OR Notary Remote Online Notarization in Oregon 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What technology is required for Oregon Remote Online Notarization (RON)?
- A standard telephone call with voice verification
- Two-way audio-visual communication technology in real time (Correct answer)
- Email exchange with a scanned copy of the signed document
- A pre-recorded video of the signer
Correct answer: Two-way audio-visual communication technology in real time
Oregon RON requires real-time two-way audio-visual communication that allows the notary to both see and hear the signer simultaneously.
Oregon's Remote Online Notarization law requires that the notary and signer communicate via real-time two-way audio-visual technology, meaning both parties can see and hear each other simultaneously — similar to a video call. This standard ensures that the notary can observe the signer, verify identity through knowledge-based authentication and credential analysis, and confirm that the signer is acting voluntarily. Pre-recorded videos, email, or telephone calls do not meet the RON standard because they lack simultaneous live interaction.
Question 2: Which of the following is a method used to verify a signer's identity during Oregon Remote Online Notarization?
- Accepting the signer's verbal declaration of identity without documentation
- Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) and credential analysis (Correct answer)
- Emailing a copy of the signer's ID to the notary in advance
- Having a friend of the signer confirm identity via text message
Correct answer: Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) and credential analysis
Oregon RON requires the use of identity proofing methods such as knowledge-based authentication (KBA) and credential analysis technology.
Oregon's RON law requires enhanced identity verification because the signer is not physically present. This includes knowledge-based authentication (KBA), where the signer answers personal questions drawn from public records (such as previous addresses, loan amounts, or vehicle information), and credential analysis, where the notary platform uses technology to verify the authenticity of the signer's ID. These methods provide a higher level of identity assurance than traditional in-person notarization, compensating for the remote nature of the interaction.
Question 3: How must an Oregon notary conducting RON record the session?
- No recording is required for RON sessions
- The notary must make an audio-visual recording of the entire RON session and retain it for 10 years (Correct answer)
- A written log of the session is sufficient
- The platform automatically archives the session and no notary action is needed
Correct answer: The notary must make an audio-visual recording of the entire RON session and retain it for 10 years
Oregon RON law requires the notary to create and retain an audio-visual recording of the RON session for at least 10 years.
Under Oregon's RON law, notaries are required to make an audio-visual recording of each remote online notarial act and retain that recording for a minimum of 10 years. This recording serves as a critical evidentiary record of the identity verification, the signer's demeanor and apparent voluntariness, and the completion of the notarial act. The notary is responsible for ensuring the recording is made and preserved, whether through the RON platform's archiving system or their own storage arrangements.
Question 4: An Oregon notary wishes to begin performing Remote Online Notarizations. What must they do first?
- Simply begin using any video conferencing platform
- Notify the Oregon Secretary of State and use an approved RON platform (Correct answer)
- Obtain a separate RON commission from the Secretary of State
- Take a 40-hour training course specific to RON
Correct answer: Notify the Oregon Secretary of State and use an approved RON platform
Oregon notaries must notify the Secretary of State and use a RON platform that meets state requirements before performing remote online notarizations.
Oregon requires notaries who want to perform RON to notify the Secretary of State and use only approved RON platforms that meet the state's technical and security requirements. The notary does not need to obtain a separate RON commission — their existing commission is sufficient — but they must comply with the notification and platform requirements. Simply using a general video conferencing tool like Zoom without the required identity verification technology and session recording capabilities does not satisfy Oregon's RON requirements.
Question 5: Under Oregon's RON law, may a notary perform a remote online notarization for a signer located in another country?
- No — RON is restricted to signers physically located within Oregon
- No — RON is restricted to signers within the United States
- Yes — Oregon RON law does not restrict the signer's physical location (Correct answer)
- Yes — but only for documents that will be used in Oregon
Correct answer: Yes — Oregon RON law does not restrict the signer's physical location
Oregon's RON law does not restrict where the signer must be physically located; a signer may be anywhere in the world.
Oregon's Remote Online Notarization law focuses on the notary's location — the notary must be physically in Oregon when performing the act. The law does not restrict where the signer is located. This means an Oregon notary can perform RON for a signer located in another state or another country, provided all other RON requirements are met (identity verification, audio-visual communication, session recording, etc.). This makes RON particularly useful for international business transactions and for Oregonians abroad.
Question 6: What type of electronic signature standard is required for documents notarized through Oregon's Remote Online Notarization process?
- A simple typed name
- A tamper-evident digital signature using compliant technology (Correct answer)
- A scanned image of a handwritten signature
- No electronic signature standard is required
Correct answer: A tamper-evident digital signature using compliant technology
Oregon RON requires the use of a tamper-evident digital signature that complies with applicable electronic signature standards.
Oregon's RON law requires that documents notarized online be signed using a digital signature that is tamper-evident — meaning any subsequent alteration to the document will be detectable. This provides a level of security for electronically notarized documents that is comparable to (or greater than) traditional paper documents. The notary's electronic seal and signature must also be applied using compliant technology that identifies the document as a notarized record and allows recipients to verify its integrity.
OR Notary Remote Online Notarization in Oregon 1
What technology is required for Oregon Remote Online Notarization (RON)?