What Is Remote Online Notarization in Florida, and How Does It Work?
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
A Secure, Convenient Way to Notarize Eligible Documents Online
Notarization no longer has to require coordinating travel, meeting at an office, or waiting until everyone can be in the same room.
Remote Online Notarization, commonly called RON, allows eligible documents to be notarized through a secure online platform using live audio and video. The signer and notary can see, hear, and communicate with one another in real time while completing the required identity-verification and signing steps.
For clients managing tight deadlines, living outside Florida, traveling, or coordinating documents across multiple locations, RON can provide a more convenient way to move important paperwork forward.
How Remote Online Notarization Works in Florida
Florida law allows a registered Florida online notary to perform eligible notarizations through approved audio-video technology. The online notary must be physically located in Florida during the notarization, but the signer and participating witnesses may be located elsewhere.
The notarization is still governed by Florida law and must follow the state’s requirements for identity verification, communication technology, electronic signatures, recordkeeping, and the notarial certificate.
Although the appointment happens online, it remains a formal notarial act, not simply a video call.
What Happens During an Online Notary Appointment?
The exact process may vary depending on the document and technology platform, but most Remote Online Notarization appointments include the following steps.
1. Your Document Is Reviewed
Before the appointment, Stellar Signings reviews the general document requirements and confirms whether Remote Online Notarization may be an appropriate option.
Some documents, transactions, receiving agencies, or jurisdictions may require an in-person notarization. Clients should also confirm that the organization receiving the document will accept an electronically signed and remotely notarized version.
2. You Receive a Secure Appointment Link
Once the online appointment is confirmed, the signer receives access to a secure RON platform.
You will generally need:
A reliable internet connection
A computer, tablet, or compatible mobile device
A working camera and microphone
An acceptable government-issued photo ID
Access to your email
A quiet space where you can complete the appointment without interruption
3. Your Identity Is Verified
Florida’s online notarization procedures require the online notary to confirm the identity of the signer and any remote witnesses appearing during the session. The technology may use credential analysis, identity-proofing questions, or another legally permitted verification method.
This step protects the integrity of the transaction and helps confirm that the person appearing online is the person identified in the document.
4. You Meet With the Notary by Live Video
The signer and notary meet through real-time, two-way audio-video communication.
During the appointment, the notary may:
Confirm the signer’s identity
Review the notarial act being requested
Confirm that the signer is appearing willingly
Observe the electronic signature
Administer an oath or take an acknowledgment when required
Coordinate qualified witnesses when applicable
The online session is recorded, and Florida online notaries must maintain a secure electronic journal of their online notarizations.
5. The Document Is Electronically Notarized
After the required steps are completed, the notary applies an electronic signature, seal, and notarial certificate to the electronic document.
Florida requires the electronic signature and seal to be attached using technology that makes later changes to the document detectable.
The completed document can then be delivered electronically according to the needs of the signer or receiving organization.
Who Can Benefit From Remote Online Notarization?
RON may be helpful for:
Clients who live outside Florida
Travelers and seasonal residents
Buyers and sellers involved in remote real estate transactions
Individuals who cannot easily travel to an office
Businesses coordinating signatures in different locations
Families managing time-sensitive documents
Clients preparing eligible documents for use abroad
Russian-speaking clients who would prefer bilingual appointment support
Because the signer does not have to be physically located in Florida, Remote Online Notarization can also help when documents need to be completed across state or international boundaries. The Florida online notary, however, must be physically located in Florida when performing the notarization.
Can Every Document Be Notarized Online?
Not necessarily.
Whether RON can be used depends on factors such as:
The type of document
The required notarial act
The instructions of the requesting organization
The laws or policies of the receiving jurisdiction
Witness requirements
Whether electronic signatures are permitted
Whether the signer can successfully complete identity verification
Before scheduling, confirm that the organization receiving the document will accept Remote Online Notarization. Stellar Signings can explain the notarization process but cannot provide legal advice or determine whether a document will be legally sufficient for a particular purpose.
Is Remote Online Notarization Secure?
Florida’s RON framework includes several safeguards that are not part of an ordinary video meeting.
These include identity verification, secure audio-video technology, a recorded session, an electronic journal, and a tamper-evident electronic signature and seal.
Clients should still protect their appointment link, use a private internet connection, and avoid completing sensitive transactions in a public setting.
Begin With a Consultation
Stellar Signings offers Remote Online Notarization for eligible personal, business, legal, and real estate documents.
The date and time selected through the website reserve an initial consultation, not the final notarization appointment. During the consultation, we will review your request, confirm whether RON may be suitable, explain what you need, provide pricing, and coordinate the actual online signing.
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