Is Remote Online Notarization Legal in California? (2026)

Is remote online notarization available in California? Not yet — at least not for notaries commissioned in California. While California passed legislation in 2023 directing the Secretary of State to establish a RON program, implementation has not been completed as of 2026. California remains one of the most significant gaps in the national RON landscape, given the state’s size, economic output, and the volume of documents that require notarization each year.

What California’s 2023 Legislation Actually Did

California passed two relevant bills in the 2023-24 legislative cycle: AB 743 and SB 696. These bills did not immediately legalize RON for California notaries. Instead, they directed the California Secretary of State to develop and implement a remote online notarization program — establishing the legislative authorization while leaving the operational details to be built out through the regulatory process.

Before any California notary can legally perform RON sessions, the SOS must first finalize the regulatory framework, establish technical standards, create an application process, and approve technology providers. This implementation gap is not unusual for California — the state is known for thorough regulatory development that frequently takes longer than other states.

What California Signers Can Do Now

If you are in California and need a remote notarization before in-state RON becomes available, there is a practical avenue worth understanding. California does not universally prohibit recognition of out-of-state RON. In certain circumstances, a notarization performed by a RON-authorized notary commissioned in another state may be accepted by the institution receiving your document, depending on that institution’s acceptance policies.

Major national lenders, title companies, and financial institutions have become increasingly sophisticated about cross-state RON over the past several years. If you need a notarized document remotely, ask the receiving institution directly whether they accept out-of-state RON and under what conditions. Many will accept it — particularly for real estate, financial, and legal documents processed through national service providers.

What California Notaries Should Know

California-commissioned notaries cannot conduct RON sessions under California law until the SOS implements the program authorized by AB 743 and SB 696. Attempting to conduct remote online notarization sessions as a California notary — before the program is established and you are authorized under it — would constitute operating outside your commission authority.

For notaries who want to be positioned for the program launch, following the California SOS Notary Public Unit communications and monitoring the SOS website for implementation announcements is the right approach. When the implementation details are published, the application process, training requirements, and approved platform list will be defined.

California’s Expected RON Market

When California fully implements its RON program, it is expected to become one of the largest RON markets in the country by volume. The state’s real estate market, technology sector, entertainment industry, legal services infrastructure, and general population size generate an enormous flow of documents requiring notarization. The implementation, when it arrives, will significantly reshape national RON platform volumes and market dynamics.

California’s extended path to RON — requiring two legislative bills and an extended SOS implementation process — reflects the complexity of adapting California’s existing notary infrastructure and regulatory expectations to a new technology-enabled practice model.

Staying Current

For the latest on California’s RON implementation timeline and expected requirements, monitor the California Secretary of State Notary Public page and return to this guide as updates are published.

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