MO Notary - Missouri Notary Remote and Electronic Notarization Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Missouri notary is preparing to perform their first remote online notarization for a signer who is not personally known to them. According to Missouri law, which of the following is a required step in the identity verification process?
- The signer must present their birth certificate and a major credit card to the webcam.
- The notary must rely solely on the signer's verbal confirmation of their identity.
- The process must include credential analysis of a government-issued ID and a method like knowledge-based authentication (KBA). (Correct answer)
- The signer must have two credible witnesses physically present with them during the audio-visual session.
Correct answer: The process must include credential analysis of a government-issued ID and a method like knowledge-based authentication (KBA).
Missouri law for remote online notarization requires a multi-step identity verification process for signers not personally known to the notary. This includes an automated analysis of the signer's government-issued ID (credential analysis) to ensure it is authentic, followed by a secondary verification method such as knowledge-based authentication (KBA), which consists of questions based on the signer's personal credit and public records history.
Question 2: During a remote online notarization in Missouri, where must the notary public be physically located?
- Anywhere in the world, as long as they have a secure internet connection.
- Anywhere within the United States.
- Within the geographic boundaries of the state of Missouri. (Correct answer)
- In the same county in which their commission is registered.
Correct answer: Within the geographic boundaries of the state of Missouri.
According to Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo 486.1155), a remote online notary public must be physically located within the state of Missouri when performing a remote online notarization. While the signer can be located elsewhere, the notary's physical presence in Missouri is mandatory.
Question 3: Which of the following is a key requirement for the technology used in a remote online notarization (RON) session in Missouri?
- The system must only store the audio portion of the session, not the video.
- The session must be conducted using standard telephone call technology.
- The technology must allow for pre-recorded video messages from the signer.
- The technology must provide for secure, real-time, two-way audio-visual communication. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The technology must provide for secure, real-time, two-way audio-visual communication.
Missouri law mandates that the technology platform used for RON must enable a live, interactive, and simultaneous audio-visual communication between the notary and the principal. This ensures that the notary can properly identify the signer, assess their awareness and willingness to sign, and witness the signing in real time, similar to a physical-presence notarization.
Question 4: A Missouri remote online notary must maintain a record of each remote notarization. Which statement accurately describes the journaling requirements?
- The notary is only required to keep a paper journal; no electronic journal is needed.
- A video recording of the session must be kept for at least 3 years, while the electronic journal must be kept for 5 years.
- The notary must keep both an electronic journal and a secure audio-visual recording of the notarial act for at least ten years. (Correct answer)
- Only the electronic signature of the principal needs to be recorded, not the full details of the notarization.
Correct answer: The notary must keep both an electronic journal and a secure audio-visual recording of the notarial act for at least ten years.
Missouri regulations require remote online notaries to maintain both a secure electronic journal of the notarial act and the complete audio-visual recording of the session. Both the electronic journal entry and the recording must be retained for a minimum of ten years. Furthermore, remote online notaries must also keep a record of the act in their permanently bound paper journal.
Question 5: A newly commissioned Missouri notary wants to begin offering electronic and remote notarizations. What must they do before performing their first electronic notarial act?
- Simply purchase an electronic seal and begin offering services.
- Register with the Secretary of State as an electronic/remote notary and complete a required training course. (Correct answer)
- Notify their surety bond company in writing of their intent to perform electronic notarizations.
- Obtain a separate, secondary commission specifically for remote notarizations.
Correct answer: Register with the Secretary of State as an electronic/remote notary and complete a required training course.
A Missouri notary cannot perform electronic or remote notarizations without first registering with the Secretary of State. The process requires the notary to already hold a traditional commission, complete a state-approved training course on electronic and remote procedures, and select an approved software vendor.
Question 6: What is a mandatory feature of an electronic notary seal used for an electronic notarization in Missouri?
- It must be a scanned image of the notary's physical, ink-based stamp.
- It must be under the sole control of the notary and be tamper-evident. (Correct answer)
- It must contain the notary's photograph for identification purposes.
- It may be shared with an employer who paid for the electronic notarization software.
Correct answer: It must be under the sole control of the notary and be tamper-evident.
Under Missouri law (RSMo 486.940), an electronic seal must be unique to the notary, capable of independent verification, and securely attached to the electronic document in a way that makes any subsequent alteration evident (tamper-evident). Crucially, the means of creating the seal must remain under the notary's sole control at all times and cannot be shared with or controlled by an employer.
MO Notary - Missouri Notary Remote and Electronic Notarization Questions and Answers
A Missouri notary is preparing to perform their first remote online notarization for a signer who is not personally known to them.
According to Missouri law, which of the following is a required step in the identity verification process?