2026-02-23 Proof Release Notes
Starting February 23, 2026, all Michigan-commissioned notaries will have general availability to authenticate signers using biometrics for business, real estate, and notary-sourced transactions.
The short answer: Michigan notaries will be able to use biometrics to authenticate signers starting February 23, 2026.
Enhancements
Proof DEPLOY-1273 shipping on February 23, 2026.
We've added support for Michigan notaries to authenticate signers using biometrics. This will be available for all Michigan-commissioned notaries (NX-6443).
- Audience: Business, real estate, notary-sourced transactions
- User roles: Michigan notary-sourced transactions
- Release stage: General availability
Summary Checklist
- Michigan biometric signer authentication is now in general availability as of February 23, 2026.
- This feature applies to business, real estate, and notary-sourced transaction audiences.
- All Michigan-commissioned notaries are eligible for this update.
Related
Selfie Photo Comparison Overview
Selfie photo comparison, also known as biometric verification, is an identity verification method used across all Proof transaction types—Sign, Identify, Verify, and Notarize—where a real-time selfie is matched against a provided photo ID, serving either as the preferred verification method or as a fallback to knowledge-based authentication, with biometric verification accepted for notarizations in Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The Next Era of Identity Verification
Michigan has pioneered updated remote notarization standards incorporating biometric authentication with strict security measures, offering a more reliable and user-friendly alternative to traditional knowledge-based authentication, which is increasingly vulnerable due to widespread data breaches and sophisticated fraud.
Capture Selfie Photos for Identity Verification – Proof Help Center
The Proof Help Center explains that Selfie Comparison, an IAL2-compliant biometric verification method, securely verifies a signer's identity by automatically capturing real-time selfies and comparing them to their government-issued ID photos, with guidance on proper lighting, removing accessories, and using a smartphone to ensure clear images, and includes steps like centering the face and looking left and right for enhanced verification, serving as a primary or secondary identity check during the signing process.
Evolving Identity Verification: From KBA to Biometrics
The article discusses the transition in identity verification from Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA), which relies on personal historical data and security questions, to biometric facial comparison that verifies real-time physical presence by matching live selfies to government IDs, highlighting biometrics' superior accuracy, enhanced security against fraud, inclusivity for users without extensive credit histories, regulatory compliance with NIST standards, and the effectiveness of combining both methods for robust identity proofing.
Individual Digital Certificate Supplement
The Individual Digital Certificate Supplement, incorporated into the Proof General Terms, outlines that Proof may issue an Individual Digital Certificate to a User upon verifying their application, requires the Individual to protect their Private Key and associated credentials, mandates accurate information provision, and obligates the Individual to request certificate revocation if their information changes, all subject to specified terms, conditions, and validity periods.
Fallback to Selfie Photo Comparison – Proof Help Center
When knowledge-based authentication fails and no fraud flags are detected, eligible signers in business or real estate organizations with proper settings enabled can automatically verify their identity via selfie photo comparison, with calls routed first to In-House Notaries in approved states or to On-Demand Notaries in Nevada or Pennsylvania, and verification activity visible to notaries during meetings and to authorized users afterward in the transaction's identity timeline.