Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York

COVID-19 Information: What’s Changed? What Do You Need to Know?

Remote Notary Procedure

Summary: From now until May 7th, 2020, any document which must be notarized under New York State law may be notarized remotely provided certain conditions are met.

 

Pursuant to Executive Order 202.7, which Governor Cuomo signed on March 7, 2020, your lawyer can now notarize your documents by a videoconference, such as Zoom or Skype.  Here is what you need to know:

• You and your attorney have to be able to speak to each other in real time.  Your attorney cannot watch a recording of you signing the document but must see you as you are signing it.
• You should have ID to show your lawyer during the video conference.
• You must specifically tell your attorney during the video conference that you are in New York State.
• You must fax or e-mail a legible copy of the signed document to your lawyer the same day you sign it. 
•  This order has now been extended through May 7, 2020.