What Are the Safety and Security Features of Online Notarization from Notarize?

Electronic notarizations completed through the Notarize platform offer an unprecedented level of security and verifiability. Here's how.

Notarize ensures the integrity of all documents in two key ways.

Notarized Documents are Digitally Signed

First, all documents notarized on our platform are digitally signed by the notary using a special x.509 digital certificate issued to the notary (after a rigorous identity security process) by IdenTrust, a trusted Root Certificate Authority.

Once our notary’s digital certificate is applied to a document, it creates what’s called a digital “hash,” which is like a hidden record of all the bits and bytes comprising the document. If any component of the document is later changed, no matter how small, the document will show that it has been changed (or “tampered with”) after the digital signature was applied. This enables all users to confirm that they are looking at the original document as originally signed and notarized. (This digital signature information is readily viewable in the “signature pane” whenever you view a PDF in Adobe Acrobat).

Digital Records of Notarizations Are in the Verification Portal 

Second, we store a digital record of every notarization in a password-enabled Verification Portal where the customer and any authorized recipient (or others authorized by law) can access a digital copy of the original notarized document, along with key transactional information about the notarization itself.

We also store the video of the notarization session, showing both the notary and the signer as their document is notarized, to deter fraud and provide a secure record of the entire transaction.

What about the seal? 

Our service applies a digital seal and certificate to the document. When printed, the digital seal will look like a standard notarization, but the digital file is enhanced with security measures to ensure the document cannot be tampered with after the notarization. 

Fraud and Theft Prevention

Notaries in Notarize’s Notary Network must pass an annual background check performed by the National Notary Association (NNA). In addition, the notary who notarized your documents does not have access to your photo identification nor your documents after the notarization is complete. 

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