One important item every entrepreneur needs to check off their small business to-do list, alongside items like forming an LLC and obtaining a tax ID, is “notarizing documents.” How can entrepreneurs accomplish this task? They may do it by working alongside a notary public. Or, they may enlist the help of eNotary services.
How does a small business owner determine if a notary public or electronic notary services is best for their needs? Let’s take a closer look at their differences and how eNotary services may be especially beneficial to small business owners amid COVID-19.
What is a Notary Public?
A notary public is an individual appointed by the Secretary of State to serve the public. They may perform certain legal formalities, including drawing up and certifying contracts and important paperwork.
A notary public may also act as a witness when signing legal documentation. This helps deter fraud. The notary public will screen signers. This ensures they have the proper identification. Signers must understand the contents of the document they are signing and agree to be willing participants in the process.
What is an Electronic Notary Service?
Electronic notary services do not require an appointed individual to be physically present. Rather, eNotary services allow participants and a notary public to perform a notarial act entirely online. This means using a live audio, and video, stream. Documents are signed and notarized electronically with a licensed online notary public.
Now that you understand the difference between the two notarization types, which option is best for your small business? If your small business has not notarized documents using eNotary services before, now might be the perfect time for the following reasons.
1. eNotary services are available to nearly all entrepreneurs and industries.
Several industries, including banks, lawyers, estate planning, real estate, and licensing boards and agencies, require eNotary services. Nearly anyone across all 50 states may notarize a document online using our platform. Here are the requirements for online notarization.
- You must be over the age of 18 to use our platform.
- In order to notarize a document, you will need a state-issued driver’s license or valid form of ID. This may include a state-issued ID or U.S. passport. Additional IDs that are accepted include a resident alien identification card, or green card.
- Additionally, it is required to use an electronic device. This device allows you to notarize documents. What counts as an electronic device? This may be a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. You will also need WiFi access. Additionally, a microphone and camera should be built into the device. The microphone and camera allow for live audio and video streaming. In addition, the notarial act is performing in real time.
Do you have multiple signers? Our platform is able to support them. Multiple signers may also log into our eNotary services. They can notarize a document altogether.
2. eNotary services notarize most documents.
Which documents can you notarize with an electronic service? Here are a few popular documents that you may notarize on our platform.
- Acknowledgments
- Mortgage documents
- Jurats
- Affidavits
- Signature witnessing
- Verification documents
- Oath or affirmation
- Deeds
- Deeds of trust
Are there documents that cannot be electronically notarized? Yes. Some of these include wills and trusts. Additional documents include certifying birth, death, or marriage certificates.
3. Documents may be notarized at any time from the comfort of home.
Typically, a notary public needs to drive to your business to notarize documents. Or, vice versa. Small business owners may need to drive to find a notary public. They meet with a notary public for their documentation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, this type of interaction would not be within social distancing guidelines.
This is where using eNotary services can be a big help for entrepreneurs. You do not need to drive to find a notary public. Instead, you may sign documents and notarize them electronically. A licensed online notary public is also present at this signing.
Our platform allows signers to go online at the time that is most convenient for them. Best of all, you do not have to leave your home. You may notarize documents at the best time in your schedule. Meanwhile, you are able to stay home and stay safe.
Ready to notarize your documents?
Let MyCorporation’s eNotary services assist you in the process! Our secure platform allows individuals to notarize documents with us online. Make sure that you have all of the required materials listed above.
Quick pro tip! You don’t need to sign any documents before uploading them into our eNotary services platform. Instead, our setup allows entrepreneurs to hand-draw their signatures on these documents.
Ready to start? Upload your documents into MyCorporation’s eNotary platform, pay a filing fee of $35, and begin the notarization process.