Three Types of Notarizations in North Carolina
Documents signed in the presence of others in a meeting conference room.
Anyone who has ever completed a major life event that requires legal documents has likely required the assistance of a notary public. All notarial transactions that are successful follow a formula that is compliant with the laws set forth in the North Carolina General Statutes.
As it stands in 2026, the state of North Carolina authorizes it’s notaries to perform three different modes of notarial acts. These three acceptable types of notarizations include:
Traditional Notarization
In-Person Electronic Notarization (IPEN)
Remote Electronic Notarization (REN)
Each of the modes of notarization require, by law, very specific actions that must occur in order to protect the community from forgery and fraud. For example, one of the requirements mandates that the individual or entity requesting the notarization (the principal) must make a personal appearance in front of the notary public at the time in which the notarial act is performed. You’ll notice two of the different types of notarizations are electronic in nature, which can ONLY be completed by an active-commissioned North Carolina electronic notary. Also, remember that all North Carolina notaries are required to be physically located within North Carolina in order to perform any notarial transaction. Let’s dive in!
What Is a Traditional Notarization?
A traditional notarization is required when a physical document for a hand-signed ink signature is presented as a request to be notarized. This mode requires that the person requesting the notarial act, known as the principal, is to be in the same physical location as the notary in order to receive the ink-and-stamp notarization. The rule of thumb with this type of transaction is that the principal and notary should be in close proximity so that the two have the ability “to reach out and touch” one another. In the state of North Carolina, all five types of notarial acts are approved to be completed by way of traditional notarizations.
What Is an In-Person Notarization?
An in-person electronic notarization can occur when the document presented as a request by the principal is an electronic document. In this type of notarial transaction, the principal and the notary public are physically in the same location, but the document is electronic and also the notarial stamp is an authorized electronic seal. The in-person notarization mode is also known as IPEN.
What Is a Remote Electronic Notarization?
The third and newest of the notarial transactions is the remote electronic notarization. This mode can occur when the document presented by the principal is an electronic document. Since the document is electronic it then requires an electronic notarial stamp from the actively commissioned electronic notary public in North Carolina. The uniqueness of this type of transaction allows for the principal and the eNotary to be physically located in separate addresses. The principal can be located in any authorized location, such as any state within the U.S., which also includes the District of Columbia, with the notary locate in North Carolina, and the personal appearance requirement occurs through the use of an approved communication technology in a licensed platform.
It is important to note that not all documents are not authorized to be notarized remotely, and not all notarial acts can be performed via remote electronic notarization. These include
an electronic notarial act on a paper document
a proof,
the certification of an absentee ballot.
The laws also dictate that unless a special military exception is applicable, the following documents are also not authorized for remote electronic notarization:
A self-proved will
Any document related to a parent’s relinquishment of parental rights
Trust and estate documents
Notary Support in Raleigh, North Carolina
The three ways in which a notarization can be provided include methods that accommodate the vast needs of the public. Our team of notary professionals are here to support the needs of the community in North Carolina. If you or someone you know has a notary request, or just have a question, feel free to call our team at 919.332.0109, or schedule your appointment online today.
