) from In-Person Electronic Notarization (IPEN)?
- RON uses digital signatures while IPEN uses wet ink signatures
- In RON the signer is not physically present with the notary; in IPEN they are (Correct answer)
- IPEN requires audio-visual technology while RON uses encrypted email
- RON is only for real estate documents while IPEN covers all document types
Correct answer: In RON the signer is not physically present with the notary; in IPEN they are
The key distinction is physical presence — in RON the signer appears remotely via audio-visual technology, while in IPEN the signer is physically present with the notary but uses electronic documents.
Question 7: For how long must records of a Remote Online Notarization, including audio-visual recordings, be retained under Maryland law?
- 1 year
- 5 years
- 10 years (Correct answer)
- 25 years
Correct answer: 10 years
Maryland law requires that electronic records and audio-visual recordings of RON sessions be retained for 10 years to preserve a complete record of the notarial act.
MD Notary Remote Online Notarization 2
In the context of Remote Online Notarization, what is knowledge-based authentication (KBA)?