Introducing Identity-Verified Witness: Enhanced Security and Trust for Online Notarizations

At Proof, we strive to innovate and improve the security of document signing and notarization. Our newest feature, identity-verified witness, takes remote notarizations to the next level.

Identity-verified witness empowers the addition of a verified witness to a document signing, ensuring a higher level of integrity, accountability, and fraud prevention—especially in the world of remote notarizations.

What is an Identity-Verified Witness?

An identity-verified witness is someone over 18 whose identity has been authenticated using secure identity-proofing methods before acting as a witness on a document signing. Once their identity is confirmed, they can sign documents as witnesses, and a notary can notarize their signatures.

This added layer of verification helps mitigate fraud and enhance trust in the notarization process, particularly in remote scenarios where physical presence is no longer necessary. It's a simple yet powerful way to safeguard the integrity of digital document transactions.

Why Identity-Verified Witnesses Matter

With the rise of digital technology, remote online notarization (RON) ensures the same—if not higher—levels of authenticity and integrity, thanks to innovative security features like identity-verified witnesses.

 The addition of identity-verified witnesses:

• Enhances security: Verifying the identity of witnesses prevents fraudulent activity and provides an added layer of assurance that the document is authentic.
• Builds trust: Identity verification for witnesses ensures that both parties involved in the document signing process can feel confident that the transaction is secure and legitimate.
• Mitigates fraud: By confirming witness identities through biometric methods, we prevent bad actors from exploiting the system.

There are several essential situations where identity-verified witnesses play a vital role:

• When the law mandates a witness: Certain documents—such as wills, real estate deeds, and powers of attorney—require the presence of a witness for legal validity.
• When extra assurance is needed: In cases where the authenticity of a document needs additional verification, identity-verified witnesses provide extra peace of mind.
• When fraud is a concern: If a transaction involves significant value or sensitive information, such as a self-proving will or a trust document in Florida, adding an identity-verified witness helps confirm the integrity of the process.

In states, identity-verified witnesses are essential for ensuring the validity of self-proving wills and trusts executed digitally.

How Identity-Verified Witness Works

Identity-Verified Witness simplifies the process of utilizing identity-verified witnesses while ensuring compliance with the latest industry standards:

• Organizational-level access: You can enable identity-verified witnesses within your organization and identify when they're required on a transaction.
• Notary role: Notaries are empowered to request identity-verified witnesses when needed, helping set expectations for all parties involved.
• Witness participation: When a witness is needed, we'll route the opportunity to a Notarize Network notary who has a Proof Certificate for identity verification. The witness will then undergo a secure process, including biometric evaluation and selfie analysis, to confirm their identity.

To ensure smooth experiences, we’ve built in robust error-handling features. If a witness fails to meet the necessary requirements, an automated retry will be initiated, and the transaction will remain fully journaled for audit and compliance purposes.

Whether dealing with important legal documents or sensitive agreements, having an identity-verified witness provides an additional layer of confidence that your transactions are safe, secure, and compliant with evolving regulations.

If you’re ready to explore how identity-verified witnesses can benefit your remote notarization process, contact your CSM or our sales team at sales@proof.com to turn this feature on for your organization!