Spousal Consent Is Going Remote

By Tiffany V.
Published on 08/01/2023
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- IRS proposes making remote witnessing via video chat permanent post-COVID
- Shift eliminates coordinating in-person meetings, accelerating workflows
- Remote Online Notarization (RON) services like NotaryLive facilitate online spousal consent securely
Getting a spouse’s consent for money and retirement plans is changing. Online notary services make spousal consent quicker and digital, not in-person.
1. IRS Proposes Making Remote Witnessing Permanent
The onset of COVID-19 catalyzed a temporary allowance by the IRS for remote spousal consent via video chat.
This showed how remote ID checks and digital documents can make things easier, especially during global disruptions.
Acknowledging these benefits, the IRS is now proposing to make this remote consent a permanent fixture.
Parents will sign consent forms live on video, using e-signatures and ID checks.
This progressive change is a testament to the flexibility and adaptability of our systems in response to evolving needs.
2. It's a New Era of Ease
The shift towards remote witnessing marks the entry of the consent of spouse form into the digital age.
This change removes the need for in-person meetings and lets spouses sign documents digitally from home.
Additionally, plan administrators stand to benefit from accelerated workflows.
This policy update represents a win-win situation for all parties involved, streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency.
3. Advantages of Online Notary Services in Spousal Consent
- Convenience & Accessibility: Remote notary services eliminate the need for physical presence, allowing couples to complete spousal consent formalities from anywhere. This is particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues or living in remote areas.
- Time & Cost Efficiency: An online notary starts at $25 per session, saving money and time with quick online appointments.
- Enhanced Security: Online notary publics employ advanced security measures, including encryption and secure digital signatures, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the documents.
- Legally Binding & Compliant: Many online notary services, including free trials, offer flexible scheduling. This makes it easy to fit different time zones and personal commitments.
- Flexibility: Many online notary services, including free trials, offer flexible scheduling to fit different time zones and personal needs.
4. Choosing The Right Online Notary Service
When picking an online notary service, check cost, security, ease of use, and state laws. Low-cost options exist, but make sure they meet all legal requirements for your needs.
NotaryLive can offer all of these requirements for you.
5. Notarize Your Spousal Consent Form With NotaryLive
No longer do you need to search for a "notary near me" or "notary services near me".
Where can I get something notarized, then?
With an online notary seal/notary stamp, there's no need for a wet signature or scheduling an appointment to get a notary public stamp.
When the new rules take effect, services like NotaryLive will help facilitate online spousal consent. Their secure video platform removes geographic barriers and provides easy remote online notarization.
NotaryLive uses multiple layers of validation and encryption technologies to protect sensitive information. This ensures the security and validity of your documents. We also ensure an extensive notary vetting process; you can trust our qualified notaries.
This goes along with NotaryLive's KBA (Knowledge-Based Authentication) Questionnaire during your online notarization process.
NotaryLive is an online notary public that lets you notarize documents remotely, anytime, anywhere.
Here's how NotaryLive works in 4 simple steps:

How NotaryLive Works
Click the button below and start now.
Notarize Your Spousal Consent Form Now!
Pending final approval, these updated regulations will likely become effective later in 2023.
NotaryLive is excited about the coming convenience! Remote witnessing promises to deliver flexibility and simplicity to an otherwise clunky process. The future of spousal consent is looking bright!
Let NotaryLive, a remote online notary service, help you in the remote online notarization process!
Does NotaryLive sound like the right fit for you and your business?
Learn more about how our NotaryLive Business account can help your firm.
For pricing info, click here to visit our Pricing page!
If you have any questions, contact our sales team and schedule a demo.
We will be happy to help!
About NotaryLive
NotaryLive is a leading provider of digital notarization and eSign solutions, dedicated to enhancing business efficiency through a secure, user-friendly platform that prioritizes understanding and meeting customer needs. By offering innovative tools for electronic signatures and remote online notarization, NotaryLive empowers professionals to manage documents and notarize documents online, anywhere, any time.
Frequently Asked Questions For Spousal Consent Forms
What is the spousal consent requirement?
Spousal consent means a married person must get their spouse’s written agreement for certain choices (e.g. like retirement plans and financial matters).
What is an example of spousal consent?
For example, a married person may need spousal consent to transfer stock shares or take out a real estate loan. They may also need it to change the beneficiary on a retirement account. Their spouse must sign a spousal consent form.
What is spousal consent in a voting agreement?
Spouses must give consent for voting or stockholder agreements in community property states. This ensures the spouse also follows rules on share transfers and voting, since these agreements can affect them too.
How much does a notary cost?
Through NotaryLive's individual notarization session, it costs $25. For businesses looking to notarize online, see our Pricing Page.
**Legal Disclaimer - We are not lawyers or attorneys and do not give any legal advice. Please check with your attorneys, advisors, or document recipients if you have any unanswered questions about your documents.
Relevant Blogs
- What is Online Notarization?
- What are the benefits of notarizing online?
- What businesses could benefit the most from online notary services?
- NotaryLive's Business Account: Improve Government Efficiency
- Why You Should Use NotaryLive Instead of Mobile Notary Services
Updated Date: 10/03/2025