THE NOTARY NOTE
A Weekly Briefing from LSN
Newsletter Archive
 

Welcome — this is the home for every issue of The Notary Note, a short weekly briefing covering verified notary, apostille, and legal-signing updates. Every fact is sourced from the National Notary Association, official state Secretary of State records, or other primary sources.

Jump to an issue below, or read straight through.

August 2026

August's headline is a correction: that widely-shared claim about a new Florida notary watermark law never actually passed. Here's the real story, plus Algeria's new Hague Apostille status, this year's NNA award winners, and a full rundown on signer refusal and vulnerable signers.

💡 Did You Know? Notaries Work In More Rooms Than You'd Think
Notary work isn't just real estate closings and loan signings. Here's where else notaries show up.
🏦 Banking & Finance — Notaries are routinely called in to witness signatures on business loans and commercial credit agreements before funds are released.
📈 Investments — Stock transfers and retirement account forms, like IRA rollovers, often require a notarized signature to verify the account holder's identity.
🔐 Safe Deposit Boxes — When a box goes unclaimed or a renter passes away, banks typically need a notary to witness the drilling or opening process for the record.
Why it matters: Banks, investment firms, and financial institutions all treat notarization as a compliance checkpoint — building relationships in this space means recurring, institutional business instead of one-off signings.
🌍 Apostille World: Algeria Joins the Hague Apostille Convention
The 1961 Hague Apostille Convention officially entered into force for Algeria on July 9, 2026, making it the newest member of the international apostille system. Documents from Algeria — birth certificates, education records, corporate filings — can now be authenticated with a single apostille instead of the older multi-step consular legalization process, and vice versa for U.S. documents headed to Algeria.
Why it matters: If you or your clients handle documents bound for or from Algeria, the process just got simpler and faster.
📜 Notary World: Florida Watch — The "Watermark Bill" Died in Committee
You may have seen headlines about a new Florida law requiring anti-fraud watermarks on electronically notarized real estate deeds, effective July 1, 2026. Worth a correction: that requirement was proposed in SB 1232 and its House companion, HB 1111 — but both died in committee on March 13, 2026 and were never enacted. There is currently no statewide watermark mandate in Florida law.
Why it matters: Deed fraud and title theft remain a real, active concern in Florida, and lawmakers are clearly looking at it — expect this idea to resurface next session. We'll track it and let you know the moment anything actually passes.
🏆 Notary Spotlight: Meet This Year's NNA Award Winners
The National Notary Association named Melissa Battle, founder of Notarizing Tampa, its 2026 Influencer of the Year. Based in Wesley Chapel, Melissa brings 20+ years of experience to mobile and Remote Online Notarization, apostille services, and estate planning document notarizations — she holds both Certified Notary Trust Delivery Agent (CNTDA) and Certified Notary Estate Planning Partner (CNEPP) credentials. She's also an award-winning wedding officiant, a specialty that sets her apart in the Tampa Bay market. More at notarizingtampa.com.
On the national side, longtime California notary Laura Biewer was named 2026 Notary of the Year for her work protecting vulnerable signers. Based in Modesto, Laura is the best-selling author of The Compassionate Notary, a sought-after speaker, and a dedicated business coach who has mentored hundreds of signing agents into launching their own notary businesses. She also offers a specialized HOA Board Election Inspector service alongside her mobile notary work. More at atyourservicemobilenotary.com.
💡 Compliance Corner: Signer Refusal & Vulnerable Signers
Knowing when — and when not — to refuse a notarization is one of the most consequential judgment calls you'll make, especially with elderly, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable signers. Here's the rundown, straight from the NNA.[1]
When you CAN refuse — the signer can't be properly identified, appears confused or disoriented, seems coerced or unwilling, or can't explain what they're signing. You can also refuse if the document has blank spaces, if you have a personal or financial interest in the transaction, or if you reasonably believe it will be used illegally.[1]
When you CANNOT refuse — age, disability, race, nationality, religion, gender, or lifestyle are never valid reasons to decline. Notarizing a document isn't an endorsement of its contents — you're an impartial witness, not a gatekeeper. Refusing a lawful request based on personal bias violates the Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility.[1]
Reading the room — introduce yourself and your role, then ask a few open-ended questions (their weekend, the weather) to gauge coherence, and ask the signer to describe what they're signing. Watch for coercion, especially when a family member stands to benefit — don't hesitate to ask others to step out so you can speak with the signer alone. If you have real doubts about their awareness or willingness, stop and don't proceed.[1]
Accommodating, not refusing — a physical limitation isn't a reason to turn a signer away. A signature guide card helps visually impaired signers feel where to sign. Signers unable to write may sign by mark (an "X"), by thumbprint, or — where state law allows — have someone else sign on their behalf as a proxy at their direction. In Florida, both signature-by-mark and signature-by-proxy require two disinterested witnesses, and proxy signatures must cite the specific statutory language and be documented for 10 years.[1,2] For hearing-impaired signers, communicate directly (pen and notepad works) — using an interpreter to relay your questions typically disqualifies you from serving as the notary.[1]
Document everything — whether you complete the notarization or refuse it, log what you observed and the steps you took in your journal. It's your record if the notarization is ever questioned later.[1]
Bottom line: vulnerable signers need more patience and preparation, not a reason to say no. Notaries are one of the last lines of defense against elder and disability financial exploitation — treat every red flag seriously, and every signer with the accommodation they're entitled to.
Sources
[1] National Notary Association (nationalnotary.org) — "When to Say 'No'... and When Refusing Is Not Allowed"; "Notary Basics: Determining a Signer's Awareness"; "Notary Tip: How to Be Prepared for Signers With Special Needs"; "A Guide to Notarizing for Physically Impaired Signers"; "Notarizing for Elderly Signers"
[2] Florida Statutes § 117.05(13)–(14), 2025 (official state code, via The Florida Senate): flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/117.05
July 2026

July's biggest story: North Carolina pushed its full Remote Electronic Notarization rollout back — again. Here's that story plus a few other verified updates from around the country.

🆕 New This Issue — By Request
💡 Did You Know? Notaries Work In More Rooms Than You'd Think
You asked, we added it: starting this issue, we're spotlighting notary niches most people never think of. Got an idea for a future one? Just hit reply and let us know.
⚖️ Litigation — Affidavits and depositions used in court proceedings almost always require a notarized signature before a judge or opposing counsel will accept them.
🏥 Hospitals — Advance directives and medical powers of attorney are frequently notarized bedside, often on short notice, before a patient can formalize their wishes.
🏡 Nursing Homes — Residents regularly need help notarizing healthcare updates and other legal documents, especially when a trip to a notary's office isn't realistic.
Why it matters: Litigation deadlines, hospital bedsides, and nursing home visits don't wait for office hours — being available for these on short notice is exactly what turns into repeat referrals from attorneys, hospital staff, and care facilities.
📜 Notary World: North Carolina Delays Full RON Rollout to 2027
On July 7, 2026, Governor Josh Stein signed House Bill 517, extending North Carolina's temporary Emergency Video Notarization (EVN) provisions — in place since the COVID-19 pandemic — until 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2027, or until the Secretary of State issues the first license under the state's Remote Electronic Notarization Act, whichever comes first. In-person electronic notarization (IPEN) remains available and unaffected in the meantime.
Why it matters: If you've been waiting on North Carolina's full Remote Online Notarization (RON) platform to go live, plan on another year of the emergency video workaround instead — this is now the second extension of EVN while the state finishes vetting RON technology providers.
🌍 Apostille World: Connecticut Authorizes Electronic Apostilles
Effective July 1, 2026, Connecticut's Senate Bill 294 raises the maximum fees notaries may charge for notarial acts and travel, and — notably — authorizes the Secretary of the State to issue electronic apostilles. It's part of a broader national shift toward faster, digital-first authentication for documents headed overseas.
🎓 Notary World: Virginia Raises the Bar on Notary Standards
Virginia's House Bill 163 / Senate Bill 316, effective July 1, 2026, adds mandatory education and examination requirements for new notaries, along with journal-keeping and secure notary seal issuance provisions. Separately, House Bill 1262 (also effective July 1) increases penalties and expands the Attorney General's enforcement tools against "notario fraud" — the unauthorized practice of law by people posing as immigration experts.
💡 Compliance Corner: Know Your Notarization Types — RON, REN, RIN, IPEN & Traditional
Five different acts get lumped under "notarization," and the differences affect what your clients can actually get done. Quick rundown:
RON (Remote Online Notarization) — Notary and signer meet remotely by live audio-video, and the whole transaction — signature, notary seal — happens electronically. It's not yet operational in California[1] or Massachusetts[2] (both passed RON laws but are still finishing the technology and regulatory rollout), not authorized at all in Georgia[4] or Mississippi[5] — Georgia has a bill to change that (HB289) still working through its legislature, and Mississippi's most recent attempt (HB1168) died in committee in 2024 — and heavily restricted in Connecticut[3], which bars it outright for wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and real estate closings.
REN (Remote Electronic Notarization) — North Carolina's own name and licensing category for its version of RON.[6] Functionally the same idea as RON elsewhere, but NC hasn't issued its first REN license yet — notaries there are still relying on the state's emergency video workaround (see the North Carolina story above).
RIN (Remote Ink-Signed Notarization) — A hybrid: notary and signer meet by video, but the notary must still apply an original, wet-ink signature and seal rather than an electronic one — no e-signature or e-seal platforms allowed.[7,8] Most states treated this style of remote notarization as a temporary pandemic-era workaround, but Alabama made it a permanent, standing option under its remote notary law.
IPEN (In-Person Electronic Notarization) — Signer and notary are in the same room, but the document, signature, and seal are all electronic. Available in 46 states plus D.C. — the current holdouts are Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.[9]
Traditional (wet ink) — Signer and notary in the same room, paper document, ink signature, physical stamp. Still valid everywhere, and still the default most people picture.
Bottom line: know which of these your state — and your client's — actually allows before you promise a "remote notarization." As North Carolina and California show, a law getting signed doesn't always mean the option is live yet.
Sources
[1] California Secretary of State — Notary Customer Alerts, SB 696 status: sos.ca.gov/notary/customer-alerts
[2] Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth — Remote Online Notarization: sec.state.ma.us/divisions/commissions/remote-online.htm
[3] Connecticut General Statutes § 3-95b (official state code): law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-3/chapter-33/section-3-95b
[4] Georgia General Assembly — HB289 bill status (2025–2026 session): legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB289/2025
[5] Mississippi Legislature — HB1168 (2024) bill status: legiscan.com/MS/bill/HB1168/2024
[6] North Carolina Real Estate Commission bulletin — "Remote Electronic Notarization Is Here to Stay": bulletins.ncrec.gov/remote-electronic-notarization-is-here-to-stay
[7] Code of Alabama § 36-20-73.1, current version (official state code): law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-36/chapter-20/article-4/section-36-20-73-1
[8] Alabama Remote Notary Program FAQ (confirms "RIN" terminology & wet-signature requirement): alabamaremotenotary.com/f/frequently-asked-questions-about-alabamas-remote-notary-law
[9] National Notary Association — "IPEN: What It Is & Where IPEN Is Allowed": nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/in-person-electronic-notarization/what-is-ipen
June 2026▾
Rhode Island Cracks Down on Deepfake Fraud

Catching you up on June — the month identity fraud protections took center stage. Here's what happened, verified against the National Notary Association and official state sources.

🛡️ Notary World: Rhode Island Gives Notaries the Right to Refuse
Effective June 10, 2026, Rhode Island's Senate Bill 2715 authorizes a notarial officer to refuse to notarize a document when the signer won't provide — or pay for — proper identity proofing. The law also subjects notarial commission data to recorder verification as part of the state's deed-fraud protections.
Why it matters: It's a clear, state-backed reminder that notaries aren't obligated to notarize on demand.
🤖 Notary World: Rhode Island Criminalizes AI Deepfake Fraud
On June 23, 2026, Rhode Island's House Bill 8060 expanded the state's identity fraud law to criminalize impersonation using digital forgeries — including AI-generated deepfakes — in furtherance of fraud. For notaries relying more on video and remote identity checks (RON, IPEN), this closes a gap regulators have been watching closely.
📋 Notary World: Utah Modernizes How Recorders Handle Notarized Documents
Utah's new County Recorder Standards Rule, effective June 8, 2026, updates how county recorders process notarized documents — including hybrid wet-ink/electronic notarizations, minor name discrepancies, and small notarial errors that used to hold up recordings.
💡 Compliance Corner: Know Your State's Refusal Rights
Whether or not your state has passed a law as explicit as Rhode Island's, most notary handbooks already give you the right to decline a notarization when you can't properly verify identity. When in doubt, decline.
Q2 2026 Roundup▾
April, May & June

A catch-up: the notary and RON/IPEN law changes from April through June 2026 that are worth knowing about, all verified against the National Notary Association's law tracker and each state's official records.

👪 April: Hawaii Requires Notarized Adoption Consents
Hawaii's House Bill 2088, effective April 28, 2026, now requires written consents to the adoption of both children and adults to be notarized.
📜 May: Utah Overhauls Its Notary Journal Rules
Effective May 6, 2026, Utah's Senate Bill 139 requires a journal for every notary commissioned on or after that date, adds new recordkeeping requirements, and creates new criminal penalties for violations. The same day, House Bill 181 enacted Utah's version of the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act.
Why it matters: A preview of where more states are headed — tighter journal rules paired with expanded electronic notarization for estate planning.
🛡️ June: Rhode Island Tightens Identity Fraud Protections
Rhode Island passed two notary-relevant bills in June: Senate Bill 2715 (June 10) lets a notarial officer refuse to notarize when a signer won't provide proper identity proofing, and House Bill 8060 (June 23) criminalized digital forgeries — including AI-generated deepfakes — used to commit fraud.
💡 The Big Picture: Where RON Stands Nationally
As of this year, every state except California now permits some form of Remote Online Notarization — California's permanent RON law is on the books but isn't live yet, with a technology-readiness deadline of January 1, 2030. The federal SECURE Notarization Act remains stuck in committee.
Q1 2026 Roundup▾
January, February & March

Rounding out our archive: here's what changed in notary and RON/REN/IPEN law during the first three months of 2026, verified against the National Notary Association's law tracker and each state's official records.

🪪 January: Texas and Oklahoma Tighten Who Can Become a Notary
Two states raised the bar for notaries right at the start of the year. Effective January 1, 2026, Texas's Senate Bill 693 requires all applicants to complete a Secretary of State-administered education course and score 70% or higher on an open-book exam before commissioning, and adds real criminal penalties — up to a state jail felony for real estate documents — for notarizing without the signer physically present. The same day, Oklahoma's Senate Bill 1028 took effect, requiring a national criminal history record check for every new and renewing notary applicant, barring felons from commissioning outright, and raising the notary bond from $1,000 to $10,000.
Why it matters: Two of the country's larger notary populations just added real teeth to who's allowed to hold a commission — expect more states to follow with background-check requirements.
💰 February: Louisiana Quintuples Its Notary Bond Requirement
Effective February 1, 2026, Louisiana's House Bill 259 raised the required notary bond from $10,000 to $50,000 and eliminated the option to satisfy the requirement with an errors-and-omissions insurance policy instead. Attorney-notaries remain exempt, but every non-attorney, title-company, and independent notary in the state now needs the higher bond on file.
🖋️ March: Pennsylvania Overhauls Its Notarial Rules — RON Included
Pennsylvania's Department of State fully implemented its Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) regulations on March 28, 2026. Highlights: the notary bond doubled from $10,000 to $25,000 for anyone newly appointed or reappointed after that date, stamps must now include the notary's seven-digit commission number, journals are barred from holding Social Security numbers or other sensitive ID data, and the state set new, more specific approval standards for both electronic notarization and remote online notarization (RON) technology providers, including a $20-per-act fee cap.
Why it matters: This is the most detailed state-level rulemaking we've seen this year on RON and electronic notarization technology standards specifically.
💡 The Big Picture: RON Still Isn't Universal — But It's Close
As Q1 closed, 49 states plus D.C. had permanent Remote Online Notarization authorization in some form, with California the lone holdout — its law is on the books but doesn't take effect until January 1, 2030. A handful of states, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina, still have no RON authorization of their own, though they generally still accept and record documents notarized remotely under another state's law.
Alyssa - LSN Talk soon,
Alyssa
LSN
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