Remote Notaries in North Carolina: 2026 Steps

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• North Carolina permanently allows Remote Online Notarization (RON) under the Electronic Notary Act, N.C.G.S. Chapter 10B, Article 2.
• New RON administrative rules (18 NCAC 07D, 07F, and 07H) took effect July 1, 2025, raising the standards for approved platforms, identity verification, and remote oath procedures.
• NotaryLive offers a convenient platform for online notarization.

Update as of July 1, 2025:North Carolina notaries must now follow new RON rules requiring state-approved platforms, strict identity checks, and special limits for remote oaths tied to court proceedings. 

NotaryLive recommends checking the NC Secretary of State's eNotary Solution Providers page for the most current list of approved platforms before applying.

If you are a notary public in the state of North Carolina, and looking to expand on your notary services, there is a great opportunity to become a North Carolina online notary.

1. Steps To Becoming An Online Notary In North Carolina

The following will be a guide on how to become an online notary in North Carolina.

Complete the pre-requirements 

Before applying to become an online notary, make sure you have the following: 

You must hold a current, valid North Carolina notary public commission before you can apply to become an electronic notary. To get your traditional commission, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Reside in NC, or reside in a bordering state and regularly work or do business in NC
• Be a legal resident of the U.S. and able to read, write, and speak English
• Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
• Have no disqualifying criminal history (felony without rights restored or crimes of moral turpitude)
• Purchase the current 2026 North Carolina Notary Public Manual from the UNC School of Government (required: the 2026 edition now includes all eNotary content)
• Complete a 6-hour notary education course at an approved NC community college
• Pass the notary exam with a score of 80% or higher
• Submit your application and a $50 fee to the NC Secretary of State within 3 months of passing the course
• Take your oath at the Register of Deeds office in your commission county within 45 days of receiving your oath notification letter ($10 oath fee)

Complete the electronic notary requirements

Once you hold a valid NC notary commission, you can pursue the electronic notary designation:

1. Complete the Electronic Notary course taught by a certified notary instructor (find courses through the NC Secretary of State's eNotary page).
2. Pass the electronic notary exam with a score of 80% or higher
3. Submit your electronic notary registration form online to the NC Secretary of State
4. Have the registration form notarized
5. Pay the $50 electronic notary registration fee
6. Take the electronic notary oath at the Register of Deeds office
7. Receive your Electronic Notary Certificate
8. Notify the Secretary of State of your selected technology provider before performing any electronic notarial acts (per 18 NCAC 07F)

Commission term: Your NC notary commission is valid for 5 years.

Renewing your commission: Begin the reappointment process no later than 10 weeks before expiration. The renewal process largely mirrors the initial commission steps.

What can NC notaries charge in 2026? 

Under N.C.G.S. 10B-31, the maximum fees are: $10 per signature for traditional notarizations, $15 for in-person electronic notarizations, and $25 for remote online notarizations. Travel fees are allowed with prior written agreement, capped at the current IRS standard mileage rate.

As a traditional notary, you are confined to your general location, and there are only so many people in North Carolina who need a document notarized.

Becoming an online notary in North Carolina provides you the capability to notarize documents from all over the country, making your potential client base that much larger. 

2. Become An Online Notary With NotaryLive

Once you have been commissioned as an online notary in the state of North Carolina, be sure to visit NotaryLive.com to learn more about how you can start notarizing documents online from the comfort of your home or office.

Curious how to notarize those documents online? Visit our guide.

3. How NotaryLive Works 

Using NotaryLive is as simple as 4 steps: 

Click the button below to get started.

Notarize Online! 

For more benefits and features of NotaryLive . . . 

Visit our North Carolina Remote Online Notary page. 

FAQ For RON North Carolina

• Is is necessary to be a US citizen to utilize our service? 
  • No. To complete the verification process, you need to either be a US citizen or have a US-based public profile. However, if you do not meet these requirements, you can have a witness verify your identity.
• What are the system requirements for remote online notarization? 
  • To use NotaryLive, all you'll need is a device such as a tablet, smartphone, or computer with internet access, a microphone, sound capabilities, and a camera.

Does NotaryLive sound like the right fit for you and your business? 

If you’re looking to get a document notarized, you can Notarize it Now! 

Learn more about our NotaryLive Business Account Options.

For pricing info, click here to visit our Pricing page!

If you have any questions, contact our sales team, and we will be happy to help! 

Relevant Blogs

• What is Online Notarization?
• What are the benefits of notarizing online?
• What businesses could benefit the most from online notary services? 
• Why You Should Use NotaryLive Instead of Mobile Notary Services