Online Notary

>

Illinois

Last updated November 16, 2023

Written by

Kristen Thomas
Kristen Thomas, BA, MA
Kristen Thomas

Kristen is a professional content writer and editor with a Master's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. With over three years of experience in legal, academic, and marketing contexts, Kristen's passion lies in making legal information accessible to all. Currently a Marketing Writer at LawDepot, she excels in simplifying complex legal concepts for a broader audience.

Full Bio
Lawdepot's Editorial Policy

Reviewed by

Ngaire King
Ngaire King, BA, JD
Ngaire King

Ngaire King is Legal Counsel for LawDepot. Ngaire has been working in the legal field for over five years and was called to the bar in Alberta in 2020. Before becoming a lawyer, Ngaire obtained her Bachelor of Arts – Honors degree in Psychology from the University of Calgary. The same desire to help people through challenging and uncertain times of life that drew Ngaire to psychology, prompted her to pursue a law degree. Ngaire completed her Juris Doctor degree at Bond University in Queensland, Australia. Ngaire’s keen attention to detail and passion for improving access to legal services brought her to LawDepot. Ngaire has put the strong research and writing skills that garnered her over 30 academic awards to good use, providing sound legal advice to LawDepot and creating high-quality legal templates.

Full Bio
Lawdepot's Editorial Policy

|

Fact checked by

Kyle Adam
Kyle Adam, BComm
Kyle Adam

Kyle Adam is a seasoned content creator, editor, and SEO specialist with over four years of experience. Presently, he serves as Senior Marketing Writer and Editor at LawDepot. Holding a Bachelor of Communication Studies from MacEwan University, he further honed his skills with an Associate’s Certificate in Graphic Design from British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Kyle seamlessly blends his love for arts and writing to craft compelling content. He’s enthusiastic about explaining complex topics by using simple, accessible language and effective visuals.

Full Bio
Lawdepot's Editorial Policy


Online Notary in Illinois

Online Notary, also known as remote online notarization (RON), is a virtual service that allows you to notarize your legal documents in Illinois and anywhere else in the United States. 

Notarizing your documents adds validity to your legal documents. LawDepot’s Online Notary service is convenient, secure, and affordable. Simply use your web device’s camera and microphone to connect with a notary public. 

Online notarization is also known as:

  • E-Notary
  • Digital notarization
  • Virtual notarization

Yes, it is legal in Illinois to use an Online Notary to get your documents notarized. 

Online Notary in Illinois is legal due to two types of legislation:

  1. The Full Faith and Credit Clause: All US states must respect notarizations completed in every other state. So, for instance, if an Illinois resident gets their document notarized by a notary public in a different state, the notarization is considered valid under Illinois law.
  2. Senate Bill 2664: This bill took effect on January 1, 2022. Among other changes, Senate Bill 2664 made online notarization permanent in Illinois. Additionally, this bill says that Illinois notaries will also be allowed to use their services on electronic documents. Illinois notaries will be able to start performing electronic notarizations in January 2024.

"Remote notarial acts" versus "electronic notarial acts" in Illinois

Illinois legislation clearly distinguishes between Remote Notarial Acts and Electronic Notarial Acts. Let’s break it down:

  • Remote notarial acts refer to the signing of paper documents while the notary, signer, and any witnesses communicate in real-time using audio-visual platforms. 
  • Electronic notarial acts refer to electronic documents that are signed and notarized online or in person.

What are Illinois's online notarization laws?

As mentioned above, Illinois also passed Senate Bill 2664 which allows Illinois notaries to conduct online notarizations on electronic documents as of 2024. 

In addition to taking a training course, passing an exam, and meeting the technical requirements set out by the Secretary of State, notaries who want to notarize documents online must abide by the following laws and rules:

  • Notaries must be able to identify the signer. This can be done through personal knowledge, identification by a credible witness who is personally known to the notary and the signer, or using an unexpired government identification document that includes a photograph and a signature. Using an ID also requires credential analysis of the ID and knowledge-based authentication of the signer. 
  • The notarization must be recorded. The notary must keep the recording for seven years.

What documents can be notarized online in Illinois?

Documents that Illinois residents can notarize include:

With LawDepot’s Online Notary, our notary publics can provide you with the following notarial services:

  • An acknowledgement is when you declare to the notary your willingness to sign a document.
  • A jurat is when you swear or affirm in front of the notary that the contents of a document are truthful.

How much does online notarization cost in Illinois?

LawDepot’s Online Notary costs $25 for the first deal and $10 for each additional seal. 

Our pricing aligns with the permitted pricing in Illinois. The Secretary of State allows notaries in Illinois to charge up to $25 per electronic notarization.

What documents cannot be notarized online in Illinois?

You cannot notarize the following documents in Illinois with LawDepot’s Online Notary:

Ready to notarize a document?
Get Started