The North Carolina Secretary of State recently proposed Phase I rules implementing the state’s remote online notary law, which becomes effective next year, July 1, 2024. The rules can be reviewed here, and the comment period is open until October 16, 2023. The Secretary of State’s office will hold a public hearing for comments on the rules September 19, 2023. The rules were published in the North Carolina Register August 15, 2023.
The set of Phase I rules includes four different sections, including requirements for journal recordkeeping, basic requirements for electronic notaries, providers, and notarial acts. The Secretary’s office states it intends to publish three phases of rules ahead of the July 1, 2024, effective date of the revision to the state’s laws allowing for fully remote notarizations. Phase two is expected to cover necessary revisions to existing rules and phase three will cover the approval process for providers as well as details on the process of performing a notarial act.
Public comments may be submitted at the Secretary’s site linked above.
