A mobile appointment brings a commissioned notary to the signer for an in-person interaction. Remote online notarization, commonly called RON, uses an approved audio-video technology process when the commissioned notary is authorized to perform it. Neither method is automatically right for every document.
Mobile notary signing
Often appropriate when original paper signatures are required, a recipient does not accept RON, the signer prefers in-person support, or the document and jurisdiction require physical presence.
Remote online notarization
Potentially appropriate when the notary is authorized, the document and transaction are eligible, the recipient accepts electronic notarization, and the signer can complete the required identity and technology steps.
Five questions before choosing RON
- Is the commissioned notary authorized to perform RON under the law governing that commission?
- Is the document or transaction eligible for the remote process?
- Will the title company, lender, recorder, custodian, court, agency, or other recipient accept it?
- Can the signer satisfy the platform's identity-proofing and credential-analysis requirements?
- Can the signer use the required device, camera, audio, connectivity, and electronic-signature workflow?
When mobile service may be the safer choice
- The recipient explicitly requires wet-ink originals.
- The document or requested act is excluded from a remote process.
- A witness, facility, accessibility, or technology constraint favors in-person coordination.
- The signer cannot complete the required remote identity or platform steps.
- Acceptance is uncertain and the receiving party has not approved the remote method.
NotarySpan's approach
We begin with the assignment facts and confirm the supported path before scheduling. RON is presented as a conditional service, not a universal substitute for an in-person appointment.
Share the assignment details for a mobile or remote-path review.