New York Passes Remote Online Notarization Bill

In a significant development for remote online notarization (RON), New York closed out 2021 by becoming the 38th state in the United States to pass RON legislation. On December 22, Governor Kathy Hochul signed A399B/S1708C, marking a crucial step for New York's notaries and adding to the growing momentum seen across the country as more states adopt online notarization.

While A399B/S1708C positions New York on the path to making RON available to its notaries, additional work is required before notaries in the state can begin performing online notarizations. Similar to RON laws in other states, New York mandates the New York Department of State to establish new regulations and a registration process for notaries. Recognizing that these regulations and the registration process are not currently in place and will take time to develop, the state aims to make RON accessible to notaries by January 2023.

As the Department of State initiates the process of implementing RON in New York, collaboration with stakeholders, including Notarize, is expected to ensure that essential fraud prevention tools, such as multi-factor authentication for signers, are mandated. Multi-factor authentication is a fundamental feature of online notarization, crucial for protecting everyone involved in the process.

Notarize expresses gratitude to New York Assemblywoman Nily Rozic for her partnership and advocacy for A399B. Assemblywoman Rozic's dedication to reducing barriers to access traditional notary services is acknowledged, and her efforts align with the goal of increasing access to online notarization.

Notarize, having dedicated years to working with lawmakers and regulators across the country, looks forward to continuing this work to bring online notarization to all 50 states. For additional inquiries or to get in touch with Notarize Public Affairs, you can contact publicaffairs@notarize.com.