RON Authorization in California
California is notable for being one of the last major states to authorize full Remote Online Notarization. As of 2025, California has authorized electronic notarization under §8100.5, which allows notaries to notarize electronic documents with the signer physically present. True RON — where the signer is remote via audio-video — has been authorized on a temporary basis during specific circumstances but full permanent RON legislation had not been enacted as of this writing. California notaries and signing agents should verify current status with the California Secretary of State before accepting remote assignments. Title companies doing California loans typically require in-person notarization unless they have explicitly confirmed RON acceptance for a specific transaction.
California RON Quick Facts
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| RON authorized since | Limited RON only — verify current status |
| Governing law | California Government Code §8100.5 (electronic notarization only) |
| Platform requirement | Electronic notarization platforms only — full RON pending |
| KBA identity verification | N/A — RON not yet fully authorized |
| Credential analysis | N/A |
| Journal + recording retention | 10 years (electronic journal) |
| Verify current rules at | sos.ca.gov |
What Is KBA and Credential Analysis?
Remote Online Notarization uses two primary methods to verify the identity of a signer who is not physically present:
Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) presents the signer with a series of multiple-choice questions drawn from public records — previous addresses, vehicle registrations, former employers. The signer must answer correctly within a time limit. KBA is a widely accepted RON identity verification method but has known limitations for signers with thin public records.
Credential Analysis involves the signer uploading a photo of their government-issued ID, which is then analyzed by the RON platform using optical character recognition and security feature verification. Many platforms require both KBA and credential analysis for loan document signings.
Right of Rescission and RON
The federal 3-day right of rescission that applies to refinance and HELOC transactions is not waived by using RON. The rescission period begins on the date the notarized documents are complete. The notary must provide the borrower with the Notice of Right to Cancel in electronic form, and the borrower must acknowledge receipt. Lenders have specific requirements about how this is documented in a RON session — confirm with the title company before the appointment.
California's Late but Comprehensive RON Adoption
California was notably slow to authorize Remote Online Notarization — one of the last large-population states to do so. California authorized RON effective January 1, 2023, under AB 1093. California's late adoption reflects the state's historically cautious approach to notary law changes and the influence of the California Notary Public organization in the legislative process. For signing agents in California, the 2023 authorization opened a significant new service capability in the nation's largest state real estate market.
California's RON framework requires a separate electronic notarization authorization from the Secretary of State in addition to the standard commission. The authorization requires completion of an approved RON platform training course and designation of the approved platform to be used. Given California's complex notary law (already among the most detailed nationally), the RON framework adds meaningful requirements — California notaries considering RON should thoroughly review the Secretary of State's guidance before seeking authorization.
California RON and the Thumbprint Requirement
California's signature journal requirement — including the mandatory right thumbprint for real property documents — applies to RON as well as in-person notarizations. For RON sessions involving deeds of trust or other documents affecting title to real property, California's RON framework requires biometric data capture through the approved platform. Platform capabilities for biometric capture vary — verify your platform's California compliance before performing any California RON session involving real property documents. This is one of the most important California-specific RON requirements and one of the most commonly overlooked.
California RON Record Retention — 10 Years
California requires a 10-year retention period for RON electronic journals and audio-visual recordings. Given California's already demanding notary journal requirements (7-year retention for traditional paper journals under Government Code §8209), the 10-year RON retention period is consistent with the state's comprehensive record-keeping culture. California notaries performing RON face the longest combined record management obligations of any U.S. state — traditional journal retention plus 10-year RON records.
California Real Estate and RON Demand
California's real estate market — the largest in the country by total transaction value — has enormous potential RON demand. Out-of-state buyers, Bay Area tech workers traveling for work, and investors purchasing properties remotely represent natural RON candidates. California's geographic size also means intrastate RON demand: a borrower in San Diego closing on a Northern California investment property, or a Bay Area borrower closing on a Central Valley property. California's late RON adoption means the market is still developing established RON workflows — early-adopting California signing agents with RON authorization have an advantage over the still-larger pool of agents without it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally yes, if your California commission authorizes RON. Most RON-authorizing states permit their notaries to perform RON for signers located anywhere, including other states. However, the receiving state may have its own rules about whether it will accept a document notarized via RON from an out-of-state notary. For loan documents, lender acceptance is the practical controlling factor — always confirm with the title company.
RON is conducted through a specialized platform, not via a standard video call. The platform handles the audio-visual session, identity verification, document execution, and record retention. You need a computer with a working camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and an account with a state-approved RON platform. Most platforms have their own system requirements — verify these before your first session.
For RON, the electronic journal is typically maintained by the RON platform rather than by the notary manually. The platform automatically records the required fields from each session. You should verify that your platform generates entries that meet California's specific statutory requirements and that you have access to export or archive your records if you change platforms. Never assume the platform handles everything — review a sample journal entry to confirm it captures all required fields.