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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 8 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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As the effects of COVID-19 continue to necessitate changes in the ways businesses operate, states continue to implement ad hoc orders allowing for remote online notarization (RON). For Ohioans, RON has been possible since September 2019, but the logistics of RON in Ohio are still a mystery to some. This article is intended to clarify (at least to the extent possible) the logistics for RON in Ohio.

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As an initial matter, businesses should distinguish between electronic notarization and RON. Electronic notarization, which is essentially the same as traditional notarization but with electronic signatures, requires no additional education or certification for the individual performing the notarial act (other than a traditional notary commission, of course). As a result, Ohio’s allowance for electronic notarization is unlikely to provide much aid to those attempting to conduct business under Ohio’s (or any other state’s) stay at home order.

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As the name would suggest, RON, on the other hand, allows a notary located in a different physical location from the signer to notarize a document. To take advantage of Ohio’s RON option, a business must employ, or locate, an Ohio notary that is commissioned as an online notary (which requires a procedure with additional education requirements designed to cover the logistics, security, and record retention obligations that accompany RON). That said, it is important to understand Ohio’s RON provisions to ensure compliance and proper notarization of one’s documents.

Although the notary must be in Ohio, the signer may be located anywhere within the United States or, in limited circumstances, outside of the U.S. Those limited circumstances include when:

At first glance, the standards set forth in Ohio’s RON statutes and regulations related to the electronic system and the process for verifying the signer’s identity (both described in more detail below) seem cumbersome. It is our understanding, however, that these obligations can be satisfied using industry standard platforms that meet the Ohio Secretary of State’s requirements. If platforms other than those that have already been used in Ohio are being considered to conduct RON in compliance with Ohio’s statutes, we recommend seeking the Ohio Secretary of State’s approval of those platforms in advance.

All online notarizations must occur with the use of an online notarization system that supports two-way live audio and video conferencing and must conform to several additional technical requirements. The system must:

As with any notarial act, it is necessary that the notary be able to verify the identity of the signer. If the notary has personal knowledge of the signer, nothing more is required. If, however, the notary and the signer do not have a preexisting relationship, the notary must verify the signer’s identity using remote presentation of an unexpired government ID that contains a photograph and signature, credential analysis, and identity proofing.

Alternatively, the notary can accept an oath or affirmation of a single credible witness who personally knows the signer. While this, at first glance, appears to ease the burden that accompanies credential analysis and identity proofing, the notary must verify the identity of the credible witness by personal knowledge or via presentment of a government-issued ID, credential analysis, and identity proofing. Put simply, if the notary does not have a personal relationship with the signer or someone who has a personal relationship with the signer, credential analysis and identity proofing are required.

Credential analysis and identity proofing must be performed by a reputable third person (i.e., the platforms referenced above). For credential analysis, the notary must use public or private data sources to confirm the validity of the signer’s government issued ID. The credential analysis must, at a minimum:

Identity proofing requires the notary to prove a signer’s identity via “knowledge-based authentication.” The signer must answer a quiz consisting of at least five multiple choice questions (formulated from public or private data sources) regarding the signer’s personal history or identity. The signer has two minutes to answer each question and must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. If the signer fails, he or she may retake the quiz twice within 48 hours, though at least 40% of the questions must be different upon retaking, and the signer may not retry the quiz with the same notary or the same third person providing the identity proofing for at least 24 hours.

Refusal to Perform and Technical Difficulties

The notary must refuse to perform an online notarization if:

In the event of a technological issue or a situation where the notary or the signer must exit the audio-video communication, the identity authentication process and any incomplete online notarial acts must be started from the beginning.

In an increasingly technology-dependent business environment, the ability to use and rely on RON is poised to become essential for businesses seeking to maintain a competitive edge. Organizations that permit working remotely, or are considering adopting remote work policies, should consider making use of RON as a means of maximizing efficiency and minimizing potentially expensive externalities such as travel time. That said, businesses should ensure that the documents being notarized will be accepted, especially in instances where the notarized document is to be recorded or otherwise filed with a government agency. For those businesses that plan to use RON for documents involving loans or real estate, confirming with the underwriter or title insurer that RON will be accepted, that the loan will be funded, and that the title will be insured, is crucial.

Jessica E. Salisbury-Copper 937.443.6854 <a href="mailto:Jessica.Salisbury-Copper@ThompsonHine.com">Jessica.Salisbury-Copper@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Joe Barton 937.443.6805 <a href="mailto:Joe.Barton@ThompsonHine.com">Joe.Barton@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Additional Resources

We have assembled a firmwide multidisciplinary task force to address clients’ business and legal concerns and needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please see our <a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/services/covid-19-task-force">COVID-19 Task Force</a> page for additional information and resources.

This advisory bulletin may be reproduced, in whole or in part, with the prior permission of Thompson Hine LLP and acknowledgment of its source and copyright. This publication is intended to inform clients about legal matters of current interest. It is not intended as legal advice. Readers should not act upon the information contained in it without professional counsel.

This document may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.

Remote Online Notarization Emerging as an Essential Business Tool in Ohio

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