Hi, I’m John Yurasits. Most people know me as a mobile notary in Las Vegas, but this time of year many Las Vegans aren’t in Las Vegas. You might be visiting family in another state for Thanksgiving or spending the holidays overseas, and then learn that a document has to be notarized before the end of the year.
The good news is that you don’t have to hop on a plane. Remote online notarization, or RON, lets you appear before me by secure live video from almost anywhere. Here is how it works in Nevada, what you need to have ready, and the one rule that trips people up most often.
What Is Remote Online Notarization?
RON is a notarization done through a secure audio-video platform instead of at a table. You sign an electronic document, I watch it happen live on camera, and then I apply my electronic notarial certificate and seal. I perform my RON sessions through BlueNotary, an online platform built for this purpose.
Nevada has authorized electronic notarization using audio-video communication since 2017. The rules are in the Nevada Revised Statutes, starting at NRS 240.181.
Can I Use a Nevada Notary If I’m Not in Nevada?
Often, yes. Under NRS 240.1993, a Nevada electronic notary may perform a remote notarization for a signer who is physically located:
- In Nevada
- Outside Nevada but within the United States
- Outside the United States, but only if the notary has no actual knowledge that the act is prohibited where you are, and you confirm that the document relates to a matter before a U.S. court or government entity, to property in the U.S., or to a transaction substantially connected to the U.S.
The same law requires me to be physically in Nevada when I perform the notarization. So you can be in Ohio or Osaka, and I’ll be right here in southwest Las Vegas.
One important caution: whether a remotely notarized document will be accepted is up to whoever receives it, such as a county recorder, a bank, a court, or an agency. Before you book, check with that recipient that they accept electronically notarized documents.
How Your Identity Is Verified
Because we aren’t in the same room, Nevada law spells out how I confirm who you are. Under NRS 240.1997, unless I know you personally, identity is generally confirmed with all three of these steps:
- Remote presentation of a current government-issued photo ID that also shows your signature (for example, a driver’s license or passport)
- Credential analysis, where a third-party service checks that the ID and its data are valid
- Dynamic knowledge-based authentication (KBA), a short quiz of questions generated from public and credit-history records that only you should be able to answer
The law also allows other methods that meet the Nevada Secretary of State’s regulations, and identification through a credible witness in some situations.
Every Session Is Recorded
NRS 240.1995 requires every RON session to be recorded, and I’ll tell everyone on the call that it is being recorded before we begin. Nevada notaries must keep that recording for at least seven years, even if the notarization isn’t completed. I also keep an electronic journal of every electronic notarial act, as NRS 240.201 requires. These records protect you. If anyone ever questions whether a signing took place, there is a secure record.
The #1 Mistake: Signing Before the Session
This is the rule that surprises people most, so I want to be very clear about my office policy:
Every signature must be applied live, during the recorded session.
If you sign a document electronically ahead of time, for example through an e-signature app, and then ask me to notarize it, I will not notarize it. That includes acknowledgments. In some in-person settings, a signer who signed earlier can acknowledge that signature in front of a notary. In my RON sessions, I require you to sign while I watch, on camera, every time. Please don’t sign anything before we meet. Upload the unsigned document and we’ll take care of it together.
Your Pre-Session Checklist
To keep your appointment smooth, have these ready:
- A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a working camera, microphone, and steady internet connection
- Your unsigned document as a PDF, with every page included and nothing blank that should be filled in
- Your unexpired government-issued photo ID, the physical card, in hand
- A quiet, well-lit spot where your face and ID are easy to see
- Every signer present, each with their own ID. If two people need to sign, both must complete identity verification.
- The right notarial act. Your document or the person who requested it should tell you whether you need an acknowledgment or a jurat. As a notary, I can’t choose the type of notarial act for you.
If you’re traveling, plan around time zones. A late-afternoon session in Las Vegas could be late evening on the East Coast.
Quick FAQ
Is RON as valid as an in-person notarization?
Nevada law authorizes it, and electronic notarial acts done under NRS Chapter 240 are valid in Nevada. Acceptance outside Nevada depends on the receiving party, so it’s always smart to check first.
What if I fail the KBA quiz?
The number of attempts may be limited. If verification doesn’t succeed, we’ll reschedule or arrange another option, such as an in-person signing with a mobile notary in Las Vegas if you’re back in town.
Can you notarize loan documents remotely?
It depends on the lender and title company. As a loan signing agent, I follow their instructions on whether a closing is done in person or electronically.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes. All services, both remote and in person, are by appointment only.
Why Work With Yuri Notary?
I’ve been a notary since 1995, starting in Pennsylvania. There, I served on the notary complaints advisory committee and helped launch the state’s Remote Notary Program. Today I hold Nevada commission #16-3233-1. I’m a Nevada Certified Document Preparer, I’ve been NNA-certified since 2010, and Yuri Notary is BBB A+ rated. I also mentor newer Nevada notaries, because getting the details right matters.
Whether you’re across town in the 89118 area or across the world, I’m happy to help with remote online notarization, mobile notary visits, loan signings, and document preparation.
Ready to get your document notarized before the holidays? Book your RON or mobile notary appointment with Yuri Notary today. Appointments only.
Yuri Notary · 5940 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89118
Disclaimer: John Yurasits is a Nevada notary public and Nevada Certified Document Preparer, not an attorney, and cannot give legal advice. This article is general information only and is not legal advice. For guidance about your specific situation, please consult a licensed Nevada attorney.
I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY IN THE STATE OF NEVADA. I AM NOT AUTHORIZED TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION. I MAY NOT ACCEPT FEES FOR GIVING LEGAL ADVICE OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION. (Statement required by NRS 240A.150.)