A practical guide to remote online notarization, identity verification, and documents involving multiple people.
Your attorney emails a Power of Attorney.
You're in Florida. Your mother is in Ohio. The person who needs the document is somewhere else entirely.
And nobody has time to coordinate another trip.
So you wonder, "Can we just do this online?"
In some situations, yes.
I'm Kerrie L. Smith, an authorized Indiana Remote Online Notary and owner of Signature Move Notary Services.
I provide remote online notarization through BlueNotary for eligible documents, including certain Power of Attorney and estate-related documents.
But there's something I want you to know before you book.
Online notarization is more than signing a PDF while someone watches on a video call.
Can an Indiana online notary help someone in another state?
Yes, in qualifying circumstances.
Indiana requires the authorized remote notary to be physically located within Indiana during the remote notarial act.
However, the signer may be located outside Indiana, including another state or, in certain circumstances, another country.
That can be helpful for families coordinating documents across different locations.
But the document itself must be appropriate for the procedure, and the receiving organization should confirm acceptance.
Can a Power of Attorney be notarized online?
Some Powers of Attorney may qualify for electronic signing and remote notarization.
However, Indiana has specific legal requirements for Powers of Attorney, including certain electronic execution and witness situations.
This is why I ask clients whether an attorney prepared the document and whether witnesses are required.
I don't want someone to complete an appointment only to discover that the receiving institution requires a different signing procedure.
Before booking, confirm with your attorney or receiving institution that the proposed remote signing process is acceptable.
What happens during the online identity verification process?
This is one of the most important differences between remote online notarization and an ordinary video call.
During a qualifying RON session, the platform uses approved identity-verification procedures.
Depending on the platform and transaction, this can include:
Reviewing identification credentials
Knowledge-based authentication questions
Additional identity-proofing procedures
Live audio-video communication
Electronic signatures and notarial certificates
The goal is to help the notary establish the signer's identity according to the required procedures.
Is there a record after the notarization is completed?
Yes. Indiana remote notarization requires electronic journal records and an audiovisual recording.
The platform may also produce a transaction completion certificate or other audit documentation.
For example, BlueNotary completion records can show session information, participant signing events, and whether identity-verification checks were passed.
That can be helpful when an attorney or receiving organization later needs information about the notarization process.
However, a completion certificate does not independently prove the legal validity of the underlying document or replace the notary's required journal and recording.
The availability and release of particular records are governed by applicable requirements and platform procedures.
What if the Power of Attorney requires witnesses?
This is where planning matters.
Not every online signing involving witnesses follows the same procedure.
Some documents may permit remote witness participation under applicable law. Others may require particular execution procedures or attorney supervision.
If your document requires witnesses, tell me before scheduling.
I'll need to know the document type, how many witnesses are involved, and whether your attorney has given specific signing instructions.
What do I need before my appointment?
To help the appointment go smoothly, prepare:
The final electronic document.
Acceptable identification.
A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and microphone.
Reliable internet access.
Information about any additional signers or witnesses.
Confirmation that the receiving institution accepts the proposed electronic document and remote notarization.
It's also helpful to have a quiet, private space where you can participate without interruption.
Why work directly with an experienced Indiana online notary?
There are online notarization platforms that focus on quick, straightforward transactions.
And for some people, that's exactly what they need.
But when an appointment involves estate planning documents, multiple participants, or attorney instructions, the preparation becomes more important.
At Signature Move Notary Services, you work directly with me.
I help you understand the appointment process, identify the information needed to schedule, and coordinate the notarial session.
I cannot provide legal advice or determine whether a document is legally sufficient. But I can help make the notarization process clearer.
What does an Indiana online notary appointment cost?
Indiana limits the fee for an individual remote notarial act to $25.
A remote notarization appointment may also involve separately disclosed platform or other permitted service-related charges, depending on the transaction.
Complex appointments involving multiple documents or witness coordination may require a customized quote.
I'll explain the applicable charges before you decide to proceed.
Ready to notarize your document online?
Whether you're in Indianapolis, another state, or another eligible location, let's determine whether Remote Online Notarization is right for your document.
When you contact me, tell me:
What document needs notarization
Where the signer will be located
Whether witnesses are required
Whether an attorney or institution has provided signing instructions
When the document is needed
Ask Kerrie About My Online Notary Appointment
Signature Move Notary Services
Indianapolis, Indiana
When the Documents Matter, So Does the Notary.
For additional information, review the Indiana Secretary of State's Notary Public Guide.
Remote notarization eligibility and acceptance depend on the document and applicable legal requirements. Signature Move Notary Services does not provide legal advice.
