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National Notary Association
The National Notary Bulletin

May I Notarize A Printed Copy Of An Electronic Signature?

By NNA Staff

New Hotline Resized 3My boss sent me an email with a letter attached. The letter contains his electronic signature. Can I print a hardcopy of that letter and (wet) notarize the hardcopy? — J.F., Delaware

To perform any notarization in Delaware, state law requires that the signer (your boss) personally appear before you. If you print a hardcopy of the letter, you must witness his signature or he must personally acknowledge that he signed the document for you to notarize.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

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45 Comments

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KM

25 Jul 2024

I' commissioned in Oregon. Can I print out a document Docusigned by multiple people and certify that it is a true copy of the original (wet ink and signature)? The applicant is one of the signers.

National Notary Association

29 Jul 2024

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

LAQ

25 Oct 2023

What about the state of New Jersey? My boss sent me an email with a letter attached. The letter contains her electronic signature. Can I print a hardcopy of that letter and (wet) notarize the hardcopy? I have already contacted the hotline; it seems that I cannot. I am not a RON, but I need a statement or an email to show proof and indicate it is not legal in NJ.

National Notary Association

25 Oct 2023

Hello. If you spoke with our Hotline Team, please contact them at hotline@nationalnotary.org and request if they can send you a written response via email.

Kat Rosser

02 Jan 2023

In Tennessee, can I notarize a document that has an electronic signature and was emailed to me to notarize?

National Notary Association

11 Jan 2023

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

N T

06 Dec 2022

In the state of Connecticut, can I apply a wet notary stamp to a electric signature that I observed. Meaning, once the document was e-signed I printed and notarized

National Notary Association

06 Dec 2022

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

ceciliamatias@yahoo.com

22 Sep 2022

Hello, Commissioned in California. Am I allowed to notarize a document with an electronic signature? The signer has acknowledged signing, provided his DL and I can get a thumb print.

National Notary Association

06 Oct 2022

Yes, you can, however, this is only for electronic Notarizations. This is where you meet with the signer in person and the document is signed and Notarized electronically on a computer or other electronic device. However, if the Notarization is being completed on paper, then the signature cannot be electronic but rather must be in wet ink.

Jennifer K

09 Mar 2021

Question for FLORIDA. Can a notary wet sign- notarize an electronic signature if witnessed via video?

National Notary Association

10 Mar 2021

Hello. We're sorry, but we're not clear what type of process you are describing, as a handwritten pen-and-ink signature, or "wet signature" is not the same as an electronic signature, and it would not be possible to apply a "wet signature" to a document that is in a paperless format. If you would like more information about remote online notarization procedures in Florida, please see "How do remote online notarizations work in Florida?" on this page: https://www.nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/remote-online-notary/how-to-become-a-remote-online-notary/florida

Lisa Ramoutar

10 Aug 2020

Hi, I'm from Texas. With reference to covid-19 and work-from-home situations, can a Notary Public print and notarize documents that have been esigned by Adobe Sign or DocuSign?

National Notary Association

11 Aug 2020

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

Janet Szuta

06 Aug 2020

With the onset on COVID-19, has Illinois revised its laws with regard to notarization of printed documents with electronic signatures?

National Notary Association

07 Aug 2020

Hello. The Illinois Governor issued an emergency executive order permitting remote online notarization as long as the Notary and signer are both physically located in the state at the time if the notarization, For details, please see the Illinois entry in this article: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2020/03/states-emergency-action-remote-notarization#FThroughK

Cynthia Mazzei

17 Jun 2020

Wondering if anything has changed since April 7th when you replied "No, CA Notaries are not authorized to perform remote notarizations at this time." to the following question: "Hi there, can I notarize the scanned document with signature due to Shelter in Place in CA and perform the procedure through zoom web?"

National Notary Association

23 Jun 2020

Hello. No, California does not authorize its Notaries to perform any form of remote notarizations.

Vy Sandkuhle

07 Apr 2020

Hi there, can I notarize the scanned document with signature due to Shelter in Place in CA and perform the procedure through zoom web?

National Notary Association

07 Apr 2020

Hello. No, CA Notaries are not authorized to perform remote notarizations at this time.

katievanhook@gmail.com

25 Mar 2020

I'm a Missouri notary. Can I notarize a document that has been signed electronically and printed? I'm specifically asking about real estate deeds so they need to be recordable in Missouri and in other states. Thank you.

National Notary Association

25 Mar 2020

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call. You can also email the Hotline at hotline@nationalnotary.org

Katie

25 Nov 2019

I want to verify that in the state of Pennsylvania you cannot notarize an electronic signatures on a document that was previously signed/not signed in front of the notary public.

National Notary Association

26 Nov 2019

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

Valtolland@yahoo.com

23 Sep 2019

Is it still true that you can not notarize any document that is previously signed whether it be a signature emailed, faxed or the electronic ( such as DocuSign) document in the state of Pennsylvania.

National Notary Association

24 Sep 2019

Hello. To clarify, are you referring to any previously signed document (including handwritten signatures) or only to electronically signed documents?

Paul

01 Apr 2019

Do you know of any state that allows you wet sign a document, upload it to a electronic portal, and electronically notarize the document? Assume parties are in the same room.

Lavinia

05 Feb 2019

Hello - How about in IL? Someone just sent me a document that was electronically signed and asked for it to be notarized. I can't find that this is allowed. Any info on this?

National Notary Association

06 Feb 2019

Hello. Illinois has not not yet adopted statutes or regulations expressly and comprehensively establishing rules, definitions and procedures for electronic notarization.

Paul

30 Jan 2019

I'm commissioned in Utah, but my question is "generally" or "if a state law is on point, which states allow this." So the question is more of a general question for all states.

National Notary Association

06 Feb 2019

Hi Paul. Since every state's laws regarding electronic signatures and notarizations are different, it's not feasible for us "general" answer to this question. This does not mean the unusual situation you describe won't be addressed in the future by state lawmakers, but at this time there is not a general nationwide standard practice for the scenario you describe.

paul

28 Jan 2019

Generally, (or if a state law is on point which states allow this) can you wet sign a document, upload it to a electronic portal, and electronically notarize the document? Assume parties are in the same room.

National Notary Association

28 Jan 2019

Hi Paul. To help us answer your question can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in?

Miguel Molano

11 Jun 2018

What about in Florida? Should an e-signed document be notarized? What law regulates it?

National Notary Association

11 Jun 2018

Hello. Florida electronic signature rules can be found in Florida Statutes 668.50[1] through 668.50[20]).

Paula Meaney

16 May 2018

What about the State of Maryland?

National Notary Association

16 May 2018

Hello. The state of Maryland has not yet adopted statutes or regulations expressly establishing rules, definitions and procedures for electronic notarization. For some types of notarizations, it would simply not be possible. For example, if the Notary was asked to witness the signing in the Notary's official capacity, the printed signature could not be notarized because witnessing a signature requires the Maryland Notary to observe the signing of the document.

Melissa

13 Mar 2018

Isn't an electronic notarization different from notarizing an electronic signature though? And in CA wouldn't it depend on the form of notarization? Since you don't need to witness the signature an acknowledgment would be one thing since the person can still appear before you and say that is their signature; they signed it.

Angela

09 Jan 2018

What about in California?

National Notary Association

10 Jan 2018

Hello. The state of California has not yet adopted statutes or regulations expressly and comprehensively establishing rules, definitions and procedures for electronic notarization.

Lucia Araujo

09 Jan 2018

I don’t received any approval for notary from you national notary association

Mellissa Roszkowicz

27 Dec 2017

How about... can you notarize an electronic signature at all? I’ve not heard of any state that allows a notary to notarize a fax, emailed or electronic signature (such as DocuSign) document.

National Notary Association

05 Jan 2018

Hello. One state that has authorized certain Notaries to perform electronic notarizations is Virginia. For more information, see here: https://commonwealth.virginia.gov/official-documents/notary-commissions/enotary-faq/

Greg Godwin

11 Dec 2017

Obviously the boss would have to personally appear and acknowledge his signature. I think the question would be - can he acknowledge his electronic signature?

Margaret Paddock

11 Dec 2017

In AZ. you, as the notary would have to make the copy and there is a specific form to use for notarizing that. As always, check your state law first.

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