KEY TAKEAWAYS :
- Notarizing settlement documents makes a personal injury claim more credible, legally binding, and harder to dispute
- Settlement releases, Power of Attorneys (POAs), and medical directives often need a notary seal/notary stamp.
- NotaryLive (online notary for personal injury cases) enables you to notarize documents online from anywhere, eliminating the need for travel.
Audio Summary:
What if you’re too hurt to visit a notary public?
An injury can make traveling painful or impossible for you if you have to notarize settlement documents.
Between:
- doctor’s appointments
- rehabilitation
- pain management
- mobility limitations
…Adding an in-person notary public visit becomes one more burden.
Here’s the problem:
Key settlement documents in personal injury cases need notarization:
- Settlement agreements
- Releases
- Power of attorney (POAs)
- Sworn affidavits
Notarization protects your rights and speeds up your case. This prevents future disputes.
Without a notary public and proper identification, insurers can delay or reject your documents. This can slow down your lawyers or the court.
The good news:
You can notarize documents from your home or hospital bed.
Remote Online Notarization (RON) lets you get documents notarized online. This flexibility helps if you have an injury.
What personal injury documents require notarization?
Here’s a breakdown of common personal injury documents and when you need notarization:
Always or Usually Require Notarization:
- Settlement Release Documents: These finalize your claim and release the defendant or insurer from future liability and enable payment. Many insurers require a notarized release to confirm your identity and consent. (Example document)
- Structured Settlement Agreements: Notarization protects your rights when insurers pay over time or you sell future payments.
- Powers of Attorney (POA): You usually need a notarized POA to transfer a totaled vehicle title or release funds.
- Advance Medical Directives/Healthcare POAs: These documents let someone make medical decisions for you if you can’t.
- Affidavits/Sworn Statements: A notarized affidavit gives stronger legal weight when you need formal sworn statements.
Documents That Do Not Require Notarization (But Still Matter)
- Medical records release forms
- Lawyer retainer agreements
- Victim impact statements and witness statements (notarization can still help)
Why does notarization matter?
- It verifies your identity.
- It confirms you’re signing by choice and understand the document.
- The process creates a complete record, including video, timestamps, and signature logs. This makes the document harder to challenge later.
- It makes your document stronger in court. It can reduce insurer objections or delays.
How Remote Online Notarization (RON) Solves the Travel Problem
You don’t need to search for a local “notary near me” or “notary services near me” anymore.
With NotaryLive’s remote online notarization, if you have an injury, you can handle key documents anywhere.
A wet signature or notary seal/notary stamp from a traditional notary is no longer a hassle.
Key Benefits
- 24/7 availability: You can join a notarization session anytime and can participate from a hospital, home, or while traveling
- Speed: Notarization happens without scheduling delays.
- Accessibility: If you’re remote, or need out-of-state witnesses, or hospitalized, signers can all join. This helps with multi-state cases or when an injury limits movement.
- Security and Compliance: Remote online notarization (RON) uses identity checks, video recording, tamper-proof seals, and audit logs.
- Cost savings: The service eliminates mobile notary travel fees. Fewer admin hours and less paper and courier handling.
- Workflow Integration: Documents move smoothly from drafting to eSign to notarization to storage.
NotaryLive offers individual sessions and a Basic Account for notarizing personal injury documents on the go.
What does a remote session look like?
- Your attorney uploads the document (release, POA, affidavit, etc.)
- You or your personal injury attorney can invite you with a step-by-step process.
- We confirm your identity through ID scanning, KBA, and live video match.
- You’ll join a video session with an online notary (using a computer, tablet or phone).
- You’ll be able to notarize the document online. The remote notary applies a digital seal.
- We deliver the signed and sealed PDF. NotaryLive maintains a complete audit trail.
- Your firm stores the document in its system or file vault, or you can download and send to your personal injury attorney right after the session.
Remote online notarization has the same legal weight as in-person notarization when you meet state requirements.
RON is permanent and widely recognized under most U.S. state laws (e.g. Florida, Texas, Virginia, New York and Oklahoma).
*Keep in mind, RON laws only pertain to the notary within the state. You, the signer, can access remote online notarization no matter where you are.
What are some scenarios I could use NotaryLive for?
Remote Online Notarization (RON) provides solutions when travel is not possible.
For example, if you’re in the hospital, you can notarize documents from your hospital bed. If you’re injured while traveling or living in another state, you don’t need to return home to sign key documents. Remote online notarization works wherever they are.
Remote notarization stops costly delays when settlements have tight deadlines.
It also makes witness affidavits easier in multi-state cases. Witnesses can join from anywhere to give sworn, notarized statements.
If a serious injury affects your ability to decide, you can quickly notarize medical directives or powers of attorney. This lets care providers honor your wishes without delay. You receive a notary public stamp right on time when you need it most.
In Summary: Don’t let travel limit your case. Notarize documents online from home
For personal injury lawyers and clients, remote online notary changes everything.
When you have an injury, are in recovery, treatment, or have mobility issues, these shouldn’t cause delays.
NotaryLive’s online notary service ensures you execute documents properly, on time, and in ways that hold up in court.
About NotaryLive
NotaryLive is a leading provider of digital notary services and eSign solutions with a secure, easy-to-use platform. NotaryLive offers electronic signatures and online notarization. This helps professionals manage documents easily from anywhere, any time. Clients no longer need to search for a local “notary near me”.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are remotely notarized documents as enforceable as traditional in-person notarization?
A: Yes. When the notarization follows state law for RON. Courts are accepting properly done RON documents more and more.
Q: What do you need to complete a NotaryLive session from home?
A: You will need a device with a microphone and camera, valid photo identification, and an internet connection.
Q: If a document doesn’t strictly require notarization, should we still notarize it?
A: Yes, it’s recommended. Especially in complex or high-value personal injury cases. It adds credibility, limits later challenges, and shows insurers and courts you’re serious.
