Remote Online Notarization (RON) in California: 2026 Status

Short answer: RON by California-commissioned notaries is not authorized in California as of 2026. California is one of a small minority of US states that has not yet enacted RON legislation. The 916 Notary network handles RON-equivalent workflows through partnerships in RON-permitting states, but the in-person mobile notary remains the default and often the only legal option for many California documents.

What is RON?

Remote Online Notarization is the practice of completing a notarial act via live audio/video conference. The signer and notary are in different physical locations. The process:

1. Signer logs into a RON platform (Notarize.com, NotaryCam, OneNotary, Proof, BlueNotary).
2. Identity is verified through a combination of: (a) credential analysis — the platform scans the signer's ID and runs forensic tests on the security features; and (b) knowledge-based authentication (KBA) — the signer answers personal-history questions sourced from credit bureaus (former addresses, prior vehicles, etc.).
3. Live audio/video session with a commissioned notary in a RON-permitting state.
4. Document is signed electronically and notarized with an electronic seal.
5. The platform retains a recording of the session per state requirements (typically 5–10 years).

Why California still doesn't allow RON

RON expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2023, more than 40 US states had enacted permanent RON statutes (most based on the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, or RULONA). California, however, has been an outlier. The state passed temporary COVID-era authorizations that lapsed, but permanent legislation has stalled.

The most recent serious effort was Senate Bill 696 (Caballero, 2023), which would have authorized California RON with specific identity-verification standards. It was held in committee and not enacted. Multiple stakeholder groups — the California Land Title Association, the California Bankers Association, the trial-lawyers bar, and notary trade groups — have differing views on identity-verification standards, fee structures, and how to handle real estate documents. The result is a stalemate.

The California Secretary of State has stated that absent enacted legislation, California-commissioned notaries cannot perform RON regardless of where the signer is located, and a California-commissioned notary purporting to do so would be in violation of California notary law.

Workable alternatives in 2026

Option 1: Out-of-state RON (most common workaround)

Most US states with RON statutes (Florida, Texas, Virginia, Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and ~30+ others) authorize their notaries to perform RON for signers physically located anywhere, including California. The notarized document is then accepted in most states under Full Faith and Credit and the Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act.

What this means in practice: if you're in Sacramento and need a document notarized remotely, you can use a service like Notarize.com or NotaryCam, which will assign you a notary commissioned in (e.g.) Florida. The Florida notary completes the RON; the document bears a Florida acknowledgment.

Important caveats:

• Some California recorders, banks, or counterparties may reject out-of-state-notarized documents on technical grounds. Always confirm with the receiving party before relying on RON.
• California real estate documents (grant deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances) and certain other documents are typically rejected by California county recorders if notarized by an out-of-state notary, even via RON. Real estate documents almost always require an in-person, California-commissioned notary.
• The DMV, the courts, and some California state agencies have their own notarization requirements that may not accept out-of-state RON.

Option 2: In-person mobile notary (the safe default)

For California signers and California-recipient documents, in-person mobile notarization remains the safest, most universally accepted option. A California-commissioned mobile notary can come to your home, office, hospital, or any location in California, complete the notarization in person, and the resulting document is unimpeachably valid for any California use.

This is what 916 Notary primarily does. See our homepage for live dispatch.

Option 3: Tribal RON

A small number of federally recognized tribal governments have established their own notary commissions that authorize RON. These are not California-commissioned notaries and are subject to the same out-of-state acceptance concerns as Option 1. They occupy a narrow niche.

When RON is and isn't a good fit

RON works well for:

• Simple personal documents (affidavits, declarations, sworn statements) being used in jurisdictions that broadly accept any-state notarization
• Out-of-state real estate or business transactions where the destination state recognizes RON from your origin state
• Remote signers (deployed military, international travelers, hospitalized signers without family available to bring documents)

RON typically does not work for:

• California real estate — deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances destined for California County Recorders
• California DMV transactions (most vehicle title transfers)
• California court documents (filings, certain affidavits) when the court has its own requirements
• Loan signings for properties located in California (the lender almost always requires in-person, California-commissioned notarization)
• Documents destined for use in foreign countries that require apostille — the apostille process generally requires the underlying notarization to be valid in the state of the apostille authority

When the legislation will pass (best guess)

California RON legislation continues to be introduced each session. The 2025–2026 legislative cycle includes at least three pending RON-related bills with varying scope. Industry consensus is that California will eventually adopt RON — the question is when and with what identity-verification standards and fee structures. We do not predict a specific date; check the California Legislative Information website (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov) for current bill status.

Common questions