How Do You Become An Online Notary In Illinois?

As of 1 January 2024, new Illinois Notary laws have taken effect. People are now permitted to apply to notarize electronic documents remotely by means of audio-visual communication. If you want to become a Remote Online Notary in Illinois you need to;

1. Hold a commission as a traditional Notary Public (or apply for both commissions simultaneously).
2. Successfully complete and pass the state-required training and exam.
3. Contract or sign up with an Electronic Notarization System Provider (such as BlueNotary).
4. Take the oath of office.
5. Adjust your surety bond amount to $30,000. You will also need to fill out form I 263 or I 264 (Notary Public Bond), signed and certified by a qualified bond company.
6. Complete and submit the application form, including your:
7. -oath
8. -course completion certificate
9. -a copy of your electronic seal and signature
10. -a legible photocopy of your driver’s license or state ID card
11. -form I 263 or I264
12. -and the $15 application filing fee.
13. (Starting August 1, 2024, Illinois residents applying to be Notary Public or Electronic Notary Public are required to use their online application.)
14. Comply with any additional requirements set by the Secretary of State.

Once you’re authorized to perform RON in Illinois and approved with your platform, you can start performing Remote Online Notarizations. Be sure to stay current with all your state’s local Online Notary laws!

Why Should You Think about Becoming An Online Notary In Illinois?

Becoming an Online Notary in Illinois is a simple way to offer convenient and secure services to clients from wherever you are. Online Notaries offer faster booking and easier document completion turnaround times! Save clients and yourself time by working from home. What are you waiting for?

How to Become a Traditional Notary in Illinois(Get your Notary Commission)

Individuals aspiring to become a Notary in Illinois are required to navigate through the following streamlined process:

1. Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria in Illinois (see below).
2. Familiarize yourself with the Illinois Notary Public Handbook and the state’s Notary Laws.
3. Enroll in a Notary training course and successfully pass the exam (this requirement begins on January 1, 2024).
4. Complete the upper section of the application for Illinois Notary status.
5. Participate in the oath of office ceremony, which requires collaboration with a currently commissioned Illinois Notary.
6. Procure a $5,000* surety bond from a bonding company authorized to operate in Illinois, and have them complete the bond section of your Notary application.
7. Make copies of both the front and the back of your driver’s license or state ID card.
8. Your application ought to be presented with a copy of your ID and the $15 application fee.
9. Await your commission from the state.
10. Purchase the necessary Notary seal, journal, and other essential supplies. *Please note that if you indicate “yes” on the application form regarding your intention to provide remote notarization services, the bond amount increases to $30,000.

After accomplishing all these steps and receiving your commission, you are already good to go to carry out notarial acts as a commissioned notary in Illinois.

What are the requirements to become a Notary in Illinois?

The individual must satisfy the several conditions laid down to be an Illinois notary, as it is necessary.You must:

1. Be at least 18 years old
2. Be a citizen of or lawful permanent resident in the U.S.
3. Live or work in Illinois for a minimum of 30 days prior to applying
4. Be able to read and write in English
5. Not be convicted of a felony
6. Not have a previous Notary commission revoked

For further details, consult the Illinois Notary Handbook or the Illinois SoS Website.

Are Online Notaries Legal in Illinois?

Yes, up to January 2022, Illinois has recognized estate documents signed notary services online for Notaries who have the legal permission through online notarization.

The passing of Senate Bill 2664 enforced the continuous role of remote online notarization in Illinois.To engage in remote online notarization within the state, Notaries are mandated to maintain an active traditional Notary commission, complete registration with the Secretary of State, and secure a $5,000 surety bond.

Illinois Online Notary FAQ’s

Requirements for Becoming a Remote Notary in Illinois

To venture into electronic notarizations in Illinois, you must either hold a traditional Notary Public Commission or apply to become an IL Notary. To be eligible for this opportunity, you don’t have to be a citizen of the United States; instead, you can be a lawful resident there or a person who carries out certain activities in the state such as work. A period of at least 30 days of participation is mandatory for the latter case. The knowledge of English language is essential.Applicants must not have felony convictions on their record or a prior Notary commission revocation or suspension within the last decade.

Training and Examination Requirements for Online Notaries

As of January 1, 2024, applicants pursuing an Electronic Notary commission in Illinois are obliged to complete a comprehensive 3-hour Notary Training Course. A subsequent 50-question Notary Exam must be successfully passed. The examination permits up to three attempts, each necessitating a minimum score of 85% for success. Failure on the third attempt results in examination failure.

Tools and Technology for Online Notarizations in Illinois:

Prepare yourself with a computer equipped with a webcam, microphone, and a secure internet connection to embark on electronic notarizations. Acquire the following electronic components for your notarial endeavors: an electronic seal, an electronic journal, and a digital certificate housing your electronic signature. It’s crucial that your Electronic Notary seal mirrors the appearance of a traditional Notary seal, and that your digital certificate complies with the X.509 standards while remaining compatible with your chosen vendor.

Is an Additional Surety Bond Required?

Remote Notaries must secure a separate $25,000 bond exclusively designated for notarizations involving digital documents. This bond amount augments the pre-existing $5,000 bond mandated for traditional notarial acts. In some cases, a unified bond totaling $30,000 may effectively cover both categories of notarizations.

E&O Insurance in Illinois

While not a must-have, it’s highly recommended to have an Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance policy. This insurance is designed to protect the Notary, such as yourself, for situations where mistakes do happen during notarization by accident.Such protection can substantially mitigate the financial implications of potential legal disputes.

What to Expect as a Notary?

As in other professions, the amount of work an online notary receives can vary widely. Typically, the time of year when we are the most swamped with work is the tax season, especially when we require our tax returns to be signed and notarized. As a rule, the demand is constant all year round from a variety of businesses and people for the purposes of having their papers authenticated. There are many businesses that need consistent notarizations. Did we mention there are over 1.25 billion notarizations performed annually?

One of the essential things when working in an online notary capacity is that you have to ensure that you follow the rules of the state laid down for the profession. These regulations encompass the proper notarization and witnessing of the documents. Always ensure documents contain all of the necessary information. The most successful online notaries spend some time doing their own client acquisition and sales funneling, especially those who are doing it online.

How Much Can You Expect To Make as a Notary in Illinois?

As you gain more experience and have notarized more documents, you will be able to earn even more by taking on loan signings (where the industry standard is $150 per session) and other creative packages and invoicing clients outside of BlueNotary. You will be able to earn a very decent income – all from the comfort of your home office.

BlueNotary lets you bill your clients at your own rates. This makes your earnings very flexible depending on your ability to build a network.

How do I Start Notarizing Online in Illinois?

A great place to start is the BlueNotary Free Training Group. There you will find guidance given by other Illinois notaries that have been through the same process and can satisfy your queries.

Being an online notary can represent a good opportunity to gain more income and through this to be beneficial for the community too. On top of that, you have the freedom to choose the channel you will use to get connected with your customers when you work as an online notary.

BlueNotary is the best option for super simple onboarding and for an independent notary looking to grow their own business or for businesses looking to build out their workflow. We even have training videos and a signing simulator to get you comfortable with the process.

Register and get started here: Sign Up.