With In-Person Electronic Notarization (IPEN), clients can get documents notarized electronically while meeting with a notary in person.
All documents are signed on a computer or mobile device using electronic signatures and stamps.
Notaries do not create or initiate IPEN sessions themselves.
An IPEN session must be created by another party (for example, a business or individual signer) and assigned to the notary.
Please review the full IPEN workflow in the interactive guideflow below.
Step-by-step explanations are provided later in this article.
1. Receiving an IPEN session invitation
When an IPEN session is created, and you, as a notary, are invited to take the request, it appears in your Notary Journal.
Each session includes:
Session ID and type
Current status
Signer name
Document name
Please open the session directly from the journal to begin.
Alternatively, you can reject the request if you are unable to complete the session.
2. Opening the session
After clicking the "Notarize" button, you are taken directly to the session.
Please do this:
Confirm the signer is physically present.
Verify the signer’s identity in person.
Review the document before proceeding.
3. Placing signer fields
Please prepare the document for the signer, using the document toolbar:
Insert the signature field and any other required placeholders
Assign the fields to the signer
4. Signer completes signing
The signer applies their electronic signature.
Please supervise the signing to ensure all required fields are completed.
5. Performing the notarial act
Please sign the document.
Place your digital notary stamp on the document.
Select the appropriate notarization type (Acknowledgment, Jurat, or Oath).
Attach the notarial certificate.
This step records the official notarial act and is required to complete the IPEN notarization.
6. Completing the IPEN session
To finalize the session:
Click Complete Session
Type COMPLETE to confirm
Click Complete Session Now
After completing the session, you can:
View session details and status
Review signer information and ID details
Access the completed request for recordkeeping from your Notary Journal
All completed IPEN sessions are stored securely in the Notary Journal for 10 years in accordance with record retention requirements.