Pennsylvania Department of State

1
Pennsylvania Department of State
Update on Pennsylvanias eNotarization Initiative

• 2nd Annual Montana Digital
• Government Summit
• September 10, 2007
• Pedro A. Cortés
• Secretary of the Commonwealth

2
Update on Pennsylvanias eNotarization Initiative

• Overview
• Phase I - Achievements/Statistics
• Whats Next - Phase II
• Questions?

3
Overview

• eNotarization
• Permits qualified notaries public to perform
  notarizations electronically
• Is open to all qualified PA notaries subject to
  the approval and oversight of the Secretary of
  the Commonwealth
• Is accomplished by use of a digital signature and
  a digital certificate/Electronic Notary Seal

4
Overview

• eNotarization
• Features multiple layers of notary identification
  and authentication
• Employs security features to know if an
  Electronic Notary Seal (ENS) has been revoked
• Is growing in popularity among PA notaries public
  as the benefits are realized

5
Phase I - Achievements

• Pennsylvanias eNotarization Initiative Phase I
  launched January 30, 2006 4
  County Recorders of Deeds
• August 2007 - currently in 2nd year of Phase I -
  19 counties
• 6 counties performing both electronic recording
  and identity verification
• 13 additional counties performing identity
  verification alone

6
Electronic Notarization Initiative Participation
for Pennsylvania CountiesJuly 2006
Erie
Susquehanna
Warren
McKean
Potter
Tioga
Bradford
Wayne
Crawford
Forest
Wyoming
Sullivan
Elk
Cameron
Lackawanna
Pike
Venango
Mercer
Lycoming
Clinton
Clarion
Luzerne
Jefferson
Columbia
Monroe
Lawrence
Clearfield
Montour
Union
Centre
Carbon
Butler
Armstrong
Northumberland
Snyder
Northampton
Beaver
Mifflin
Schuylkill
Indiana
Lehigh
Juniata
Allegheny
Cambria
Bucks
Berks
Blair
Perry
Dauphin
Lebanon
Westmoreland
Huntingdon
Montgomery
Washington
Cumberland
Lancaster
Chester
Philadelphia
Fulton
Bedford
Somerset
Fayette
Delaware
York
Franklin
Adams
Greene
Electronic Recording and Identity Verification (4)
7
Electronic Notarization Initiative Participation
for Pennsylvania CountiesAugust 2007
Erie
Susquehanna
Warren
McKean
Potter
Tioga
Bradford
Wayne
Crawford
Forest
Wyoming
Sullivan
Elk
Cameron
Lackawanna
Pike
Venango
Mercer
Lycoming
Clinton
Clarion
Luzerne
Jefferson
Columbia
Monroe
Lawrence
Clearfield
Montour
Union
Centre
Carbon
Butler
Armstrong
Snyder
Northampton
Northumberland
Beaver
Mifflin
Schuylkill
Indiana
Lehigh
Juniata
Allegheny
Blair
Cambria
Bucks
Berks
Perry
Dauphin
Lebanon
Westmoreland
Montgomery
Huntingdon
Washington
Cumberland
Lancaster
Chester
Philadelphia
Fulton
Bedford
Somerset
Fayette
Delaware
York
Franklin
Adams
Greene
Electronic Recording and Identity Verification (6)
Identity Verification (13)
8
Phase I - Achievements

• November 2006 PAs first fully digital
  e-closing of a real estate transaction in
  Lancaster County
• May 2007 second e-closing in Philadelphia
  County
• Since January 2007 Lancaster County has
  recorded a monthly average of 100-200 mortgage
  satisfactions using the ENS

9
Phase I - Statistics

• As of August 31, 2007 76 eNotaries considered
  active
• Application approved by PA Department of State
  (DOS)
• Paid for an Electronic Notary Seal (ENS)
• Presented satisfactory identity evidence to a
  participating Recorder of Deeds
• Downloaded ENS from National Notary Association
  (NNA)
• DOS has approved 367 applications for electronic
  notary status since inception of eNotarization
  (yearly renewal)
• DOS has approved 193 eNotaries from
  July 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007 alone

10
Electronic Notarization Initiative Participation
for Pennsylvania NotariesAugust 2007
Erie
Susquehanna
Warren
McKean
Potter
Tioga
Bradford
Wayne
Crawford
Forest
Wyoming
Lackawanna
Sullivan
Elk
Cameron
Pike
Venango
Mercer
Lycoming
Clinton
Clarion
Luzerne
Jefferson
Columbia
Monroe
Lawrence
Clearfield
Montour
Union
Centre
Butler
Carbon
Armstrong
Northumberland
Snyder
Northampton
Beaver
Mifflin
Schuylkill
Indiana
Lehigh
Juniata
Allegheny
Blair
Cambria
Bucks
Berks
Perry
Dauphin
Lebanon
Westmoreland
Huntingdon
Montgomery
Washington
Cumberland
Lancaster
Chester
Philadelphia
Fulton
Bedford
Somerset
Delaware
Fayette
Franklin
York
Adams
Greene
Number of notaries holding active digital
certificates
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21
11
Whats Next - Phase II

• November 2006 e-closing - an important milestone
  in illustrating the potential of eNotarization
• Get the word out to notaries public, businesses
  and other interested parties that eNotarization
  is the way of the future and is here to stay
• Promote the success of the PA eNotarization
  Initiative and that of other states
• Leverage the use of technology

12
QUESTIONS?

• Pedro A. Cortés
• Secretary of the Commonwealth
• PA Department of State
• 302 North Office Building
• Harrisburg, PA 17120
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail pcortes_at_state.pa.us
• Website www.dos.state.pa.us