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 ...
(Also see “Remote Online Notarization” below for additional information.) Virginia Notaries may notarize a document inside or outside the Commonwealth if the document will be used in the Commonwealth or by the U.S. government (COV 47.1-13B, 47.1-13.1).
So, can a notary public notarize out-of-state documents? The short answer is yes, notary publics are legally allowed to notarize documents from any state as long the notarial act is conducted within the geographical boundaries of the notary's state of commission.
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.
Answer: To become a notary in multiple states, you must obtain a separate notary commission from each state by meeting their specific requirements, including education, background checks, and residency qualifications.
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.
Virginia notaries may notarize powers of attorney and wills. Virginia notaries are not authorized to certify true copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates. Only the Division of Vital Records/Statistics may perform such a certification.
The Easy Answer: Yes, You May Notarize Out-Of-State Documents.
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.