New Notary Laws Effective now and in 2023!

RON is signed to LAW and new guidelines are effective immediately in NC!

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and her team joined Governor Roy Cooper on 7/8/2022 at the Executive Mansion as he signed Remote Online Notarization (RON) into law.  Emergency Video Notarizations will resume, effective immediately, as a stop-gap measure to allow video notarizations while permanent RON procedures are being put in place. EVN expires on June 30, 2023, at 12:01 a.m.

“Everyone in North Carolina needs to be able to sign contracts safely and conveniently, without sacrificing the certainty of knowing that people signing important documents like wills and loans are exactly who they say they are. Emergency Video Notarizations were crucial tools during the height of the COVID pandemic. The next step, establishing a permanent RON solution that matches intuitive technology with transactional security, is central to maintaining a vibrant and sustainable e-commerce culture across the state that’s accessible for everyone,” said Secretary Elaine Marshall.

Here is what customers need to know now: 

1. Notaries can resume Emergency Video Notarizations under the same procedure that was established during the pandemic. This is a necessary stop-gap solution while the RON program is established over the next year.

2. The fees Notaries charge increased.  For acknowledgments, jurats, verifications, or proofs the new fee will be $10 per principal signature.  For oaths or affirmations without a signature, the fee will be $10 per person, except for the identity of a principal or subscribing witness. The fee for electronic notarization under G.S. 10B-188 will be $15 (e-Notarizations). 

The new Remote Online Notary fee will be $25 per principal signature when RON becomes effective in July of 2023.  

3. For any notarial act under 10B, the actual mileage at the federal mileage rate can be charged (The state of NC uses a federal mileage rate of 62.5 cents per mile.)  

Notaries, congratulations on this new major piece of legislation. We have a lot of work ahead to work on the registration process for notaries and vendors and make sure you all are educated about this new law.