Bulletin: NH2020003

This Bulletin has been replaced by Bulletin NH2021001.

On March 23, 2020, NH Governor Christopher Sununu issued Emergency Order #11 Pursuant to Executive Order 2020-04. For your convenience, the Order may be viewed by clicking on this link. This Order relates to remote online notarization and not electronic signatures or execution. Significantly, the Order permits a notarial officer commissioned under the laws of New Hampshire to perform a notarization for an individual not in the physical presence of a notary if certain conditions are met. The Order requires both the individual signer and the notary have audio and visual capability and the notary or the notary’s agent must have the ability to record the audio/visual performance of the notarization. The Order provides three different options for the notarial officer to prove the identity of the signer. The audio/visual recording must be retained and there are guidelines as to the retention time frame stated within the Order. Further, once the documents are signed, the signed copy of the documents must be mailed to the notarial officer for certification and execution with the notarial officer’s signature and official stamp. 

An issuing office is authorized to insure transactions where documents have been notarized pursuant to the Order so long as the notarization fully complies with the conditions set forth therein.  

Should you have any questions whether a particular transaction where documents were notarized via a remote on-line notary process, please contact your New Hampshire underwriter, Michelle Radie-Coffin at michelle.radiecoffin@stewart.com.