Introduction & Specialized Signing Agent Services 

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is a legal process where documents are signed and notarized electronically using a secure, live audio-video connection over the internet. Instead of physically meeting a notary public, you appear before them virtually via webcam. 

Yes. Under Florida Statute § 117.209, a commissioned Florida RON has statewide jurisdiction. As long as the notary is physically located within Florida during the session, you can participate from anywhere in the U.S. or internationally. Documents intended for domestic use are valid across all 50 states, while international uses may require apostille authentication depending on the receiving country.

Yes, signers located in completely different states and countries can participate in a single Remote Online Notarization (RON) session to notarize a document together. This cross-border process is fully legal as long as the finalized document is being used for a transaction, court, bank, or agency within the United States.

Forty-five states and Washington D.C. have permanent Remote Online Notarization (RON) laws, but estate planning documents (like wills and trusts) face individual restrictions. States like Florida, Texas, and Missouri explicitly permit RON for wills and trusts, while other jurisdictions exclude or heavily restrict testamentary documents due to fraud and coercion concerns

Fully Permissive States (Wills & Trusts Allowed)

• Florida: Legal for wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.

• Texas: Allows RON for comprehensive estate planning packets.

• Missouri: Permits digital creation, signing, and remote notarization.

• Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, and Colorado: Authorize remote execution and notarization for estate plans.

Biometric verification is a digital security process that uses your unique physical characteristics to prove your identity. Instead of asking you memory-based questions, it relies on "who you are" biologically. For Remote Online Notarization (RON), biometric verification is the primary method used to verify international signers or individuals who do not have a U.S. credit history.

 How It Works in RON

The process is fully automated and takes less than a minute using a smartphone or webcam: 

1. The ID Scan (Credential Analysis): You hold your photo ID (like a passport or driver's license) up to your camera. The software scans the security features—checking the micro-print, watermarks, and the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) characters at the bottom of a passport—to ensure the document is authentic and has not been altered.

2. The Facial Scan ("Liveness" Test): The platform prompts you to take a live selfie or look into your webcam. It often asks you to blink, smile, or turn your head slightly. This "liveness test" ensures you are a real, living person and prevents fraudsters from simply holding up a printed photograph or video of you to the camera. 

3. The Artificial Intelligence Match: An AI facial-recognition algorithm instantly compares the biometric geometry of your live face (the distance between your eyes, nose, mouth, and jawline) with the photo printed on the scanned ID card. 

4. The Approval: If the ID is authentic and the faces match perfectly, your identity is verified, and you are immediately passed through to the live video session with the notary.

Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) is a security method used to verify your identity by asking specific questions based on your personal history. Instead of just checking a password or ID, it proves you are who you say you are because only you should know the answers. For Remote Online Notarization (RON), KBA is the legal standard required by most U.S. states to prevent identity theft.  It has a High failure rate for young adults, seniors, or people with thin credit histories. 

How KBA Works (Step-by-Step)

1. The System Pulls Your Public Records: When you start the notarization process, you input your legal name, date of birth, and Social Security Number (SSN). The RON platform securely sends this data to major credit bureaus (like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and public record databases.

2. Dynamic Questions Are Generated: The system instantly generates a quiz—usually consisting of 5 multiple-choice questions—drawn from your financial and residential footprint. 

3. The Strict Timer Begins: To prevent fraud, you are strictly timed. You typically get exactly 2 minutes to answer all the questions. This stops identity thieves from having enough time to look up your information online. 

4. The Scoring Phase: To pass, state laws generally require you to score at least 80% (meaning you must answer 4 out of 5 questions correctly). If you fail, you are locked out, though most platforms give you a second chance 24 hours later with an entirely new set of questions.

The "best" method depends entirely on who is signing the document. 

• Choose KBA if you are a U.S. resident with a solid credit history.

• Choose Biometrics if you are an international signer, an expat, a young adult, or someone without a U.S. credit footprint

Mobile notary services are offered throughout Osceola County and Orange County. Mobile appointments in Seminole County and Polk County (including Haines City, Davenport, Winter Haven, and Auburndale) are available with at least 24 hours' advance notice and booking confirmation.

For Remote Online Notarization (RON), identity verification is much stricter than an in-person visual check. Because RON platforms use Credential Analysis technology to scan for security features, only specific government-issued photo IDs are acceptable. The valid forms of identification differ based on whether the signer is a U.S. citizen or an international citizen. 

For U.S. Signers (Citizens & Permanent Residents)

U.S. signers typically must pass a two-step verification process: an ID scan followed by Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) questions based on their U.S. credit and public records history. 

• U.S. Passport or Passport Card: The premier choice for global verification.

• State-Issued Driver’s License: Must be unexpired and clearly legible.

• State-Issued Photo ID Card: Non-driver identification cards.

• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card): Alien registration cards with a photo. 

(Note: U.S. Military IDs and Inmate IDs are frequently rejected because federal regulations prohibit copying military credentials, making them incompatible with RON logging systems). 

For International Signers (Foreign Nationals)

Because international signers lack a U.S. Social Security Number or U.S. credit file, they cannot pass standard KBA questions. Instead, specialized international RON platforms bypass KBA by utilizing biometric tools (like selfies matched to the ID) alongside the following documents: 

• Foreign Passport: This is the universal standard for non-U.S. citizens. The passport must feature a Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ)—the two lines of text, arrows, and numbers located at the bottom of the photo page. 

• Canadian or Mexican Driver’s Licenses: Accepted under limited circumstances by specific states (such as Florida, Texas, and California) if they contain a verifiable serial number and photograph.

Unlike standard single-page forms, legal packages consist of multiple complex documents requiring extensive signature tags, witness arrangements, identity verification, and thorough execution checks to ensure complete court, lender, or county recorder compliance.