Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has eliminated an additional fee for notaries seeking to provide electronic notarization services.
Under the change, Illinois notaries can become commissioned electronic notaries without paying the additional $25 commission fee. The waiver took effect July 27, and as of September 9, 137 applications for both traditional and electronic notary commissions had been submitted, resulting in nearly $3,500 in waived fees.
Illinois launched its Electronic Notary System in April 2024, allowing documents to be notarized electronically without the customer and notary meeting in person. The process allows documents, notarial certificates and seals to be completed electronically using audio-video communication.
More than 3,300 Illinois notaries are currently commissioned to provide electronic notarization services.
The Secretary of State’s office has also moved the notary application and renewal process online in an effort to reduce paperwork and processing times.
Electronic notarizations can still carry a service fee, with state law allowing a maximum charge of $25 per electronic notarial act.