ALTA strives to help members identify the benefits and risks associated with digital closings in order to put the industry in the best position to solve problems and inspire innovative ideas. ALTA is your source for tools and education about various aspects of digital closing and provide information about the availability of technological advances such as remote online rotary (RON).
Resources
- 2023 Digital Closing Survey Results (Member-only Access)
- Remote Online Notarization FAQs - February 2021
- RON Workflow
- ALTA's Principles for Remote Notarization
- ALTA's 2017 Principles for Remote Online Notarization (RON)
- Notarization Types and Terminology
This infographic breaks down the various ways notarizations can occur and explains their capabilities and requirements. - Digital Closing Readiness Checklist
- Digital Closing Statutes
ALTA members have access to this state-by-state list of digital closing statutes. - List of MERS eRegistry Participants
An Introduction to Digital Closings for Consumers
Thanks to innovations by the title and settlement services industry, consumers can close on their dream home from the comfort of their couch in most cases. This video is meant as a baseline introduction to digital closings.
Federal Legislation
The Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2023 (SECURE Notarization Act) would permit immediate nationwide use of remote online notary (RON) with minimum standards and provide certainty for the interstate recognition of RON.
Resources for Finding RON Vendors
- ALTA Marketplace
- Fannie Mae Vendor List (scroll to middle of page)
- Freddie Mac Vendor List
State Laws Authorizing Remote e-Notarization
Emergency orders and guidance issued by states on RON do not necessarily conform with the ALTA-MBA model or RULONA standards for consumer protections and anti-fraud safeguards. The powers of entities to issue such orders should to be reviewed on a state-by-state basis. Prior to relying on any emergency order or guidance, you should contact your underwriter. 48 states and the District of Columbia have either passed a RON law or issued an executive order pertaining to remotely notarizing documents, some have done both.
Please email any additional orders or guidance not listed to eblosser@alta.org.
Green indicates when RON laws were passed with darker green more recently. Click on each state for links to Laws and Regulations. Click "x" to close.
Digital Closing Articles
Recent 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
ALTA Encourages N.C. Secretary of State to Maintain RON Standards
In a letter, ALTA, the North Carolina Land Title Association, Mortgage Bankers Association and Mortgage Bankers Association of North Carolina, detailed the need to ensure the state maintains RON requirements, which provide robust consumer protections and legal certainty to the transaction. The letter indicates the state’s Secretary of State is considering policy that would codify standards not consistent with RON and would introduce unnecessary legal uncertainty and risk to transactions.
Pennsylvania Governor Signs RON Legislation
Pennsylvania’s General Assembly passed legislation on Oct. 21 that authorizes the use of remote online notarization. The legislation, which was supported by the Pennsylvania Land Title Association, was signed Oct. 29 by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Minnesota Passes Temporary RIN Bill While Michigan S.C. Rejects Governor’s Order Easing Notarial Requirements
Minnesota passed legislation that would temporarily allow for remote ink-signed notarizations, while the Michigan Supreme Court ruled the state’s governor lacks the authority to extend or declare states of emergency in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order had eased existing requirements for remote online notarizations.
Impediments to Interstate Commerce Eliminated by Passage of The Secure Notarization Act
What ever happened to Senate Bill 3533, the Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2020 (the SECURE Act), bipartisan legislation to authorize and establish minimum standards for electronic and remote notarizations (RON), which was introduced in mid-March? The Secure Act, endorsed by ALTA, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors, would authorize all notaries in the United States to perform RONs, require tamper-evident technology in electronic notarizations and provide fraud prevention through use of multifactor authentication.
Pandemic Speeds Remote Online Notarization
To date, 26 states have authorized some form of RON legislation. ALTA and the Mortgage Bankers Association have championed uniform RON legislation, which includes a model bill. Due to the pandemic, several states have temporarily authorized RON or accelerated the implementation of enabling legislation.
Qualia Launches Remote Online Notary Platform
Qualia RON is built into the company’s cloud-based title and escrow software platform.
Blend Reaches Unicorn Status With $75 Million Series F Raise
There’s no doubt that the economic situation around the COVID-19 pandemic has placed pressure on lenders to offer remote solutions while keeping up with record loan volumes. To that end, Blend plans to use the new capital to invest in product development such as speeding up the release of its digital closing solution.
Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts: The 411 on MISMO’s RON Certification
During this latest installment of Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts (sponsored by the FNF Family of Companies), Lisa Steele of Mother Lode Holding Co. and Eddie Oddo of First American Title Insurance Co. talk with Rick Hill, vice president of industry technology at the Mortgage Bankers Association, about MISMO's Remote Online Notarization (RON) certification program.
Simplifile, DocMagic Partner to Advance Digital Closings
Through the partnership, loan closings done through DocMagic’s Total eClose platform can now be automatically routed to the settlement agent thorough Simplifile for electronic closing coordination.
Hawaii Passes Remote Online Notarization Bill
Hawaii becomes the 27th state to allow remote online notarizations following the passage of SB 275. The legislation, which awaits the governor's signature, will go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.
Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts: Boots on the Ground, The Real Story
PropLogix Launches RON Software
ProperSign features video conferencing, knowledge-based authentication, tamper-evident document sealing and long-term storage. Beyond meeting the Florida requirements to facilitate RON and remote ink-signed notarization (RIN) signings, PropLogix said its software can be used to facilitate fully digital or hybrid real estate closings.
MISMO Certifies First Two Remote Online Notary Products
Notarize and eNotaryLog became the first two companies to complete MISMO's new remote online notarization (RON) certification program. RON certification provides assurance that products fulfill the requirements of the MISMO RON standards. Earlier this year, ALTA announced its Title & Settlement Agent Registry (ALTA Registry) can now identify title and settlement companies that can perform RON closings. Closing companies that offer RON will be designated with a small graphic icon, making them easy to identify in the ALTA Registry, which is also fully searchable.
Ask The Digital Boot Camp Experts: Agent Spotlight Boots on the Ground
Listen to the second installment of the Qualia-sponsored Ask the Digital Boot Camp Experts video series as we spotlight what agents are doing in regard to digital closings. Eddie Oddo, vice president of First American Title's corporate business solutions, speaks with Web Raulston, CEO of Team Title Services in Tennessee, and Kelli Flores, vice president of First American's direct operations in Colorado. Learn how these title agents are approaching remote online notarizations and remote ink-signed notarizations.
40% Increase in RON Usage, Qualia Finds
To support contactless business operations, respondents report that they are conducting more e-recordings, remote online notarizations (RON) and hybrid remote ink-signed notarizations (RIN).
ALTA Develops Principles for Remote Notarization
The principles outline guidelines to give consumers digital technology options for notarizations that incorporate safeguards to reduce fraud and protect property rights of consumers. In addition, the principles say any remote notarization must meet certain criteria to provide confidence in the transfer of real estate.
Remote Online Notarizations Surge 40% During Pandemic
Since stay-at-home orders and self-quarantines began in March, more businesses have moved to digital solutions. A survey from Qualia revealed that there was a nearly 40% surge in remote online notarization from April through May. Seventy percent of those who responded to the survey said they anticipated either having the same volume or an increased volume over the next 30 days compared to the previous month.
The Changing Laws on Remote Online Notarization
As of mid-June, 26 states allow remote online notarization (RON) closings, including Virginia. The District and Maryland allow RON closings on a temporary, emergency basis. According to Diane Tomb, chief executive of the American Land Title Association (ALTA), nearly 30 percent of title and settlement companies are offering some type of digital closing to meet social distancing requirements. This is up from 17 percent of companies offering digital closings in 2019. “Protecting consumers remains the title insurance industry’s top priority,” Tomb added.
Mortgages for a Digital Age
The consumer demand for digital has driven exponential growth in eMortgages. In October 2018, nearly 17,000 electronic promissory notes (eNotes) were registered. Just one year later, that number exploded. After increasing by more than 500% to over 95,000 in 2019, it continues to rise. February 2020 was a record high month with 19,240 eNotes registered. Read on as Henry Cason, SVP and head of digital products for Fannie Mae, explains the benefits of electronic mortgages.
Colorado Passes RON Bill
SB 20-096, which was supported by the Land Title Association of Colorado, Colorado Association of Realtors, Colorado Mortgage Bankers and Colorado Bar Association, awaits the governor's signature. The bill goes into effect Dec. 31, 2020. Colorado becomes the 26th state to pass RON legislation. The bill also extends the use of remote ink notarization in the state through Dec. 31, 2020.
Missouri Passes Remote Online Notarization Bill
After a three-year process, Missouri passed a bill that allows for remote online notarization (RON) in the state. HB 1655, which was supported by the Missouri Land Title Association (MLTA), passed both legislative chambers and awaits the signature of Gov. Mike Parson. Missouri became the 25th state to pass RON legislation.
Stewart Title Partners with SIGNiX to Expand RON Services
Stewart Title has entered into an agreement to offer SIGNiX digital signature products to its internal notaries and Stewart Trusted Provider network.
MISMO Releases RON Certification Program
MISMO said it designed the remote online notarization (RON) software compliance certification program to scale the adoption of RON-enabled digital mortgage closings. Additionally, the program provides RON technology providers with a common set of standards and streamlines the approval processes of RON providers. MISMO's RON standards support model legislation that was developed by ALTA and the Mortgage Bankers Association.
MISMO Rolls Out RON Certification Program
MISMO, the mortgage industry’s standards organization, has introduced a new remote online notarization (RON) certification program for RON providers and mortgage industry participants. “Digital mortgage closings – especially during this time of social distancing and state stay-at-home orders – provide a safe, fast and convenient experience for all parties involved in a real estate transaction,” says Mike Fratantoni, president of MISMO and chief economist and senior vice president of research and industry technology for the Mortgage Bankers Association, in a release.