Will AI replace notary publics?
While the legal requirement for a notary remains, the transition to Remote Online Notarization (RON) and blockchain verification will significantly reduce the demand for traditional, in-person notary services. This role is highly vulnerable to digital transformation.
Why AI struggles to replace this job
- State laws currently require a human officer to witness the signing of certain documents to prevent fraud.
- AI cannot legally swear in an individual or administer a verbal oath of office.
- Evaluating whether a person is signing a document under physical duress requires human observation.
- Identifying forged physical credentials still requires a human eye in many non-digital contexts.
Tasks AI could automate
- Verifying identity documents against government databases.
- Tracking and recording the journal of notarial acts automatically.
- Applying digital timestamps and encrypted signatures to documents.
- Managing the scheduling and billing for mobile notary services.
The 10-year outlook
The role will likely merge with other administrative or legal roles as standalone notary work becomes less viable. Fees may stay flat as automation makes the process a commodity, and the total number of practitioners will likely decrease.
Common questions
Will AI replace notary publics?
While the legal requirement for a notary remains, the transition to Remote Online Notarization (RON) and blockchain verification will significantly reduce the demand for traditional, in-person notary services. This role is highly vulnerable to digital transformation.
What is the AI replacement risk for notary publics?
Notary Public scores 75/100 — This career is highly exposed to AI automation. Roughly 90% of the tasks in this role could be automated with current and near-future AI.
How much do notary publics earn?
The US median salary for a notary public is about $40,000 per year, with projected employment growth of -5% over the next decade (declining).