Can a Notary Notarize a Document Signed Electronically Outside of RON?
E-signature tools like DocuSign have become so normal for everyday business that it’s a reasonable assumption you could just sign something that way and have a notary “stamp it” afterward. Unfortunately, that’s usually not how it actually works.
The Core Problem: The Notary Didn’t Witness the Signing
Notarization requires the notary to witness the actual act of signing — whether that’s in person or, for RON, over live video through a compliant platform. If you’ve already completed an electronic signature through DocuSign or a similar tool on your own, before ever involving a notary, that signing happened without the witnessing that notarization legally requires. This is functionally the same problem as showing up with an already-signed paper document — the notary can’t retroactively “witness” something that already happened without them.
Why This Distinction Trips People Up
E-signature tools and RON both involve electronic signing, which makes them feel similar. But they’re solving different problems: e-signature tools handle the mechanics of signing something electronically, full stop. RON is a legally structured process where a commissioned notary is actively present, verifying identity and witnessing the signature as it happens — the electronic signature is just one piece of a larger, notary-involved process.
What This Means Practically
If you need a document both signed and notarized, the signing needs to happen as part of the notarization process itself — not beforehand, using a separate tool. This means:
- For RON, sign through the RON platform’s own built-in signature tool, during the live session with your notary
- For in-person notarization, sign the physical document while the notary watches
- Don’t pre-sign using DocuSign or similar tools if you know the document will also need to be notarized
Is There Ever a Workaround?
In narrow circumstances, an acknowledgment-type notarization might allow you to swear that a signature already on a document is genuinely yours, without the notary having witnessed the original signing. This isn’t a reliable path to plan around, though, and not every notary or situation will support it — it’s far simpler to just involve the notary from the start.
If Your Document Needs Both an E-Signature Workflow and Notarization
Some organizations use DocuSign or similar platforms for their general document workflow, with notarization handled as a separate, specific step within that process — often by routing the notarization portion through a proper RON session rather than trying to bolt notarization onto the e-signature tool itself. If this describes your situation, it’s worth talking through the sequencing with your notary before starting the signing process.
Getting It Right From the Start
If you know a document will need to be both signed and notarized, Easy Day Notary can guide you through the correct order — through a Remote Online Notary session that handles both pieces properly together. Contact us before you sign anything, or schedule directly if you’re ready to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a notary notarize a document I already signed with DocuSign?
Generally, no — the notary needs to witness the actual signing, and a DocuSign signature completed outside their presence doesn't satisfy that requirement, the same way a pre-signed paper document wouldn't.
What's the difference between an e-signature tool and RON?
An e-signature tool like DocuSign lets you sign electronically, but doesn't involve a notary witnessing the signing or verifying your identity. RON combines electronic signing with an actual notary present over live video.
Can I use DocuSign as part of a RON session?
RON platforms have their own built-in electronic signature tools as part of the compliant, integrated process — you generally wouldn't use a separate e-signature tool alongside a RON session.
Is there any way to notarize an already-completed e-signature?
In limited situations, an acknowledgment-type notarization might be possible if you can swear the signature is genuinely yours, but this isn't reliable and isn't something to plan around.