14d • Ask NJNA
ASK NJNA: Notarization via FaceTime
QUESTION RECEIVED:
I have been asked by a husband and wife to notarize a school form containing an acknowledgment. The couple are very well known to me, so I do not need their identification. Both of them have already signed the form. Only the wife is able to visit me in person. Can I accept the husband’s acknowledgment via FaceTime video?
ANSWER:
No. In New Jersey, performing a notarization for someone who is not physically present before you requires authorization to perform Remote Online Notarizations (RON). RON must be conducted through a state-approved platform that meets New Jersey’s security and recordkeeping standards. Video chat services such as FaceTime, Google Meet, and Skype do not satisfy these requirements and cannot be used for this purpose. If you are not authorized as a Remote Online Notary through the State of New Jersey, you may not perform remote notarizations.
SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES:
OPTION 1: Suggest the couple use an approved Remote Online Notary. Both individuals would be able to appear remotely before an authorized New Jersey notary public to complete the notarization together. Many notaries in our organization are authorized to perform RON services.
OPTION 2: Complete the notarization for the wife only, in person. The document can then be sent to the husband, who can appear before a notary in the state where he is physically located to complete his portion. Note: The out-of-state notary must be authorized to perform notarizations in that state.
OPTION 3 (If permitted by the document issuer, in this case the school): Complete the notarization for the wife only. The husband can then complete a separate but identical copy of the form where he is currently located. Note: This is a practical workaround if the school permits, but it’s not a formal notarial solution. This simply splits the acknowledgment into two separate forms with separate notarizations. For many documents, such as those for loans, this would most likely not be an allowable solution. Acceptance is entirely up to the receiving party (the school) and should be verified in advance before proceeding with this scenario.
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ASK NJNA: Notarization via FaceTime
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