Alphabet Soup: RIN, RON and IPEN
If it hasn’t happened to you yet, at some point in your Remote Online Notary career, the phone will ring and the person on the other end will ask for “Ron.” Before you hang up on this telemarketer rudely interrupting your day or, if you are more polite I am, you might say, “I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong number,” think for a moment about what the person on the other end of the call may be looking for. They are likely seeking Remote Online Notarization, but don’t understand that RON is an acronym and not a person.
It’s not hard to blame someone for misunderstanding the use of RON, as it is bandied about like the word Kleenex or Band-Aid. RON is shorthand for Remote Online Notarization. It is the most common term that people use to describe Notarizing Documents remotely online. But even within the industry, people will refer to themselves as a RON Notary (Remote Online Notarization Notary, I guess?). There is also RIN and IPEN. And don’t forget VPN, KBA, & KFC (ok, maybe forget that last one). This industry can be an Alphabet Soup of letters, so let’s break it down a bit to simplify some terms for you.
There are essentially four types of Notarization; Traditional Paper Notarization, IPEN, RIN and RON. What follows is a brief look at what the types, what the acronyms stand for and the most basic idea behind what they look like.
Traditional (Paper) Notarization - This one is likely a no-brainer for most people and the way it has been done for literally thousands of years. The signing is performed in person and the document is actual, physical paper, that is signed and stamped.
IPEN - This is an In-Person Electronic Notarization. This is just like a traditional notarization done face-to-face, the only difference being that the documents are electronic and not on paper. IDs are checked as they would be in a traditional manner, but everything is reviewed and signed on a computer tablet or smartphone.
RIN - This is Remote Ink Notarization. In this type of Notarizing documents, the presence of the parties is virtual via a webcam, but the documents are then signed in ink on actual paper, returned to the notary to affix an ink stamp, and then the documents are forwarded to the receiving party. **WARNING!!** This type of signing is not permitted in many states and where it is, it may have been provisional during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has since been eliminated. Be careful with this type of signing, even if your state allows it.
RON - This is Remote Online Notarization. It is the one that in most people’s minds constitutes Online Notarization. In this style of notarization, all parties meet virtually online and all documents are signed electronically.
And there you have it! You are now armed with more knowledge about the types of signings available than most any of your counterparts in the industry. It is as easy as ABC. If you want to learn more about this and so many other topics related to RON, join us at NotaryStars.com where we have weekly classes on the new Remote Online frontier, as well as all other aspects of running a successful notarial business! See you on Fridays at 5pm PST, or catch us in the replays. Get on the computer and get stamping!!
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