eNotarization is a means for the average public notary to make a lot more money and even to work from home using the power of the internet. Basically, eNotarization allows the average public notary to perform the general duties of performing attestations, oath witnessing and more online and therefore receive their commission without leaving their home.

The only downside is that it is not currently supported in every state. The states which currently allow their public notaries to work online are: California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. In some states such as Pennsylvania being a notary public itself is not enough and you will need to apply to be an Electronic Notary in the same way as you applied to be a notary public and with a similar fee.

Once you have applied and been accepted you will be contacted via email and will have instructions on how to obtain an Electronic Notary Seal delivered to you in the form of a digital certificate. An additional fee will then be paid to the National Notary Association for issuing the electronic notary seal. Following this, appearance in person and proof of identity in front of a Recorder of Deeds is necessary.

Finally, your seal will be sent to you, the new Electronic Notary by email and it will be valid for either one year or until your current notary commission expires. After this point you are an approved Electronic Notary. This means that you can either notarize with existing clients online or form a website advertising an online notary service.

Your ENS or Electronic Notary Seal can be protected by password or by biometric (fingerprinting) devices and is designed to be accessible only to you, the public notary. It helps secure the notary and his clients against fraud by logging the moment of notarization and any future alterations.

It is a textual, readable seal and can also be converted to an image to affix to any document notarized. A free e-course on how to use your ENS as a notary public online is available at the National Notary Association’s website, http://www.nationalnotary.org