Technologies – Digital Closings – E-Signatures & Remote Notarization

Real estate transactions are increasingly digital, but federal law hasn’t kept pace. The E-SIGN Act enabled online signatures, yet notarization—a critical step in closings—still often requires in-person interaction. Congress must pass the SECURE Notarization Act to authorize Remote Online Notarization (RON) nationwide.

RON allows notaries and signers to complete notarizations remotely using secure audio-visual technology. Combined with e-signatures, it enables contracts and closings to be completed entirely online—from anywhere. This shift reduces delays, streamlines paperwork, and improves client experience in time-sensitive, multi-state transactions.

Supports:

• Nationwide adoption and interstate recognition of RON.
• Technology-neutral standards for electronic signatures and notarization.
• Strong consumer protections, including transparency and meaningful choice.

Opponents raise concerns that nationwide remote notarization could increase fraud risk and undermine state authority. Others counter that establishing strong national standards—such as tamper-evident technology and multi-factor authentication—can expand secure access for consumers, including military families stationed abroad, while preserving state flexibility.

NAR has long supported federal efforts to modernize real estate transactions, including:

• The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (E-SIGN) Act of 2000, which legalized electronic signatures for real estate contracts;
• The SECURE Notarization Act of 2025:
  • H.R. 1777, introduced in the House by Reps. Cliff Bentz (R-OR) and Joe Neguse (D-CO)
  • S. 1561, the Senate companion, introduced by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mark Warner (D-VA) 

NAR continues to advocate for federal policies that support secure, efficient, and consumer-friendly innovations in real estate transactions.

H.R. 1777

S. 1561