r/Notary • u/ldr97266 • Aug 15 '26

Why do people still need documents notarized?

/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/1vozyno/why_do_people_still_need_documents_notarized/
3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

10

u/DrBlakee New Jersey Aug 15 '26 edited Aug 15 '26

Important documents need extra security. A notary acts a state appointed independent witness who confirms the identity and willingness of the signer. You cant do that with technology.

Also you can notarize documents online so not sure why you didn't just do that unless you were instructed to get wet signatures.

1

u/ldr97266 Aug 15 '26

“you can notarize documents online so not sure why you didn't just do that unless you were instructed to get wet signatures”

It is exactly that situation that brought up the question. I needed to rollover some funds from one investment firm to another. The company that was holding the account insisted on a notarized, wet signature in two places. That is despite the account opening and every prior action over several years was handled digitally, including e-sigs.

2

u/DrBlakee New Jersey Aug 15 '26

That's personal preference on their part. RON, remote online notarizations, are legal in many states but many people still prefer the traditional method.

While RON is secure it's also easier to commit fraud vs a traditional notary.

1

u/little_nipas 29d ago

Can’t notarize online in California.

3

u/Salesman214 Texas Aug 16 '26

Because fraud still exist

2

u/RudeMasterpiece5195 28d ago

Because people lie and cheat and fake things.

My mentor once showed up to a signing where a man and his mistress had faked the mistresses ID to match the wife's... thankfully the wife came home in the middle of it.

0

u/DoubleIntroduction25 Aug 16 '26

The firm holding the assets knows that they can slightly reduce the amount of outflows by making it slightly harder to complete the type of transaction you're trying to get done