Remote Online Notary vs Mobile Notary

The practical differences

• Travel: mobile notaries charge for it; remote sessions have none
• Format: mobile produces a paper original; remote produces a sealed electronic document
• Scheduling: remote is easier across time zones and odd hours
• Identity: remote adds credential analysis and identity proofing
• Record: remote sessions are recorded; in-person notarizations are not

When a mobile notary is the better choice

Choose mobile when the recipient insists on a paper original with a wet signature, when a signer cannot use a camera-equipped device, when identity cannot be verified through electronic methods, or when a recording office does not accept electronic documents.

When remote is the better choice

Choose remote when the recipient accepts electronic notarization, when signers are in different places, when you are traveling or abroad, or when you need something handled outside normal business hours.

How to decide in one question

Ask the organization receiving the document: will you accept an electronically notarized document? Their answer decides this for you faster than any comparison chart.