What must an electronic notary public do at the time of an electronic notarial act?

An electronic notary public is required to electronically sign every certificate associated with an electronic notarial act and to affix their electronic seal. This process ensures that the notarial act is executed with the same legal standing and integrity as a traditional notarization involving physical documents. By electronically signing each certificate, the notary is verifying the authenticity of the document and confirming that they have witnessed the necessary signing or action required by law.

The requirement for both the electronic signature and the electronic seal is crucial, as it provides a digital means to establish the notary’s identity and authority, thereby preventing fraud and ensuring that the notarization can be trusted by all parties involved. This dual action upholds the same principles of reliability and accountability found in traditional notarizations but adapted for the digital environment.

While alternatives may involve manual signatures, stamped signatures, or simply preparing documents without signing, these do not meet the legal requirements set forth for electronic notarization, which are aimed at upholding the integrity and security of the notarial process in an online format.