Getting a document notarized used to mean finding an office, taking time off, and hoping you had the right ID on hand. Not anymore. As of 2026, 49 states plus DC allow Remote Online Notarization, making it the default way most Americans handle notarizations. This post breaks down which states are fully on board, which two are still catching up, and the one detail about RON law that trips up almost everyone.

Think you need a Virginia notary for international signers? You don't. Florida's RON law already covers signers anywhere in the world, and biometric identity verification closes the gap that made Virginia the default years ago. Here's what the statute actually says, and what it means for your next cross-border closing.