NNA Remote Online Notarization & Digital Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a notary's 'electronic journal' in the context of RON?
- A secure digital record of all notarial acts performed, including signer identification details and session information (Correct answer)
- A personal blog about notary experiences
- An email folder containing copies of notarized documents
- A spreadsheet tracking notary fees collected
Correct answer: A secure digital record of all notarial acts performed, including signer identification details and session information
The electronic journal is a tamper-evident digital log documenting each RON session's details including date, time, type of act, signer identification information, and document description.
Question 2: What should a notary do if the audio-video connection drops during a RON session?
- Stop the notarization process and reconnect; do not complete the act without continuous audio-video communication (Correct answer)
- Continue with the notarization using audio only
- Complete the notarization and note the disconnection in the journal
- Have the signer call back on a regular phone to finish
Correct answer: Stop the notarization process and reconnect; do not complete the act without continuous audio-video communication
Continuous audio-video communication is a fundamental requirement of RON. If the connection is lost, the notarization must be paused and the session reconnected before proceeding.
Question 3: What is 'credential analysis' in the RON identity verification process?
- Automated examination of a government-issued ID to verify its authenticity and match it to the signer (Correct answer)
- Checking the signer's professional credentials or certifications
- Reviewing the signer's credit score
- Verifying the notary's commission status
Correct answer: Automated examination of a government-issued ID to verify its authenticity and match it to the signer
Credential analysis uses technology to examine a signer's government-issued ID, checking security features, comparing the photo to the live video feed, and verifying the document's authenticity.
Question 4: How many knowledge-based authentication (KBA) questions must a signer typically answer correctly for RON identity verification?
- At least 4 out of 5 questions within a limited time (Correct answer)
- 1 out of 1 question
- All 10 questions with no time limit
- 3 out of 3 questions
Correct answer: At least 4 out of 5 questions within a limited time
Most state RON laws and industry standards require signers to correctly answer at least 4 out of 5 KBA questions within a set time limit (typically 2 minutes) to verify their identity.
Question 5: What is a tamper-evident seal in electronic notarization?
- A digital mechanism that reveals if any changes are made to the document after the notary has signed and sealed it (Correct answer)
- A physical sticker placed on a printed copy of the document
- A watermark visible only under ultraviolet light
- An encryption that prevents anyone from opening the document
Correct answer: A digital mechanism that reveals if any changes are made to the document after the notary has signed and sealed it
A tamper-evident seal uses digital certificate technology to lock the document after notarization. Any subsequent changes invalidate the seal, alerting viewers that the document has been altered.
Question 6: Which type of notarial act can typically be performed via RON?
- Acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, and affirmations (as authorized by the notary's state) (Correct answer)
- Only acknowledgments
- Only document certifications
- No traditional notarial acts can be performed via RON
Correct answer: Acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, and affirmations (as authorized by the notary's state)
Most states that authorize RON allow notaries to perform the same types of notarial acts as in-person notarization, including acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, and affirmations, subject to state-specific rules.
NNA Remote Online Notarization & Digital Practices 2
What is a notary's 'electronic journal' in the context of RON?