Can I get a document notarized online in Alabama?

What Alabama law allows today

Alabama's notary statute starts from in-person signing: an acknowledged signature must be made "in the physical presence of the notary public", and a notary's acts require an "original signature", defined as one "signed directly onto a document in wet ink".¹

Since 2021 the same section lets a signer "personally appear" over two-way audio-video instead, if:¹

• the Alabama notary is physically located in Alabama;
• the session is recorded and kept for seven years;
• the signer is located in the United States;
• the notary verifies identity by personal knowledge, or by two government-issued IDs (one with your face and signature) plus a review of public or private data sources;
• "all documents used during the two-way audio-video communication shall be provided to the notary public for his or her authentication and original signature".

So the signing is remote but still on paper. It's not an electronic notarization, and it can't be used for absentee ballot applications, absentee ballot affidavits or "any purpose related to voting".¹ The National Notary Association lists Alabama as "RON not authorized".⁶

Can you still get notarized online from Alabama?

Usually yes, by using an online notary commissioned in a state that allows RON. What matters legally is the notary's commission state and where the notary sits, not where you are: Texas law lets a Texas online notary notarize "regardless of whether the principal is physically located in this state", and Florida's law says the same for Florida online notaries.³⁴ Platforms such as BlueNotary, Notarize, OneNotary and NotaryLive route you to notaries commissioned in states like these.

Proof summarizes Alabama law as recognizing notarizations by other states' notaries performed under those states' laws (Ala. Code §§ 35-4-26 and 35-4-27).²

The person receiving your document still decides. A bank, court, agency or county office can insist on a particular kind of notarization, so ask them first.⁵

Compare full prices, ID rules and limits on the comparison table, or see the cheapest option for your situation.

When an online notarization may not work in Alabama

• Real estate. A deed or mortgage is recorded by the county probate judge's office, which decides what it will accept for recording. Ask that office, or your title company, before using an out-of-state online notary.
• Your recipient wants an Alabama notary or a wet-ink original. Then use an Alabama notary, either in person or through the remote ink procedure above.
• Recipient rules. Lenders, title companies, courts and government offices can refuse an out-of-state online notarization or ask for a wet-ink original. Ask before you book.⁵
• No physical ID or no US credit history. Most platforms verify you with a live scan of a government photo ID plus a credit-based quiz. See getting notarized online without an SSN.