Can You Become an Online Notary in Washington?

Yes. Washington permits qualified notaries to perform remote online notarizations, commonly called RON. Instead of requiring the signer to be physically in the same room as the notary, an approved remote notarization uses secure audio-video communication and electronic notarization technology.

However, having a traditional Washington notary commission by itself is not enough. To perform remote notarizations, you must also obtain the required electronic records notary public endorsement and remote notary endorsement from the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Here's how the process works.

Step 1: Make Sure You Qualify to Become a Washington Notary

Before becoming an online notary, you first need to qualify for a Washington notary public commission.

Under current Washington requirements, an applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be able to read and write English
• Live in Washington or have a place of employment or practice in Washington
• Meet Washington's other eligibility requirements for receiving a notary commission

Step 2: Obtain the Required $10,000 Washington Surety Bond

Washington requires notary applicants to obtain a $10,000 surety bond. Your bond must be issued by a company authorized to provide surety bonds in Washington.

The bond protects the public if a notary violates Washington notary law and causes a covered financial loss.

Step 3: Apply for Your Washington Notary Public Commission

Once you have your surety bond, you can apply for your notary public commission through the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Your application will generally require:

• A completed Washington Notary Public Commission Application
• Your signed $10,000 surety bond
• A signed and notarized Oath of Office
• The applicable state application fee

The current state application fee for a new Washington notary public commission is $40.

You can find the latest licensing instructions directly from the Washington State Department of Licensing .

Step 4: Receive Your Commission and Get Your Notary Supplies

After Washington approves your application, you can obtain the supplies necessary to perform notarial acts.

Washington notaries should have:

• An official Washington notary stamp or seal
• A physical notary journal that meets Washington requirements
• A secure place to maintain the journal and notary supplies

Washington requires a tangible notary journal. It must be a permanent, bound book with numbered pages and must be kept under the notary's control.

An electronic journal can be maintained in addition to the physical journal, but it does not replace Washington's required tangible journal.

Step 5: Get Your Electronic Records Notary Public Endorsement

The next step toward becoming a remote online notary in Washington is obtaining an Electronic Records Notary Public Endorsement.

This endorsement allows you to perform notarial acts involving electronic records and is required before you can operate as a Washington remote notary.

You may apply for the electronic endorsement at the same time as your original Washington notary commission or add it to an active commission later.

The current Washington state fee for the electronic records endorsement is $15.

Step 6: Choose Your Remote Online Notary Technology Provider

Remote notarization can't be performed using an ordinary video meeting alone. Washington requires technology that meets the state's standards for electronic notarization, identity verification, document security, and real-time audio-video communication.

Washington requires electronic notaries to notify the Department of Licensing of the technology provider they intend to use. You must provide the required provider information to the state and cannot begin electronic or remote notarizations until the applicable requirements have been satisfied.

Online Notary Center provides technology designed to help notaries conduct remote online notarization sessions. You can learn more about online notarization in Washington and the requirements for getting started.

Step 7: Apply for Your Washington Remote Notary Endorsement

Having an electronic records endorsement does not automatically make you a remote online notary.

To perform remote notarial acts, Washington requires a separate remote notary endorsement.

You can apply for the electronic records endorsement and remote endorsement as part of the same overall licensing process when eligible.

Washington currently charges no separate state fee for the remote notary endorsement. The $15 fee applies to the electronic records endorsement.

Step 8: Understand Washington's Remote Notarization Rules

Once your endorsements are active, you'll need to follow Washington's rules every time you perform an online notarization.

The Notary Must Be Physically Located in Washington

A Washington electronic records notary performing a remote notarization must be located in Washington during the notarial act.

The Signer Appears by Live Audio and Video

Remote notarizations must use synchronous audio-video technology that allows the notary and remotely located signer to see, hear, and communicate with each other in real time.

The Signer's Identity Must Be Verified

Washington has specific identity-proofing requirements for remote notarizations. Depending on the circumstances, the process may include credential analysis and dynamic knowledge-based authentication.

The Remote Session Must Be Recorded

An audiovisual recording must be created for a remote notarial act and retained in accordance with Washington law.

Washington currently requires these audiovisual recordings to be retained for at least 10 years.

Your Physical Journal Still Matters

Remote notarizations must also be recorded in your required tangible notary journal. For a remote transaction, the journal should indicate that the notarization was performed remotely.

Step 9: Start Performing Remote Online Notarizations

After your Washington notary commission, electronic records endorsement, remote notary endorsement, and compliant technology are ready, you can begin performing authorized remote notarial acts.

Washington remote notaries may perform several types of authorized notarial acts online, including acknowledgments, verifications on oath or affirmation, witnessing or attesting signatures, and certain other acts permitted by Washington law.

Your signer does not necessarily have to be physically located in Washington. However, additional legal requirements apply when a remotely located signer is outside the United States.

How Much Does It Cost to Become an Online Notary in Washington?

Additional expenses such as the cost of the surety bond, notary stamp, physical journal, digital certificate, computer equipment, and remote notarization technology may vary by provider.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming an Online Notary in Washington