Online Notary

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Virginia

Last updated December 18, 2023

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Online Notary in Virginia

Online Notary is a a way for you to notarize your documents digitally in Virginia and anywhere else in the United States. Also known as Remote Online Notary (RON), online notarization allows you to get your signature and identity verified remotely.

Online Notary is quick, easy, and legal, and there’s no travel necessary. Simply connect with a remote notary public using two-way video and audio on your electronic device and get your documents digitally notarized from the comfort of your home.

Online Notary is also known as:

  • Virtual notarization
  • Digital notarization
  • Internet notarization

Yes, Online Notary is legal in Virginia and has been since 2013. In fact, Virginia was the first state ever to legalize online notarization.

Online Notary laws in Virginia

According to the Code of Virginia § 47.1, online notaries have the same duties and authorities as traditional notaries. All Virginian notaries follow a notaries public handbook that offers guidelines for both remote and traditional notarizations. Additionally, The Virginia Electronic Notarization Assurance Standard ensures that online notarizations take place in a secure, safe, and legal way.

Thanks to the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution, a document notarized in one state is legally valid and recognized in all other states. This means you can get a valid notarization from any state in the United States, no matter what state you’re in.

Online notarization is also supported by the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, which states that electronic signatures are valid and binding to the same degree as traditional signatures. 

Record-keeping requirements for online notaries in Virginia

All online notaries in Virginia must record remote notarial sessions and keep them for five years.

According to Virginia Code § 47.1-14 (2011), notaries must also keep an electronic and written record of the following details:

  • The type of notarial act they completed
  • Date and time of the notarial act
  • What document they notarized
  • The names and addresses of the principals 
  • What method they used to identify the principals
  • The amount of fees paid

States have varying requirements. If you use remote online notarization and your notary is located in a different state, they follow their state’s laws.

How much does Online Notary cost in Virginia?

Online notarization in Virginia can cost up to $25 per notarial act. LawDepot’s Online Notary service is $25 for the first seal and $10 for every additional seal. The fee includes an acknowledgment or a jurat.

  • An acknowledgment is when the parties express they’re willing to sign the document.
  • A jurat is when the parties swear that a document’s contents are truthful.

LawDepot’s Online Notary doesn’t offer copy certification, also known as certified copies.

What documents can I notarize online in Virginia?

Virginia online notaries can notarize all the same documents as traditional notaries. However, laws vary by jurisdiction, so you should always confirm with local authorities when getting something notarized.

LawDepot’s Online Notary can notarize the following documents for use in Virginia:

To learn more about the online notarization process, 
visit the Online Notary main page.

What documents cannot be notarized online in Virginia?

Vital records, such as birth, death, or marriage certificates, can’t be notarized. Because these documents contain sensitive personal information, only authorized government agencies can issue vital records.

LawDepot can’t notarize:

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