IL Notary IL-Notary Electronic and Remote Online Notarization (RON) Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a RON session, a signer's video feed drops for 30 seconds and then resumes. What must the Illinois notary do?
- Continue the notarization since the interruption was brief
- Ask the signer to re-confirm their identity verbally before proceeding
- Terminate and restart the entire session with a new identity verification (Correct answer)
- Document the interruption in the journal and proceed immediately
Correct answer: Terminate and restart the entire session with a new identity verification
If the audio-visual connection is interrupted during a RON session, the notary must restart and re-verify the signer's identity before completing the notarization.
Question 2: Under Illinois RON rules, which of the following individuals may serve as a credible witness during a remote online notarization?
- A witness who appears in person at the notary's physical location only
- A witness who appears via the same audio-visual platform as the principal (Correct answer)
- A witness who submits a sworn affidavit by email before the session
- Any licensed Illinois attorney who vouches for the principal in writing
Correct answer: A witness who appears via the same audio-visual platform as the principal
Illinois permits credible witnesses to appear remotely via the same audio-visual communication platform during a RON session.
Question 3: What is 'credential analysis' in the context of Illinois RON identity verification?
- A background check run by the Secretary of State's office on the signer
- Technology that examines a government-issued ID for authenticity and matches it to the signer (Correct answer)
- A quiz about the signer's financial and personal history
- A review of the signer's notarization history in the state database
Correct answer: Technology that examines a government-issued ID for authenticity and matches it to the signer
Credential analysis uses technology to inspect a government-issued photo ID for security features and then compares it to a live image of the signer.
Question 4: An Illinois notary wants to use a RON technology platform. What must be true of the platform before it can be used?
- It must be free, open-source software approved by the Illinois Bar Association
- It must meet the technology standards set by Illinois Secretary of State rules (Correct answer)
- It must be headquartered in Illinois and bonded with the state
- It must be certified by the federal government's National Institute of Standards and Technology
Correct answer: It must meet the technology standards set by Illinois Secretary of State rules
Illinois RON platforms must comply with the technology requirements established in the Secretary of State's administrative rules.
Question 5: Can an Illinois-commissioned notary perform RON for a signer located in another U.S. state?
- No, both parties must be physically present in Illinois
- Yes, the notary can perform RON regardless of where the signer is located within the U.S. (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only if the other state has enacted RON legislation
- No, interstate RON requires a federal notary commission
Correct answer: Yes, the notary can perform RON regardless of where the signer is located within the U.S.
An Illinois RON-authorized notary may notarize documents for signers located anywhere in the U.S., as the notary's authority is based on their Illinois commission.
Question 6: Which type of document is generally NOT suitable for Illinois RON?
- Real estate deeds for property located in another state
- Powers of attorney for financial transactions
- Wills and testamentary documents in jurisdictions that prohibit RON for wills (Correct answer)
- Contracts for the sale of goods
Correct answer: Wills and testamentary documents in jurisdictions that prohibit RON for wills
Certain documents like wills may be prohibited from RON by the laws of the jurisdiction where they will be used, so the notary must verify the receiving jurisdiction's rules.
Question 7: After completing a RON session, where must an Illinois notary store the electronic journal entry and audio-visual recording?
- On the notary's personal home computer hard drive
- In a secure repository with controlled access and tamper-evident protection (Correct answer)
- Printed and stored in a physical lockbox at the notary's business address
- Uploaded to the Illinois Secretary of State's public portal
Correct answer: In a secure repository with controlled access and tamper-evident protection
Illinois requires RON records to be kept in a secure, access-controlled electronic repository that protects against unauthorized access and tampering.
IL Notary IL-Notary Electronic and Remote Online Notarization (RON) Procedures 3
During a RON session, a signer's video feed drops for 30 seconds and then resumes.
What must the Illinois notary do?