Can I get a document notarized online in California?
Not by a California notary, not yet. But Californians routinely use online notaries commissioned in other states, and California law gives those notarizations effect. Here's when that works and when it might not.
The law is passed, but not in effect yet
SB 696 (Portantino), signed September 30, 2023, enacts California's Online Notarization Act. Some parts took effect January 1, 2024, but the provisions that let California notaries perform online notarizations become operative only "when the Secretary of State has completed the technology project necessary to implement the new provisions or by January 1, 2030, whichever is earlier".1 The SOS's legislative summary adds that the date can slip if the SOS notifies the Legislature and Governor in writing by January 1, 2029.2
Until then, the Secretary of State's long-standing warning applies: webcam notarizations by California notaries are invalid, because California requires the signer to appear physically before the notary.1
The National Notary Association lists California as "RON has been enacted but cannot yet be performed".9
What Californians do today: an out-of-state online notary
Online services such as Notarize, OneNotary, BlueNotary and NotaryLive connect you with notaries commissioned in states that allow RON. Two California rules matter here:
- Gov. Code § 8232.1 (added by SB 696, effective January 1, 2024): a notarial act performed in another state by a notary of that state "shall be afforded the same legal effect under the law of this state as if performed by a notarial officer of this state".3
- Civ. Code § 1189(b): a certificate of acknowledgment taken in another place is sufficient in California "if it is taken in accordance with the laws of the place where the acknowledgment is made".4
And RON states such as Texas and Florida explicitly let their online notaries serve signers located anywhere.56
Caveat: these rules don't force every recipient to accept an online notarization. Lenders, title companies, courts and county recorders can set their own requirements, so ask the recipient first.7
Notarize (by Proof)
$25 per notarization (Notarize Network meeting)
24/7 · +$15 each additional seal; +$10 each additional signer; +$15 each on-demand witness
NotaryCam
$25 per seal (includes one signer)
24/7 (real-estate closings 7am–11pm ET) · +$10 each additional signer; $79 fee if signer(s) have no US SSN. Real-estate closings start at $199.
OneNotary
$25 per session (1 stamp, 1 signer)
24/7 · +$10 each additional stamp; +$10 each additional signer; $15 OneNotary witness. Mobile (in-person) notary from $80.
BlueNotary
$25 (1 stamp, 1 signer)
24/7 on-demand · +$8 each additional stamp; +$5 each additional signer; $10 BlueNotary witness
NotaryLive
$25 per session (first 25 pages included)
24/7/365 · +$5 each additional signer; +$5 per additional 25 pages; $10 on-demand witness; no extra charge for additional seals
OnlineNotary.net
$19.95 per signer
Listed as 10AM–2AM daily on the pricing section and 9AM–2AM in the footer; time zone not stated · +$5 additional notary stamp per document
Compare full prices, ID rules and limits on the comparison table.
When to use an in-person California notary instead
- The recipient tells you they need a California notary or a wet-ink original.
- You need a California-specific notarial act that an out-of-state notary can't perform.
- You don't have a physical government photo ID or can't pass the credit-history quiz most platforms use.8
What a California notary may charge in person
California's cap for an acknowledgment or jurat is $15 (NNA, 2026 fee table).10 There's no California online-notarization fee yet, because California RON isn't operative.
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California Secretary of State, Notary Customer Alerts (SB 696 notice posted Oct 24, 2023; webcam warning posted July 19, 2016). Read 2026-10-27. ↩↩
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California Secretary of State, Statutes of 2023 legislative summaries (Chapter 291, SB 696). ↩
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Proof Help Center, Will my document be accepted? ↩
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Proof Help Center, Acceptable forms of ID and What you need. ↩
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National Notary Association, RON platform information by state (current as of Aug 10, 2026). ↩
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National Notary Association, 2026 Notary Fees by State (last updated Sep 16, 2026). ↩
Frequently asked questions
When will California notaries be able to notarize online?
When the Secretary of State certifies its technology project is complete, or January 1, 2030, whichever comes first, unless the SOS notifies the Legislature and Governor by January 1, 2029 that the project won't finish by 2030 (per the California SOS summary of SB 696).
Is an online notarization from another state valid in California?
California Government Code § 8232.1 (effective January 1, 2024) gives a notarial act performed in another state by that state's notary the same legal effect as if a California notary had done it. Civil Code § 1189(b) also accepts acknowledgment certificates taken elsewhere under that place's laws. Whoever receives your document still decides whether to accept it.
Can a California notary use Notarize or another online platform?
Not for remote online notarizations. The California Secretary of State has warned that webcam notarizations by California notaries are invalid under current law, because California requires the signer to appear in person.
Can I sign a California power of attorney online?
A California power of attorney is legally sufficient if it's either acknowledged before a notary public or signed by two qualifying witnesses (Probate Code § 4121). Check with the bank or agency that will rely on it before using an out-of-state online notary. See our POA guide.