Rush Notary

Compliance · Remote Online Notarization for Illinois signers

Online Notarization Requirements: Illinois

Illinois authorizes electronic and remote notarization for its own notaries under the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312), with the current framework becoming fully operative in 2023. Illinois also has a dedicated Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act (765 ILCS 30) that recognizes notarial acts performed outside Illinois. Rush Notary's sessions are performed by a commissioned online notary public in the State of Florida, using Florida's own RON law to notarize for a signer located anywhere, including Illinois, over live audio-video. Bring these three items and you're ready to notarize from anywhere in Illinois.

✅ Valid Photo ID Required✅ KBA Verification Required✅ SOC 2 & HIPAA Compliant
Good to know: Acceptance of any notarized document is ultimately up to the receiving city, village, county, department, or institution, so we recommend confirming with the specific Illinois city, village, or county office before your appointment, especially for documents headed to a county recorder (including the Cook County Recorder of Deeds function) for recording.

What You Need for Any Notarization Session

All three items below are required regardless of the type of session you choose.

Valid Government-Issued Photo ID

Your ID must be current, unexpired, and government-issued. It must include your photo and full legal name.

KBA Identity Verification

Knowledge-Based Authentication: a short identity quiz pulled from public records. Required by Florida law for every RON session our notaries perform, including sessions for Illinois signers.

Device, Camera & Internet

A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a working camera and microphone, on a stable internet connection.

Important: Expired IDs cannot be accepted under any circumstances. Your ID must match the name on the document being notarized.

Accepted Forms of Photo ID

Any of the following count as a valid form of identification, as long as they're current and bear your photo:

Driver's License
U.S. Passport or Passport Card
State-Issued Photo ID
U.S. Military ID
Permanent Resident Card
Foreign Passport

Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)

KBA is a legally required identity verification step under Florida law for every Remote Online Notarization (RON) session our notaries perform, including sessions for signers located in Illinois. This approach closely mirrors what Illinois itself requires of its own electronic notaries.

What are KBA questions?

Multiple-choice questions pulled from your public records, things like prior addresses, past vehicle ownership, or names of people you've been associated with. They are not security questions you've set up; they're generated dynamically.

How long does it take?

The KBA quiz typically takes 2 to 3 minutes to complete.

Must be completed individually

Each signer must pass their own KBA. You cannot share an account or take the quiz on someone else's behalf.

⚠️ Important: You Have 2 Attempts to Pass KBA

You are allowed two attempts to pass the KBA verification. If you fail both attempts, your account will be locked for 24 hours as required by Florida notary regulations. This is not a permanent block: after 24 hours, you may try again.

Ready to get started?

Book a notary session and we'll walk you through KBA + signing.

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Signer Verification, Signature & Notary Seal

Here's what happens once you're in the live session with your notary:

  1. 1

    Identity Verification

    The notary confirms your identity by reviewing your photo ID on camera and matching it against your live video.

  2. 2

    Acknowledgement of Intent

    You verbally confirm you're signing freely and willingly, and that you understand the document.

  3. 3

    Electronic Signature

    You sign the document electronically: typed, drawn, or uploaded signature, depending on the document.

  4. 4

    Official Notary Seal

    The notary applies their Florida commission seal. Our notarial certificate references Florida law (F.S. Chapter 117), consistent with the acknowledgment or jurat language your document requires not Illinois's own certificate wording under 5 ILCS 312/6-105 or 765 ILCS 30/7.

  5. 5

    Notary Journal Entry

    The notary records the session in their digital journal as required by Florida statute.

  6. 6

    Secure Download

    Immediately after the session, you will receive a secure email link to download your notarized document.

A note on document types: Illinois's Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act (765 ILCS 30) recognizes notarial acts performed by an officer authorized to act in the place where the act is performed, which is what lets our Florida-commissioned notaries notarize for Illinois-based signers. Non-recorded city or village department forms: zoning and variance owner affidavits, licensing and permit affidavits, are generally the most straightforward to notarize this way. Documents headed for recording with an Illinois county recorder (including the Cook County Recorder of Deeds function) typically go through the recorder's approved e-recording channel, usually a title company, attorney, or authorized e-recording vendor, rather than direct self-filing, so check with the recorder or a title/closing professional before scheduling.

Technical & Document Requirements

The session runs in your browser. Here's what your setup needs:

Camera & Microphone

A working webcam and microphone, granted permission in your browser.

Stable Internet Connection

A minimum of 10 Mbps is recommended.

Document Format

Documents must be in PDF format. Upload before joining the session.

Be the Signer

Only the person whose signature is being notarized can join the session. Witnesses can be added separately when required.

Location

The notary is commissioned in Florida and performs the session over live audio-video; you can be located anywhere in Illinois.

Compatible Devices

Latest Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge on desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

Chicago-specific forms: Chicago is a home-rule municipality, so its Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and Department of Buildings (DOB) set some of their own licensing and permitting procedures independent of statewide Illinois law. If your form comes from a Chicago department, confirm its notarization and acceptance requirements directly with that department before scheduling.

Start Your Notarization Now

You've got your ID, your camera, and your document. Connect with a live, Florida-commissioned notary in minutes, from anywhere in Illinois.

⚡ Start Notarization

Not sure if your Illinois city, village, county, or receiving department will accept an out-of-state notarization? Contact our support team we're happy to help you check before you book.

SOC 2 Certified•HIPAA Compliant•Florida-Commissioned Notaries•Available 24/7

Requirements

Can my Illinois document be notarized online?

Illinois accepts an online notarization performed by a notary from another state, so an Illinois document can be notarized online with Rush Notary. Rush Notary's Florida-commissioned notaries work over live video, and the result is recognized in Illinois. For a mailed birth or death certificate request, the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records rule (ID only) means a notary is not normally part of that application in Illinois.

Which Illinois forms need a notary?

The statutory short form must be signed by the principal, by one witness, and acknowledged before a notary (755 ILCS 45/3-3). For certified vital records, the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records says: Signed form plus a copy of both sides of a non-expired government photo ID. No notary.

Can I notarize an Illinois document online from another state?

Yes. Illinois recognizes an acknowledgment taken before a notary of another state (765 ILCS 30, Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act) and has run its own remote notarization since 2022.

How do I notarize an Illinois power of attorney?

One witness in addition to the notary. Illinois publishes a statutory form: Illinois Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney for Property (755 ILCS 45/3-3). Rush Notary can notarize it in a live video session, so you do not need to find a notary in person.

Related

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