If you’re looking for a fast, legal way to notarize a document without leaving your home, you may have come across the Notarize app. It’s one of the most popular online notary tools available in the U.S., allowing people to connect with a notary public and complete a notarization entirely online.
But how does it work? Is it legal in all states?
In this article, we break down everything you need to know about the Notarize app—including how it compares to services like Notary Public Center, which offers personalized support and a full range of online and express notarization solutions.
What Is the Notarize App?
The Notarize app is a digital platform that allows users to notarize documents online by connecting with a licensed notary. The service works through its mobile app or website.
How Does the Notarize App Work?
Here’s a step-by-step overview:
- Send us your document (PDF, Word, etc.)
- Verify your identity using your ID
- Sign your document digitally
- Receive the notarized document via email
The entire process takes around 15 minutes and requires a smartphone or computer with a camera.
Is the Notarize App Legal?
Yes. The Notarize app uses Remote Online Notarization (RON), which is legal in U.S. States that recognize RON allow notarizations to be performed, and the notarized document is legally valid just like an in-person notarization.
However, not all states or countries accept online notarizations, especially for international use. In those cases, an in-person notary or apostille may still be require
At Notary Public Center, we help you determine what type of notarization is accepted based on your document’s purpose and destination.
What Types of Documents Can Be Notarized with the App?
The Notarize app supports a wide range of documents, including:
- Power of attorney
- Real estate contracts
- Affidavits
- Parental consent forms
- School forms
- Financial documents
- Business agreements
Note: Some documents may still require in-person notarization depending on jurisdiction.
Are There Alternatives to the Notarize App?
Yes—especially if you’re looking for:
- Mltilingual support (e.g., Spanish speakers)
- Apostille and translation services
- Human customer support for complex documents
- In-person notary options
That’s where Notary Public Center comes in. We provide:
- Service Availability
- Online Notary in eligible states
- In-Person Notary
- Apostille & Translation U.S. and international
- Bilingual Support English / Spanish
Whether you’re notarizing a simple form or preparing a document for use abroad, our team ensures it’s done correctly, legally, and affordably.
Conclusion: Is the Notarize App Right for You?
The Notarize app is a fast and legal way to get a document notarized online, especially if you’re comfortable with tech and your document qualifies for RON.
But if you need additional support, international services, or a team that handles everything from notarization to apostille and beyond, Notary Public Center offers more flexibility, human guidance, and peace of mind.
Need a Document Notarized Today?
Notary Public Center makes it easy to notarize documents online, in person, or wherever you are. We offer fast, legal, and affordable solutions tailored to your needs.
- Online notarization
- Apostille and translation
- Transparent pricing and bilingual support
Contact us now to get started or schedule your notary appointment today.
Is Remote Online Notarization Accepted in Every State?
Remote Online Notarization (RON) is now permanently authorized in the large majority of U.S. states, but the rules are not identical everywhere. Some states require the notary to be physically commissioned in that state to notarize a document for a resident there, while others allow any RON-commissioned notary to notarize regardless of the signer’s location. A handful of states still restrict RON to specific document types or require additional identity-verification steps for real estate and estate-planning documents.
This matters because an app that works smoothly for one document type in one state may not be a valid option for a different document or a signer located elsewhere. Before relying on any notarize app, it is worth confirming that the notary performing the session is commissioned to notarize for your specific state and document type—this is one of the most common reasons a remotely notarized document later gets rejected by a receiving agency.
How Secure Is Online Notarization?
RON platforms, including the Notarize app and Notary Public Center’s own online service, rely on several layers of identity verification: government-ID scanning, knowledge-based authentication questions, credential analysis, and a recorded audio-video session of the entire signing. The recording itself becomes part of the notarial record and can be produced later if the validity of the notarization is ever questioned.
This is actually more verifiable than many in-person notarizations, where the only record is the notary’s paper journal entry. That said, the security of the process still depends on using a platform that follows your state’s specific RON technology and record-retention requirements—not every app does this the same way.
Notarize App vs. Notary Public Center: Frequently Asked Questions
Is a document notarized through an app as legally valid as one notarized in person?
Yes. In any state that has adopted RON, a remotely notarized document carries the same legal weight as an in-person notarization, provided the notary followed the required identity-verification and recording steps.
Can I use a notarize app for a document that will be used internationally?
Sometimes. Many countries do not recognize U.S. remote online notarization on its own, and the document may still need an apostille or consular legalization afterward. Notary Public Center can confirm what your destination country requires and handle the apostille step directly.
What happens if my document is rejected after being notarized online?
This usually happens when the notary was not properly commissioned for RON in the relevant state, or when the receiving party specifically requires a wet-ink, in-person notarization (common with certain court filings and some real estate closings). Checking this requirement before you start avoids the delay of redoing the notarization.
Do I need special software to use a notarize app?
No special software is required beyond a smartphone or computer with a camera and a stable internet connection; the platform itself runs in a browser or a lightweight app.
Why choose Notary Public Center instead of a generic notarize app?
Because beyond the notarization itself, our team can advise on apostille, translation, and document-specific requirements in both English and Spanish—something a self-service app typically cannot do.
Common Mistakes People Make When Using a Notarize App
Most problems with online notarization come from skipping a step that seems minor but turns out to matter to whoever receives the document. Knowing the most common mistakes in advance can save you from having to redo the entire process.
The first mistake is not checking whether the receiving institution accepts a remotely notarized document at all. Some courts, some county recorders, and some foreign consulates still require a traditional wet-ink, in-person notarization regardless of what state law allows, so a document notarized correctly through an app can still be rejected on arrival.
The second mistake is using an ID that does not meet the platform’s verification standards—an expired driver’s license or a passport with a mismatched name from a recent marriage or legal name change is a frequent cause of a failed session. The third is assuming that a RON session automatically includes an apostille when the document is intended for use abroad; RON and apostille are two separate steps, and skipping the second one is one of the most common reasons international paperwork gets returned. The fourth mistake is not confirming that the notary session includes credible witnesses when the document type legally requires them (common with certain wills and powers of attorney), since not every RON platform offers witness-inclusive sessions by default.
How Notarize App Pricing Compares to Notary Public Center
Pricing models across RON platforms generally fall into two categories: a flat per-notarization fee charged directly through the app, or a subscription that bundles a set number of notarizations per month—useful for businesses that notarize documents regularly but less efficient for someone who only needs an occasional notarization.
At Notary Public Center, pricing is quoted based on the specific document, the notarization method (online or in person), and whether apostille or translation services are also needed, since bundling those steps together is often more efficient than handling each one separately through different providers. Contact us to evaluate your specific case and get an accurate quote before you start.
What to Look for Before Choosing Any Online Notary App
Not every remote-online-notarization platform is built the same way, and a quick checklist before you start can prevent a rejected document later.
- State commissioning: confirm the notary performing your session is specifically commissioned for RON in the state whose law governs your document, not just licensed as a notary generally.
- Recording and retention: the platform should keep an audio-video recording of the session and a tamper-evident electronic notarial journal, retained for the period your state requires.
- Identity verification depth: look for multi-factor identity checks (ID scan plus knowledge-based questions or biometric verification), not just a photo upload.
- Support for your document type: some platforms exclude wills, trusts, or certain real-estate documents from RON eligibility depending on state rules—verify this before starting the session, not after.
- Follow-on services: if your document needs an apostille, translation, or filing with a specific agency afterward, a provider that can handle those next steps directly saves you from coordinating multiple vendors.
Notary Public Center checks each of these points for every document before the session begins, and can also advise on apostille and translation requirements if your document is headed abroad.
Whichever option you choose, having a clear answer to state eligibility, document type, and any follow-on requirements before you start is what actually determines whether your notarization is accepted the first time.
The Bottom Line on Notarize Apps
An app like Notarize can be the right choice when your document is a standard type, your state fully recognizes RON for it, and you simply need a quick, self-service session. Where things get more complicated—international use, document types that some states exclude from RON, or cases where you also need translation or apostille work—a provider that can walk you through the entire chain of requirements, not just the notarization step, tends to save more time in the long run than piecing together several separate services yourself.
The information contained in this publication is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading or using this content does not create and is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. No reader or user should act or refrain from acting based on the information presented herein without first consulting an attorney duly licensed to practice law in their jurisdiction.
