Can a California notary notarize online?
No, and not before 2030 at the latest. Here is what the law actually says, why so many websites get it wrong, and what you can do instead today.
The short answer: no. A notary public commissioned by the State of California cannot legally notarize your document over a video call, today, in October 2026. If you have been told otherwise, you have probably read a page written by a national notary platform that glossed over the dates.
What the law actually says
California's Secretary of State puts it plainly in the 2026 Notary Public Handbook. Asked whether California notaries can perform remote online notarizations, the handbook answers: no, current California law does not provide the authority. California law requires a person to physically appear before the notary public, and a video image is not a personal appearance.
There is also a customer alert still published on the Secretary of State's website, titled “California Notaries Public Cannot Perform Notarial Services Online”, which describes online webcam notarizations as invalid and illegal activities for California notaries.
But did California not pass a law allowing it?
Yes, and this is where the confusion comes from. Senate Bill 696, the Online Notarization Act, was signed in September 2023 and took effect on 1 January 2024. But it comes into force in stages, and the parts that would actually let a California notary perform a remote online notarization are not among the parts in force.
| Provision | Status |
|---|---|
| Recognition of notarial acts performed outside California | Operative since 1 January 2024 |
| Security requirements for remote notarizations | Operative since 1 January 2025 |
| Authority for California notaries to actually perform RON | Not yet operative |
The remaining provisions only commence once the Secretary of State certifies that it has completed the technology project known as Notary Automation Project 2.0, or on 1 January 2030, whichever comes first. Until that happens, no California notary may offer the service, however modern their website looks.
What is allowed in California right now
- Electronic and paperless notarization is permitted, provided every ordinary requirement is still met – including the signer physically appearing in front of the notary, the seal, and the journal thumbprint where the document affects real property.
- Out-of-state remote notarizations are recognised here. If a notary commissioned in a state that permits RON notarizes your document remotely and lawfully under that state's rules, California recognises it. This is why you can legitimately receive a remotely notarized document from elsewhere and use it in California.
- A California notary coming to you – which, for most people asking this question, turns out to be both faster and simpler than setting up an online session anyway.
If a California notary offers to notarize you over video, walk away. The notarization would be invalid, the document could be rejected or challenged later, and you would discover it at the worst possible moment – when a deed is recorded, a court looks at an affidavit, or a consulate reviews your file.
So how do you get it done today in San Diego?
You have us come to you. That is the whole model: you do not drive anywhere, you do not install anything, and the notarization is unambiguously valid. We cover every city in San Diego County, 24 hours a day, and a visit is $95 including travel and up to three signatures.
Call or text (858) 888-8060, or send a request. If you genuinely need a remote session – because you are out of state, or abroad – tell us and we will point you to a notary commissioned somewhere that permits it, rather than pretending we can do it.
Sources: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook; sos.ca.gov customer alerts; Senate Bill 696 (Chapter 291, Statutes of 2023). Reviewed October 2026. The commencement date depends on a state technology project, so check the current position if you are reading this much later.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a virtual notary in California?
Not from a California-commissioned notary. You may lawfully use a notary commissioned in a state that permits remote online notarization, and California will recognise that notarization. What no California notary may do is perform one themselves.
When will California allow online notarization?
When the Secretary of State completes the Notary Automation Project 2.0 and certifies it, or on 1 January 2030 at the latest. The statute requires the project to be finished by then unless the Secretary of State notifies the Legislature by 1 January 2029 that it is not.
Is an out-of-state online notarization valid in California?
Generally yes. Since 1 January 2024 California's recognition provisions have been in force, so a notarial act validly performed under the law of another state is recognised here. The receiving party – a county recorder, a court, a lender – may still have its own preferences, so check with them for anything high value.
Can you notarize if I email you a scan of my signature?
No. Personal appearance is the heart of what notarization is for. The entire purpose is confirming that the person in front of the notary is who they claim to be and is signing willingly, and that cannot be done from a scan.
Next step
Tell us what you need
We will come back with a time and a firm price. If it is urgent, call or text (858) 888-8060.