Do I Sign Before or During the Remote Notary Appointment?

Quick answer: in most cases you sign during the remote notary appointment, not before. The notary generally needs to witness your signature live, on the recorded video session, for the notarization to be valid. The main exception is an acknowledgment, where you may have signed earlier and simply confirm to the notary that the signature is yours. When in doubt, wait and sign during the session.

This is an easy place to make a costly mistake. Pre-signing feels efficient, but in notarization the timing of your signature can be the difference between a valid act and one that has to be redone. Here’s how it actually works.

Why the Notary Usually Needs to Watch You Sign

The purpose of notarization isn’t just to stamp a document, it’s to verify your identity and confirm the signing under the correct procedure. For many notarial acts, that means the notary has to observe you actually signing, in real time, during the recorded session. If you signed beforehand, the notary didn’t witness the act and may not be able to complete the notarization as intended.

The Key Exception: Jurats vs. Acknowledgments

The right answer often depends on the type of notarial act:

• Jurat: you swear or affirm to the truth of the document’s contents and must sign in the notary’s presence. For a jurat, signing beforehand generally won’t work, you sign during the session.
• Acknowledgment: you confirm that the signature on the document is yours. In some cases the document may already be signed, and you acknowledge it to the notary during the session. Even here, many online platforms guide you to sign electronically during the appointment for a cleaner record.

Because RON platforms typically capture your electronic signature as part of the live flow, the safest default is simply to let the platform and notary tell you when to sign. To see how the whole process fits together, read how remote notary works.

What This Means in Practice

• Don’t pre-sign unless the platform specifically instructs you to
• Most online sessions capture your signature electronically during the appointment
• Signing too early can force a restart or require the act to be redone
• If you’re unsure of the act type, wait, signing during the session is safe for both jurats and acknowledgments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sign the document before the appointment to save time?

Usually not safely. For jurats and most online workflows, the notary needs to witness the signature live. Pre-signing can invalidate the act or force a redo. When unsure, sign during the session.

How do I sign during a remote notary session?

Most platforms capture your signature electronically during the live video call, guiding you through exactly when and where to sign. You don’t need to print or scan anything.

What if I already signed the document?

Tell the notary at the start. For an acknowledgment they may be able to proceed, but for a jurat you’ll likely need to sign again during the session. The notary will guide you.

Ready to Notarize the Right Way?

The simplest approach is to wait and sign during your session, exactly as the platform guides you. See the full walkthrough in how to notarize documents online, or compare providers in our guide to the best online notary services.