California Remote Online Notarization (RON) Laws and FAQ

California RON Laws

California law authorizes remote online notarization (RON) for commissioned notaries under legislation that has been enacted but is not yet in effect. Below are the key statutes that establish and govern these rules once implemented.

Remote Online Notarization in California

Notaries in California will be permitted to perform online notarizations pursuant to SB 696 once the law takes effect.

Recognition of Out-of-State Online Notarizations

California recognizes notarial acts performed by notaries of other states, but its remote online notarization framework is not yet in effect.

Relevant statutes:

• ​Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1182, 1189, & 1193
• ​Cal. Gov't Code § 8232.1

RON Statistics (Proof Data, May 2025–May 2026)

• ​+37% RON YoY growth
• ​15% Real estate transaction %
• ​+9% Real estate YoY growth
• ​9 min Avg. meeting time
• ​5/5 Avg. notary rating
• ​40k Unique signers (all-time)

Completed RON transactions recorded in Proof’s data warehouse, May 1, 2025–May 31, 2026 (YoY comparisons use May 1, 2024–May 31, 2025). State is the property/transaction state at time of notarization — populated on ~7% of RON transactions, primarily real estate. RE Closings = purchase, Refinance, or HELOC Transaction Type. Notary ratings = post-session Signer star ratings. “Unique Signer” is all-time, no date restriction.

Businesses

California has enacted legislation authorizing remote online notarization (RON), which will take effect in the coming years. Notarize offers solutions for businesses to prepare for compliant online notarizations in California once the law is in force, as well as electronic notarization tools that meet current state requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does remote online notarization (RON) work?

A notary and signer(s) meet in a real-time audio-visual session to execute the notarial act. The session includes identity verification that complies with the requirements of the notary's commissioning state. All parties have the tools necessary to complete the document on the Proof platform. Once the notary completes the notarial act, the document is locked with a tamper-seal as a security measure, and an audit trail provides a record of user actions taken during the transaction.

Are remotely notarized documents legally valid?

Yes. Remote notarizations involve the same notarial acts executed in person and are as legally valid as paper-based notarizations. The difference lies in the use of technology and process requirements outlined by each state to ensure that a remote notarization is properly executed.

Can California notaries perform online notarization?

Not yet. California has enacted a remote online notarization (RON) framework, but it is not yet in effect. Once effective, California notaries will be permitted to perform online notarizations pursuant to SB 696.

Where must the signer and notary be located to conduct a transaction?

California’s RON framework is not yet in effect. Once effective, a California notary will be required to be located in California at the time of executing the RON. Signers will be permitted to be in any state, or abroad if the document is intended for US–related matters. Until the law becomes active, Californians may complete transactions with RON notaries commissioned in other states.

Does California recognize notarizations properly performed by commissioned RON notaries in other states?

California recognizes notarial acts performed by notaries of other states, but its remote online notarization framework is not yet in effect. California’s interstate recognition statutes are Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1182, 1189, and 1193 and Cal. Gov't Code § 8232.1

Will my RON document be accepted in California?

Proof cannot guarantee acceptance of documents. Signers should verify that recipients will accept RON-executed documents.

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