The short answer is "yes" to both: (1) electronic notarization is available in Virginia, but it requires certain technological capabilities and a notary who has obtained an additional certification, and (2) a notary may remotely witness a signature in Virginia, provided certain requirements are met.
Virginia notaries have limited powers in performing notarial acts outside the Commonwealth of Virginia. A traditional notary public may perform any notarial act outside the Commonwealth for any writing to be used in the Commonwealth of Virginia or by the United States government.
No person who has ever been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or the laws of any other state, qualify to be appointed and commissioned as a notary public unless such person has had their civil rights restored or received a pardon for the crimes –depending on where ...
The signer must appear before the notary. The notary must identify the signer. The signer must take an oath or affirmation in the notary's presence and verbally confirm the document's truthfulness (silent nods are not sufficient). The document must be signed by the signer in the notary's presence.
To be eligible to apply for a Virginia Notary Public Commission, you must be: At least eighteen years old. A legal resident of the United States. Able to read and write the English language. A resident of Virginia or regularly employed in the state and perform notary services in connection with their employment.
Remote Notarization (remote online notary, or RON) In Virginia, notarizing a document "remotely" is permissible. In fact, Virginia became the first state in 2012 to formally authorize and provide a legal framework for such notarizations.
One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.
The signer must appear before the notary. The notary must identify the signer. The signer must take an oath or affirmation in the notary's presence and verbally confirm the document's truthfulness (silent nods are not sufficient). The document must be signed by the signer in the notary's presence.