FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about online notarization, how Rush Notary works, and what to expect during your session.
General questions
- Online notarization — also called Remote Online Notarization (RON) — is the process of having a document notarized by a commissioned notary public via a secure, live video call. Both parties connect through an audio-visual platform where the notary verifies your identity, witnesses your signature in real time, and applies a digital notary seal. The resulting document is legally equivalent to in-person notarization.
- Electronic notarization means a notary uses an electronic signature and seal on a digital document with both parties physically present together. Online notarization (RON) differs in that the notary and signer are in different locations, connected via live video. Rush Notary provides this Remote Online Notarization service.
- All of our notaries are in-house, Florida-commissioned notary publics who are fully trained, certified, and authorized to perform Remote Online Notarizations. We do not use third-party notaries; every session involves a vetted team member, available 24/7.
- We notarize Powers of Attorney, Affidavits, Real Estate Deeds, Medical Authorizations, Vital Records applications, USPS Form 1583, loan documents, contracts, business agreements, and more. If you're unsure whether your document qualifies, get in touch before you book.
- You have two options: Direct Connect for instant access without scheduling, and Scheduled Appointment to pick a preferred date and time. Both are available 24/7. We recommend scheduling in advance for complex or multi-signer documents.
The notarization process
- Seven steps: (1) book your session or use Direct Connect, (2) upload your document as a PDF, (3) upload your government ID, (4) complete the KBA identity questions, (5) join the live video session, (6) electronically sign while the notary witnesses and applies the digital seal, (7) download the notarized document immediately.
- Most sessions are completed in 10–15 minutes. More complex documents or sessions with multiple signers may take slightly longer. The identity verification step (KBA) typically takes 2–3 minutes and must be completed before the video session begins.
- Yes. You may notarize one document with a single notary seal or multiple documents with multiple seals within a single session. Each notary seal is charged individually.
- Rush Notary performs fully digital notarizations with electronic signatures and a digital notary seal. If a receiving party requires ink signatures, you may need to print the notarized document and re-sign in ink. We recommend confirming acceptance requirements with the receiving institution.
- Yes. In compliance with Florida law and RON regulations, each video session is recorded and retained as part of the notary's electronic journal. The recording serves as an audit trail and protects all parties. It is securely stored and not shared publicly.
Identity verification & KBA
- Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) is a required identity verification step in Remote Online Notarization. You answer five multiple-choice questions about personal history drawn from public records. You must answer at least 4 of 5 correctly within 2 minutes. KBA must be completed individually and cannot involve help from others; it's a legally required fraud-prevention measure.
- You have 2 attempts to pass KBA. If you fail both attempts, your access will be locked for 24 hours before you can try again. This is a legal security requirement — not a Rush Notary restriction. Our support team can help explore alternative identity verification options.
- Accepted government-issued photo IDs include U.S. State-issued driver's licenses, photo ID cards, U.S. Passport books or cards, certificates of U.S. citizenship or naturalization, foreign passports, Alien Registration Cards (Green Cards), and U.S. Military IDs. Your ID must be current (not expired) and clearly legible. Expired IDs are not accepted.
- Yes. You'll upload a photo of your government-issued ID during booking or pre-session setup. Credential analysis software verifies its authenticity before the video session begins. Photos should be clear, well-lit, and show all four corners of the document.
Legal & compliance
- Online notarization is legal and fully recognized in the vast majority of U.S. states. As of 2025, 45 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws permitting Remote Online Notarization (RON). Rush Notary operates under Florida's RON framework, and our notarized documents are legally valid and accepted by courts, government agencies, financial institutions, and businesses nationwide.
- Yes. Our Florida-commissioned notaries can legally notarize documents for signers located in any U.S. state, regardless of where you are physically located at the time of the session. Documents notarized by a Florida RON notary are recognized across all 50 states.
- Yes. Rush Notary offers Apostille services for documents requiring international use. An Apostille is a certification recognized by all 125+ countries that are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention. Common uses include foreign Power of Attorney, educational, and business documents.
- Yes. Rush Notary's platform is SOC 2 certified and HIPAA compliant. Documents, personal information, and session recordings are handled with high-level data security and privacy protection at every step.
- U.S. Post Offices are not authorized to provide notary services — these are governed at the state level. Some banks offer notary services limited to customers during business hours and without remote options. Rush Notary offers 24/7 availability, no travel required, and full legal compliance.
Pricing & payment
- Notarization at Rush Notary starts at $25 per notary seal. Each additional notary seal within the same session is also $25. There are no hidden fees. Custom pricing is available for businesses with high document volume.
- We accept all major credit and debit cards — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover — processed securely via Stripe. Payment is collected at booking or before the session. Cash and checks are not accepted.
- If a notarization session cannot be completed due to a technical issue on our end, or if the notary is unable to proceed, a full refund will be issued. Sessions cancelled by clients before beginning may qualify for refunds depending on timing. Details are available in our full Refund Policy.
Technical requirements
- A device with a camera and microphone (smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop), a stable internet connection, a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — no downloads required), your government-issued photo ID (to photograph and upload), and your document in PDF format (to upload before the session).
- No. No downloads or plugins are required. The entire notarization process runs in your web browser — simply click the link you receive after booking and the session will launch directly in your browser window.
- Documents must be uploaded as PDF files. If your document is in Word (.docx) or image format, please convert it to PDF before uploading. Documents should be complete and ready to sign; do not sign before the session, since the notary must witness the signing live.
- Yes. Rush Notary uses bank-grade encryption for all document uploads, identity verification, and session data. Our platform is SOC 2 certified and HIPAA compliant. Documents are accessible only to your assigned notary during the session; after completion your notarized document is securely delivered and session data is retained per Florida RON recordkeeping requirements.