The shift from emergency pandemic measures to NY Executive Law Section 135-C marks a permanent evolution in how New York handles legal documentation. While the “Executive Order” era was about survival, the 2026 landscape is about security and flexibility. Under the current law, Remote Online Notarization (RON) is no longer a temporary workaround—it is a sophisticated, original-quality legal act.
Highlights of the Permanent RON Statute
The transition to Section 135-C introduced rigorous security protocols that ensure a remotely notarized document carries the same weight as one signed in person.
| Requirement | The 2026 Legal Standard |
| Notary Location | Mandatory: Must be physically in New York State. |
| Principal Location | Anywhere: The signer can be globally located. |
| Identity Verification | Three Paths: Personal knowledge, credible witness, or Credential Analysis & Identity Proofing. |
| Document Format | Supports both Electronic Signatures and Wet Signatures. |
| Record Keeping | 10-Year Retention: Audio-video recording and a detailed journal are required. |
| Original Status | An electronically transmitted, remotely notarized document is treated as an original. |
Important Distinction: Notarization vs. Witnessing
While Section 135-C revolutionized notarization, it is critical to distinguish between a Notarial Act and the Witnessing of Documents.
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Notarization: Handled permanently under 135-C for deeds, affidavits, and standard contracts.
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Witnessing: Historically, items like Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Powers of Attorney required separate remote witnessing authorization.
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2026 Update: As of April 2026, the New York Electronic Wills Act has moved forward to codify many of these estate planning functions, allowing for “electronic presence” to satisfy the law for certain testamentary documents.
The jbensonNotary Advantage: Precision in a Regulated World
Since the January 2023 registration deadline, only notaries who have officially registered with the state and paid the requisite fees are authorized to perform these acts. At jbensonNotary, we are fully registered, bonded, and utilize the highest tier of state-approved technology.
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9-Touch Accuracy Protocol: We verify your document’s authenticity 8 or 9 times before applying our stamp. This ensures that the transmitted document is the exact record that was signed, meeting the strict “same document” requirement of 135-C.
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Credential Analysis Mastery: We don’t just “look” at an ID. We use state-mandated Identity Proofing and Credential Analysis (using third-party data sources) to ensure that the identity verification is fraud-proof and survives any judicial audit.
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Secure 10-Year Vault: We maintain the required audio-video recordings and digital journals in a high-encryption vault, giving you peace of mind that your backup is secure for the next decade.
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Jurat Precision: We ensure the specific, legally mandated language is added to your jurat, preventing the document from being rejected by county clerks or court officials.
Ready to utilize the flexibility of NY Executive Law 135-C with a partner who values total precision? Visit www.jbensonNotary.com to secure your session today!
Category: Legal News | Professional Services
Tags: #Section135C #NYNotary #jbensonNotary #RON #RemoteOnlineNotarization #LegalPrecision2026 #NewYorkLaw #AccessToJustice #IdentityProofing
Do you have a document that requires specific remote witnessing, or are you looking to execute a standard notarization under the 135-C statute today?