Is Remote Online Notarization Legal in District of Columbia? (2026)

Remote online notarization is legal in the District of Columbia under D.C. Code § 1-1231.01 et seq., as amended by D.C. Law 24-129 (effective September 21, 2022). DC follows the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) model, with standard fee caps and full audio-video, identity proofing and recording requirements.

Is remote online notarization legal in the District of Columbia? Yes — DC permanently authorized RON under D.C. Code § 1-1231.01 et seq., as amended by the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-129), which took effect on September 21, 2022. The District’s framework follows the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) model and applies to notaries commissioned by the DC Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA), part of the Office of the Secretary.

How RON Works in DC

Under DC’s framework, a commissioned notary may perform a remote notarial act for a remotely located individual using communication technology that provides synchronous audio-video, identity proofing, and credential analysis. The notary must be physically located in the District at the time of the notarial act, while the signer may be located in DC, in another U.S. state, or — under defined conditions — outside the United States. The notary records the audio-video session and retains the recording for the period required by DC rules.

What the DC Statute Allows

The Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts authorizes the full range of standard notarial acts when performed remotely — including acknowledgments, jurats, affirmations, oaths, signature witnessing, and copy certifications. Real estate documents intended for recordation in DC are subject to the additional requirements of the District’s recording statutes; signers should confirm acceptance with the DC Recorder of Deeds and any title insurer involved before relying on a remote notarization for a deed or mortgage.

Notary Fee Cap

DC sets a statutory fee ceiling for notarial acts under D.C. Code § 1-1231.13. Technology and platform fees charged by the RON provider are separate from the notarial fee and must be disclosed to the signer in advance. As always, signers should confirm both components of the fee structure before scheduling a session.

Acceptance and Practical Notes

Federal agencies in DC (including USCIS, the State Department’s Authentications Office, and federal courts) follow their own document-specific acceptance rules; a DC RON notarization that meets DC statutory requirements does not automatically guarantee acceptance by every federal recipient. For documents to be sent abroad, signers should confirm whether the receiving country accepts an electronically notarized U.S. document and whether an apostille is available for that record type. The DC Office of the Secretary issues apostilles for paper-based notarial acts; electronic apostilles are an evolving area — check current ONCA guidance before relying on RON for any document destined for foreign use.