e-Notarization & RON Flashcards

A Pennsylvania RON-approved notary is conducting a notarization for a signer located in another country. During the identity-proofing process, the signer, a U.S. citizen, successfully completes the credential analysis but fails the knowledge-based authentication (KBA) questions. What is the notary's proper course of action?

Answer: Terminate the session and note in the journal that the notarization was not completed due to failed identity proofing.

Pennsylvania law requires that a remotely located individual be identified through personal knowledge, a credible witness, or at least two different types of identity-proofing processes. If one of the required identity-proofing methods fails, the notary cannot proceed with the notarization. The correct action is to terminate the session and accurately record the reason in the notary journal.

Under Pennsylvania's RON law (Act 97 of 2020), a notary is authorized to certify that a tangible copy of an electronic record is a true and correct copy. Which of the following is a critical requirement for this specific notarial act?

Answer: The notary must have reasonable proof of the electronic record's integrity and affix an official certificate to the tangible copy.

Act 97 of 2020 specifically authorizes notaries to certify that a tangible copy of an electronic record is a true and correct copy. This act does not require the notary to have been the original notary or for the requestor to be physically present. The core responsibility is for the notary to ensure the integrity of the source electronic record and then to execute a proper notarial certificate on the paper copy.

A Pennsylvania-commissioned notary is asked to perform a RON for a real estate closing. The document package includes a power of attorney. The signer for the POA is physically in Florida, the credible witness is in Ohio, and the notary is in their office in Pennsylvania. Which statement accurately describes the requirements for this scenario?

Answer: The credible witness must also undergo identity proofing using at least two different technologies or services.

When using a credible witness to identify a principal in a RON session, Pennsylvania law requires that the witness's identity be verified in the same manner as the principal if they were not personally known to the notary. This means the credible witness must also pass the required identity-proofing standards, such as credential analysis and KBA.

A RON-approved notary in Pennsylvania maintains their journal in a tamper-evident electronic format as required. A former client requests a certified copy of a specific journal entry from a RON session conducted six months prior. What is the notary's obligation?

Answer: Provide a certified copy of the requested entry within 10 days and may charge a reasonable fee for the copy and postage.

Pennsylvania law requires notaries to provide a certified copy of their journal to any person who applies for it, regardless of whether the journal is tangible or electronic. The notary must provide the copy within 10 days of the request and is permitted to charge reasonable fees for copying and postage.

During a RON session, the audio-visual connection fails immediately after the signer has electronically signed the document but before the notary has completed the notarial certificate and affixed their electronic seal. The connection cannot be re-established. Which of the following is the correct procedure?

Answer: Do not complete the notarial act, save the partial recording, and note in the journal that the notarization was incomplete due to technical failure.

The notarial act is not complete until the notary has performed all required steps, including completing the certificate, signing, and sealing, all of which must be done contemporaneously with the signing. If a technology failure prevents the completion of the act, the notary cannot proceed. The best practice is to stop, secure the record of what occurred (including the partial recording), and clearly document the incomplete notarization in the journal.

Which of the following documents is explicitly ineligible for Remote Online Notarization in Pennsylvania, even if all other RON requirements are met?

Answer: A motor vehicle title transfer.

While Pennsylvania law has broadly authorized RON for most documents, certain records are excluded. The Commonwealth requires 'wet ink' signatures and a physical stamp for all vehicle title transfers, making them ineligible for electronic or remote notarization.