By Prerna Kapoor, CLHMS | REAL Brokerage | August 24, 2026
I had a closing this spring where my seller signed every document from a hotel room in Tokyo, at two in the morning her time, and the whole thing still closed exactly on schedule. A few years ago that would have meant overnighted paperwork, a scramble to find a notary near her, and a closing date that moved. Instead, she used remote online notarization, and it took less time than a typical in-person signing.
If you’re selling a home from out of state, buying while stationed elsewhere, or closing on a Colorado property while you’re still living abroad, this is worth understanding before you get to the closing table.
What Remote Online Notarization Actually Is
Remote online notarization, usually shortened to RON, isn’t the same as a plain electronic signature. With RON, a commissioned Colorado notary watches you sign in real time over a live video session, verifies your identity, and applies a legal electronic notarization to the document, all without either of you being in the same room. It’s different from a “hybrid” closing too, where most documents are signed electronically ahead of time but the notarized pages still require an in-person appointment. With full RON, nothing requires you to be physically present, not even the notary.
Colorado’s Rules Are Specific, and They Matter
Get the Free Colorado Buyer Guide
Prerna's no-fluff buyer playbook, built from real Colorado closings. Straight to your inbox.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Colorado legalized RON under Senate Bill 20-096, effective December 31, 2020, and the requirements are stricter than most people expect. Per the Colorado Secretary of State’s remote notarization guidance, a notary needs an active commission of at least six months, has to pass a state-administered RON training course and exam, and must carry a $25,000 surety bond on top of a background check before they’re authorized to notarize remotely. They also have to use a technology platform the state has specifically approved, not just any video call software; the current list is published on the Secretary of State’s remote notary provider page.
One detail that surprises people: the notary has to be physically located in Colorado at the time of the signing. You, the signer, don’t. You can be anywhere in the country, or anywhere in the world, as long as the document is for use in a US-based transaction.
When RON Actually Makes a Difference
Most of my clients never need to think about this, because most closings still happen the traditional way, in person, at a title company. But I’ve used RON or recommended it for a handful of specific situations: an out-of-state seller who inherited a Parker property and couldn’t fly back for closing, a military family closing while stationed overseas, and more than once now, a Japanese client finalizing a purchase from Tokyo before relocating to Colorado. I wrote more about the logistics of buying long-distance in my guide to out-of-state buyer relocations, and RON is often the piece that makes the closing date itself possible without a trip back to the US.
It’s also worth knowing about if your own timeline gets tight. A traditional closing depends on everyone’s schedule lining up in the same room at the same time. RON removes that constraint, and it’s occasionally saved a closing date when a buyer’s flight got cancelled or a seller had a family emergency come up that week.
What the Signing Session Actually Looks Like
Before the video session starts, you’ll go through identity verification, usually a combination of scanning a government-issued ID and answering a short knowledge-based quiz built from public records, things like a past address or a car you once owned. Once that’s confirmed, the notary joins you on a live video call, watches you sign each document, and the entire session is recorded and retained as part of the notarial record. Your title company or lender has to actually offer RON and use an approved platform, so this is something to ask about early, not the week of closing. Because these are still legal documents with real money attached, I always tell clients to slow down and double check exactly what’s being signed before the session starts. I go into that in more detail in my guide to protecting yourself from closing fraud, which is worth a read no matter how you’re signing.
If you have questions about your specific closing, whether a title company near you offers this, or whether it’s even the right call for your situation, that’s the kind of thing I go over with clients well before we ever get close to closing day. Related questions on financing, timelines, and the closing process are covered in my Colorado real estate FAQ.
Quick answers
Is remote online notarization legal for real estate closings in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado authorized it under Senate Bill 20-096, effective December 31, 2020, and it’s regulated by the Colorado Secretary of State.
Do I need to be in Colorado to use RON for my closing?
No. The notary has to be physically located in Colorado at the time of the signing, but you can be anywhere in the country or abroad, as long as the documents are for a US-based transaction.
Does every title company or lender offer remote online notarization?
No. RON has to be offered by your specific title company or lender and completed through a state-approved technology platform, so it’s worth asking about well before your closing date rather than assuming it’s available.
Prerna Kapoor | REALTOR® | Luxury Home Specialist
REAL Brokerage | 720-949-5450 | info@prernakapoor.com
CLHMS • RENE • PSA • ABR | International Sterling Society Award Winner
Prerna specializes in residential real estate across Parker, Aurora, Lone Tree, Castle Pines,
Highlands Ranch, Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, and Centennial. She speaks English, Japanese,
and Hindi.
