Washington recognizes three ways to complete a notarial act. They are not interchangeable, and the choice is usually made for you by whoever receives the document.
Traditional paper
Ink on paper, in person, with a physical seal. Still the default, and still the only option some recipients will accept, a handful of out-of-state institutions and foreign consulates among them.
Choose it when the receiving party wants an original wet-ink document, when a county recorder requires paper, or when the signer would simply rather sign with a pen. Capped at $15 per notarial act.
Electronic in person
The signer and the notary are in the same room, but the document is electronic and so are the signature and seal. The identity check is exactly as it is on paper: we look at the ID, and we look at you.
This option is widely overlooked and often the best fit. It suits a signer who wants a person in front of them, but a document that can go straight to escrow by email with no scanning, no lost pages, and a tamper-evident seal. It is capped at $15 per act, the same as paper.
The deciding question: “Do you accept an electronically notarized document?” Ask the recipient first. Their answer settles the choice more often than any preference of yours or ours.
Remote online
Signer and notary are in different places, connected by a recorded video session, with identity proofing and credential analysis in front of it. The document, signature, and seal are all electronic.
Fastest and often cheapest overall, because nobody travels. Washington caps a remote notarial act at $25, higher than the in-person $15, but with no travel fee attached, it usually wins on total cost. It needs a signer who can manage the technology and pass identity proofing, and a recipient who accepts electronic notarization.
Choosing between them
- Ask the recipient what they accept. This settles most cases on its own. Their rules override every preference below.
- Is the document already paper? A printed original wants a paper act.
- Where is the signer? Out of the area, or unable to travel, points to remote.
- Would a screen be a barrier? Then in person, and possibly on paper.
- Is speed the constraint? Remote can often happen the same day.
A note on certified copies
A notary in Washington may certify or attest a copy, at $15. But for vital records, birth, death, marriage certificates, the certified copy you actually need almost always has to come from the official custodian of the record, not from a notary. Ask the receiving organization which they want before booking. It is a common mix-up, and an expensive one.
If you are still unsure
Tell us the document, where it is going, and where the signers are. We will tell you which of the three routes fits and what it will cost, before anything is booked. What we cannot do is tell you which notarial certificate your document requires, that is a legal choice, and Washington law reserves it for you and your drafter.