Is Remote Online Notarization Legal in Georgia? (2026)

Is remote online notarization legal in Georgia? No — as of 2026, Georgia does not authorize remote online notarization for state-commissioned notaries. What Georgia does allow is electronic notarization with the signer physically present (IPEN). This is a meaningful distinction that Georgia notaries and signers need to understand clearly before planning any remote transaction.

What Georgia Allows: IPEN, Not RON

Under O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8.1, Georgia permits in-person electronic notarization — meaning the notary and signer can use electronic signatures and the notary can apply a digital seal, but the signer must be physically present with the notary during the session. The law authorizes the electronic execution of the notarial act while retaining the traditional physical presence requirement.

This is fundamentally different from remote online notarization. RON replaces the physical presence requirement with audio-video technology — notary and signer are in different locations, connected by a secure platform. IPEN keeps both parties in the same room while modernizing the signature and seal components. Georgia has authorized the electronic tools but not the remote presence model.

Why Georgia Has Not Yet Enacted RON

Georgia’s legislature has not passed RON legislation despite significant national momentum in that direction. As of 2026, no Georgia RON statute has been enacted. The factors contributing to this include the pace of Georgia’s legislative process for regulatory change, existing stakeholder interests in the traditional notary services infrastructure, and the substantive questions around identity fraud prevention that some legislators have prioritized in RON debates.

The contrast with neighboring states is notable. Florida has had full RON since January 2020. Tennessee and North Carolina have both enacted RON frameworks. South Carolina has RON authorization. Georgia stands as one of the more significant holdouts among Southeastern states with active real estate markets and large populations.

What This Means for Georgia Notaries

Georgia-commissioned notaries cannot conduct RON sessions under current law. A Georgia notary who performs a remote notarization without the signer physically present and presents it as a Georgia-authorized notarization is acting outside the scope of their commission — carrying professional and legal risk.

For Georgia notaries interested in offering remote services, the IPEN framework under § 45-17-8.1 is the current authorized option. IPEN enables electronic document execution with physical co-presence — a meaningful capability for high-volume signing scenarios or offices that process large numbers of documents — but it does not remove the geographic constraint that full RON eliminates.

Options for Georgia Signers Who Need Remote Notarization

If you are in Georgia and need a notarization completed remotely — and the receiving institution accepts out-of-state RON — you may be able to work with a notary commissioned in a full-RON state. Major national lenders, title companies, and financial institutions have developed clear policies on cross-state RON acceptance over the past several years. Confirm with the receiving institution whether they accept RON performed by an out-of-state notary and what their specific requirements are.

If the document specifically requires a Georgia notarization, in-person or IPEN with a Georgia-commissioned notary is the current requirement.

What to Monitor

Georgia notaries and businesses tracking RON legislation should monitor the Georgia General Assembly’s Judiciary and Banking & Financial Institutions committee activities for any introduced RON bills. When Georgia does enact RON — and given the national trajectory, this is likely eventual — the demand will be substantial given the state’s population, real estate market activity, and economic output.

For Georgia notaries who want to understand the existing electronic notarization framework under § 45-17-8.1, including how IPEN works and what it enables within current law, see the Georgia notary how-to guide.

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