ServiceLink’s Marc Bator, vice president and senior director of strategic partnerships, and Barry Coffin, managing director, origination title and close, discuss the challenges and identify solutions to transitioning to remote online notarization (RON) and how it can improve the closing process.

Transitioning to RON: The challenges and solutions

Most lenders are familiar with RON but may have misconceptions about the viability of implementing it at their organization. Operationalizing RON doesn’t need to be difficult, says Marc Bator, vice president and senior director of strategic partnerships. “Making RON closings a ‘business as usual’ option for borrowers doesn’t mean upending the organization. It means working with a forward-thinking settlement services partner who can provide the technology; help you navigate the needs, expectations and requirements of the various players involved; and create an unrivaled consumer experience,” Bator explains.

Despite an available path to implementation, an August 2025 Fannie Mae Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey® revealed that perceived barriers remain related to RON adoption and acceptance.

Lack of uniformity in RON legislation across states

Two in five lenders consider the lack of uniformity in RON legislation across states as a top challenge. That complexity may extend beyond what lenders realize, as eNotarization acceptance can vary at the county level.  According to Bator, “With some variances, states that accept RON have adopted similar protocols for RON closings. In contrast, counties can make some of their own acceptance protocols. So, while the state may say you’re good to go with RON, certain counties within that state may refuse to record electronically notarized documents.” While navigating it all can feel daunting, this scenario can be quite manageable with the right partner.  “ServiceLink can instantly determine whether we can file a document electronically or need to send it in a different way. We remove the burden of navigating the varying requirements from our lender partners so they can close quickly and seamlessly,” says Bator.

Availability of RON capabilities by settlement partners

While the availability of RON capabilities remains a challenge for RON adoption, the reality is, not all settlement service providers are equipped to provide the level of support required for a seamless transition. Selecting the right partner is essential. ServiceLink, for example, has a panel of hundreds of RON-ready notaries spanning a broad scope of states and working across many platforms. In addition, ServiceLink has executed hundreds of thousands of RON closings and has collaborated with lenders of all sizes in various stages of RON adoption. “Our mortgage notary services are provided by a vetted, established national network of 12,500+ notaries and attorneys — professional signing agents who work exclusively on mortgage real estate transactions. Their average tenure with ServiceLink is 12+ years; some have been with us 20 years or more,” says Barry Coffin, managing director, origination title and close. “We ensure the panel’s consistent quality and professionalism by collecting customer feedback and rating each agent monthly in areas including performance, accuracy and reliability. Seeing their monthly scorecard motivates them to continue providing excellent service.”

Borrowers who recently completed an eClosing with ServiceLink notaries shared positive feedback, saying “very easy process and great communication to help us prepare for signing. Bravo!” and “easiest closing ever.” Another borrower described the process as, “an easy way to sign and very convenient.” One borrower even said they enjoyed the process, describing it as “super quick.”

Along with our great team of notaries, another benefit of working with ServiceLink is our flexibility and ability to meet lenders where they’re at. “While some lenders prefer for us to do all of their closings and signings, others may need support in standing up pilot programs. We have the people, technology and ideas to help in whatever capacity is needed on the journey to full RON,” Bator says.

Implementation made easy

When implementing eClosings, organizational coordination is essential. Even if the organization has a centralized processing unit, there are likely to be multiple vendors with varying processes and underwriters. The way to go about this is by creating a process that addresses the needs of every stakeholder — loan officers, brokers, underwriters, processors, closers, vendors and borrowers. While this can become an overwhelming task, Bator focuses on simplification. “It doesn’t need to be overcomplicated. When a lender asks us to do their closings, we simply digitize their existing signing process. They send us docs just as they would for a wet sign. We digitize them and assign a notary prepared to support a RON transaction. With EXOS® Close, we can even incorporate the scheduling. The borrower can select remote or in-person closing and then self-schedule a time that’s convenient for them.” ServiceLink has supported many large lenders of various types in their transition to eClosing.

As data continues to trend toward embracing technology, we can expect to see many lenders moving decisively toward eClosings. If you are among them and would like more information about the various paths available, contact ServiceLink today and explore our RON offerings here.

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