How to Become a Remote Online Notary in Washington

Did you know you can qualify to become an online notary and perform online notarizations in Washington state? Effective March 27, 2020, any commissioned notary public in Washington may now apply for remote online notary endorsements. Complete the steps below, and for a low application fee, you can enhance your traditional notary certification by becoming an approved Remote Online Notary (RON).

If you are already a traditional notary, you can add remote online notarization to your toolbelt by adding online notary endorsement to your traditional notary public commission. The Washington Secretary of State provides an application form for Notary Public Electronic Notarization Appliation on their website here https://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/659005.pdf.

Before you can use the Notary Hub platform by Everything Legal, you will need to be registered as a traditional notary. You need not have the electronic notary endorsement at the time you first register as a new subscriber.

Steps To Become a RON in Washington

First-time notaries now have the opportunity to expand their notary services by choosing to become both a traditional Notary Public and a Remote Online Notary (RON). This dual certification allows them to perform notarial acts for traditional notarizations, as well as conduct remote online notarizations. By offering both services, notaries can cater to a wider range of clients, ensuring that their needs are met, whether they require in-person or virtual notary assistance. The combined certification in traditional and remote online notary services opens up new avenues for notaries to grow their business and better serve their clients.

For detailed information on the requirements to become a notary in Washington, including online notaries, you can refer to the official Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) page. This comprehensive resource provides all the necessary guidelines and steps to follow in order to become a certified notary in the state. Visit the WA DOL Notary Public page by following this link: https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary/nrequirements.html.

Becoming an online notary in Washington (WA) involves following these steps:

1. Register for an account on an online notary platform vendor (such as Notary Hub).

2. Apply for electronic endorsements with the state of Washington.

3. Notify the Washington DOL via email that you have applied for your electronic notary endorsement on your license.

4. Pay the Electronic Notary Endorsement fee of $15 to the WA DoL.

5. Receive approval, and schedule your first online notarization session.

Step 1: Sign-up & Create Your Account With Notary Hub

When you subscribe to Notary Hub, you'll be presented with a series of simple steps to complete as part of your new account setup. When all the steps are complete, you'll be ready to perform remote online notarizations with your clients.

STEP 2: Set Up Your Electronic Seal, Stamp, and Signature

Begin the process to become an online notary by obtaining your state required Digital Certificate from our authorized partners. Notary Hub makes it simple to do and all the steps to acquire your document signing certificate are integrated in our one-stop solution. This digital certificate proves that you are the notary public who digitally signed the document during your online notarization session. Since this certificate represents you as an online notary, you'll go through your own credential analysis and identity proofing as part of the process of obtaining the certificate.

Notary Hub gives you, as an online notary, tools to create the other required elements of your online notary identity, including your electronic signature and digital stamp. Together, when your online notarization is completed, an electronic record is added to your online notary journal in Notary Hub. This electronic Journal captures all electronic records that are required to documenting each notarial act for your remote online notarizations.

Step 3: Apply for electronic notary endorsement

Go to https://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/659005.pdf to download the application for your online notary endorsement to be added to your current license held in the state of WA. Send the completed form and payment for the non-refundable $15 Department of Washington Licensing fee.

Step 4: Notify the WA Dept. of Licensing that you have applied to become an online notary public

You have to notify the WA DOL via email that you have applied for your online notary public endorsement on your license:

• Email: notaries@dol.wa.gov

• In the body of the email include your name, your online notary public license number, the date you applied for the electronic notary endorsement, and the name of the software platform provider you've selected for your repmote online notarization. (Notary Hub by EverythingLegal)

Step 5: Receive approval to from the Department of Licensing

In the final step, you will receive approval of your online notary public endorsement from the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL). Once your application, has been processed, the DOL will grant you the necessary authorization to conduct online notarizations. This approval signifies that you have successfully met all the state's requirements and are now fully equipped to provide remote online notary services in Washington. With this authorization in hand, you can confidently expand your notary services, catering to clients seeking both traditional and remote online notarization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there special training, exams, or education requirements in Washington State to perform online notarization as a RON?

While there are no specific training, exams, or education requirements mandated by Washington State to perform online notarization as a Remote Online Notary (RON), it is strongly recommended that notaries familiarize themselves with the rules, regulations, and best practices for remote online notarization. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the technology used for remote notary services, the process of verifying client identities, and the secure storage of electronic notary records is crucial to providing efficient and legally compliant online notary services. Though not required by law, completing a voluntary training or education program focused on remote notarization can significantly enhance your knowledge and expertise in this area, ensuring that you effectively meet the needs of your clients.

Notary Hub provides tutorials and videos to subscribers to address questions that any new notary online might have about the process. Notary Hub also provides a scripted talk track that notaries can follow. This script helps cover your bases during your signing sessions.

What are the requirements for record-keeping in Washington State? Do I need to maintain a notary journal?

The State of Washington requires electronic records to be retained for ten years after the performance of the last notarial act chronicled in the journal. Notary Hub, as a platform for online notaries, retains electronic records on your behalf for at least this duration. In addition, each notarized document on Notary Hub generates a cover page that contains extra data about the notary session. Additionally, Notary Hub maintains secure backups of each recorded audio video session for the ten year duration.

What are the cost of becoming a notary online when compared with traditional notary commission costs?

When comparing the costs of becoming a Remote Online Notary (RON) to those of obtaining a traditional notary commission, there is a minimal difference in the state of Washington. The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) charges a fee of $15 to add online notary authorization to an existing or new notary commission.

For the online notary platform subscription, this answer to this question varies depending on the subscription selected, and the subscription term that you choose. Notary Hub’s pricing is as low as $5/month for 4-year subscription plans. To explore the plan options that fit your needs, visit https://notaryhub.com/notary

In addition to the base subscription, you’ll need to obtain an x509 Document Signing Certificate, which is provided through our platform via our approved partner. These certificates are managed by SSL and are 100% cloud-based, meaning you can have the convenience of securely using them from any device Through Notary Hub, you can obtain these certificates at a cost of less than $50/year if you select a 4-year certificate, or $60/year if you select a 1-year certificate. New subscribers qualify for a 5% discount on the first term of their certificate purchase.