FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Contact: Kristen Muszynski
626-8404/ 441-7638

Secretary Dunlap appointed to NASS Notarization Task Force

AUGUSTA ? Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap has been appointed to a newly created task force that will be reviewing the impact of technological advancements on the notarization of documents.

The Notarization Task Force is being convened by the National Association of Secretaries of State and will include not only secretaries, but also state notary professionals and private-sector notarization experts.

The task force, which includes representation from 19 states, will be co-chaired by Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler and Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. Its work begins this month, with a goal of promoting a greater understanding of the issues and policies surrounding the adoption of remote/video notarizations amongst states.

?The remote notarization options available to us with today?s technology give rise to concerns about notaries? ability to fulfill their duties, such as confirming that signatures are made by the appropriate party and are not made under duress,? said Secretary Dunlap. ?I look forward to addressing these questions and others with the members of the Notarization Task Force.?

NASS currently supports e-notarizations for digital documents, but the organizations? standards still require signers and notaries to be in the same room. The Notarization Task Force will review technologies that facilitate remote notarizations, track state activity and develop possible proposals for NASS consideration. They will be reviewing the merits of physical presence versus virtual presence, as well as the potential validity and interstate recognition of remotely e-notarized documents.

Input on technology and trends will be solicited from a group of private sector advisors, including: American Society of Notaries, National Notary Association, Notarize, Pennsylvania Association of Notaries, Signix, Simplifile, Wells Fargo and World Wide Notary.