RON Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield RON facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. After a RON session is complete, how long must the notary typically retain the electronic journal entry? → At least 5–10 years, depending on state law
2. How are RON documents typically transmitted to the signer before the session? → Uploaded securely to the RON platform for the signer to access
3. How many KBA questions must a signer typically answer correctly to pass identity verification for RON? → A minimum threshold set by state law, often 4 out of 5 questions within a time limit
4. Which of the following items is typically required to be captured in a RON notary's electronic journal entry? → The type of notarial act performed
5. Is it necessary to have a separate RON certification if you are already a commissioned notary? → Yes, additional RON certification or endorsement is required
6. In a RON transaction, which format are notarized documents most commonly stored in? → PDF/A
7. Which event typically starts the retention clock for a RON session recording? → The date and time the notarial act is performed during the session
8. In a RON acknowledgment, what is the signer confirming? → That they signed the document voluntarily and have the legal capacity to do so
9. What are the potential consequences for a remote notary who engages in unethical practices? → They may face legal action, fines, and revocation of their notary commission
10. What is the purpose of 'liveness detection' technology in some advanced RON identity verification systems? → To confirm that the person on camera is a live human and not a photo, video, or deepfake
11. What does an 'audit trail' in RON recordkeeping refer to? → A chronological electronic record of all actions taken during and around a RON session
12. How long must a notary retain audio-visual recordings of RON sessions under the majority of state RON statutes? → 5 years from the date of notarization
13. What must an electronic notarial seal for RON contain at minimum? → The notary's name, commission number, state of commission, and commission expiration date
14. If a notary is commissioned in Virginia and performs a RON for a signer located in California, which state's RON laws must the notary follow? → Virginia's laws, because the notary is commissioned there
15. What is a potential benefit of using a RON platform for notaries and clients? → Reduced processing time and convenience for remote transactions
16. Under most RON laws, who bears primary responsibility for maintaining the audio-visual recordings of a RON session? → The RON technology platform provider
17. Which document type is generally NOT suitable for RON notarization under most U.S. state laws? → Testamentary wills requiring witnesses present in the room
18. When a signer needs to sign multiple documents during a single RON session, what must the notary ensure? → Each document is individually acknowledged or sworn to by the signer
19. Which of the following pieces of information is NOT typically required in a RON electronic journal entry? → The notary's personal bank account information
20. What is a 'tamper-evident seal' in the context of RON documents? → A digital mechanism that shows if a document has been altered after notarization
21. What is the primary ethical duty of a remote online notary? → To ensure the integrity and legality of the notarization process
22. Under RON rules, at what point in the session must identity verification be completed? → Before any documents are signed or notarized
23. Under RON rules, what happens if a document is accidentally modified after the notarial seal has been applied? → The tamper-evident technology flags the modification, invalidating the notarization
24. What is the purpose of attaching an 'exhibit' stamp or label to supplemental documents during a RON session? → To link the supplemental document to the primary notarized document for identification
25. What must a notary do before conducting a RON session regarding the documents to be notarized? → Review documents to confirm they are complete and contain no blank spaces
26. When a RON session involves a loan package, who is typically responsible for preparing and uploading the documents to the platform? → The title company, escrow officer, or lender
27. What must be included in the electronic notarial certificate of a RON document? → The notary's name, commission number, commission expiration date, and state of commission
28. Can a RON notary apply their electronic seal to a document without being present for the signing via audio-visual connection? → No — the notary must be actively present via AV connection at the time the seal is applied
29. A RON notary's commission expires. What should happen to the electronic journal and session recordings? → They must continue to be preserved for the full required retention period
30. Which of the following best describes a 'tamper-evident' requirement for RON electronic records? → Any unauthorized alteration of the record must be detectable