AZ Notary Electronic Notarization and Remote Online Notarization 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Arizona's electronic notarization and remote online notarization provisions are found in which title of the Arizona Revised Statutes?
- Title 33 (Property)
- Title 41 (State Government) (Correct answer)
- Title 14 (Trusts)
- Title 38 (Public Officers)
Correct answer: Title 41 (State Government)
Arizona's electronic notarization provisions are contained in ARS Title 41, Chapter 2 (specifically ARS 41-351 through 41-360), which governs the Arizona Secretary of State and notary public functions.
Question 2: Before performing remote online notarizations (RON) in Arizona, a notary must first:
- Obtain a separate RON license from the county clerk
- Register with the Arizona Secretary of State and receive authorization (Correct answer)
- Complete a 40-hour electronic notarization training course
- Post an additional surety bond of at least $25,000
Correct answer: Register with the Arizona Secretary of State and receive authorization
Arizona notaries must register with and receive approval from the Secretary of State before performing any remote online notarizations.
Question 3: Which combination correctly describes the two-factor identity verification requirement for Arizona RON when the notary does not personally know the signer?
- Driver's license plus social security card
- Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) plus credential analysis (Correct answer)
- Employer verification letter plus utility bill
- Two government-issued photo IDs examined side by side
Correct answer: Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) plus credential analysis
Arizona's RON statute requires both knowledge-based authentication and credential analysis of a government-issued ID when the notary does not have personal knowledge of the signer's identity.
Question 4: How long must an Arizona notary retain the audiovisual recording of each remote online notarization session?
- 1 year
- 3 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
Arizona law requires audiovisual recordings of RON sessions to be retained for a minimum of five years from the date of the notarial act.
Question 5: Regarding the physical location of the signer during an Arizona remote online notarization, which statement is CORRECT?
- The signer must be physically located inside Arizona
- The signer must be located somewhere within the United States
- The signer may be located anywhere in the world (Correct answer)
- The signer must be in the same time zone as the notary
Correct answer: The signer may be located anywhere in the world
Arizona's RON law imposes no geographic restriction on where the signer must be located — the signer may appear remotely from anywhere in the world.
Question 6: The technology platform used by an Arizona notary to perform remote online notarizations must be:
- Certified by the National Notary Association
- Approved by the Arizona Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- Licensed by the Arizona Bar Association
- Registered with the county recorder's office
Correct answer: Approved by the Arizona Secretary of State
Arizona requires notaries to use only technology platforms that have been approved by the Secretary of State when performing remote online notarizations.
Question 7: What additional language must an Arizona notarial certificate include when the notarization was performed via remote online notarization?
- The notary's home address and personal telephone number
- A statement indicating the notarization was performed using communication technology (Correct answer)
- The signer's social security number and date of birth
- The names and addresses of all credible witnesses who appeared
Correct answer: A statement indicating the notarization was performed using communication technology
Arizona's RON certificate must contain a statement that the notarial act was performed by means of communication technology, disclosing that the signer and notary were not physically co-located.
Arizona's electronic notarization and remote online notarization provisions are found in which title of the Arizona Revised Statutes?