It used to be that if you were living abroad and needed to sign a US property deed or power of attorney, you had to schedule a cumbersome and expensive appointment at the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. That is no longer the case.
The Solution: Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Florida law authorizes commissioned notaries to perform notarizations online for clients located anywhere in the world. The digital stamp acts exactly as a physical seal.
What You Need to Notarize from Abroad
- A US Social Security Number (SSN): This is required to generate the Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) questions that verify your identity digitally.
- US Credit History: The KBA questions are pulled from public records and credit bureaus.
- A Valid Government ID: You must hold your US passport or driver's license to the webcam for digital forensic analysis.
- A Webcam and Strong Internet: The entire session must be recorded by the notary.
As long as you meet these criteria, you can sit in a cafe in Paris or a flat in London and legally sell your house in Florida.