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<div><span style="background-color:lime;"><b>Resent with co</b></span><span style="background-color:lime;"><b>rrection</b></span><span style="background-color:lime;"><b>s</b></span><span style="background-color:lime;"><b> of </b></span><span style="background-color:lime;"><b>the
</b></span><span style="background-color:lime;"><b>prior message.</b></span><b> </b><b>I apologize</b><b> for the duplication.</b></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><b><u>First, a short answer to Kary Krismer’s question: </u></b></span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">My earlier message references Virginia because that is one of the states with a statute that authorizes a notary to witness acknowledgments using remote computer technology. That
statute does not limit its use to Virginia transactions. My comments therefore apply to any state that has a revised notary public law that authorizes a notary to witness an acknowledgment without being face-to-face. </span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><b><u>Is “remote acknowledgment” authorized?</u></b></span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">A remote acknowledgment is statutorily authorized by notary public laws in Virginia, Montana, Texas and Nevada, although the Texas and Nevada laws do not become effective until
July 1, 2018. Montana authorizes remote acknowledgment only if the transaction is in Montana. I have not reviewed the Texas notary law, but that may be the source of authority relied upon by Stewart in WA because it corporate headquarters is in Texas.</span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><b><u>Definitions may be helpful:</u></b></span></font></div>
<ul style="margin:0;">
<font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">
<li style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;">An “acknowledgment” is the act/words of the signing person that they signed the document. WA law requires this to be done for a conveyance.<font color="black"> </font></li></span></font>
</ul>
<ul style="margin:0;">
<font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">
<li style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;">A “certificate of acknowledgment” is the statement on the document itself that the Notary Public signs stating that he/she witnessed an acknowledgment.<font color="black"> </font></li></span></font>
</ul>
<ul style="margin:0;">
<font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">
<li style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;">An “electronic acknowledgment” refers to an acknowledgment certificate that is signed by the notary public on a computer, similar to electronic signatures. The WA statute change mentioned previously will allow the
electronic notary certificate after July 1, 2018. An electronic acknowledgment could be after witnessing an acknowledgment in person [“personally appeared before me”], as the WA notary law clearly requires, or it could be after a remote acknowledgment where
the signing person is not in the same place. </li></span></font>
</ul>
<ul style="margin:0;">
<font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">
<li style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;">A “remote acknowledgment” means the notary witnesses an acknowledgment while physically anywhere else in the world where the notary is licensed by that place. The notary would require a computer [or maybe even a
smart phone]. The notary certificate could be on a paper document, or done electronically. The signing person could be anywhere in the world with a computer [or maybe even a smart phone]. A remote notary could witness an acknowledgment of a person in the adjoining
room, and it still is not “personally appeared before me.”<font color="black"> </font></li></span></font>
</ul>
<ul style="margin:0;">
<font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">
<li style="margin-top:5pt;margin-bottom:5pt;">“Standards” means that the state authorizes a remote acknowledgment if a notary has a specific license, if the notary uses specific software, if the notary follows specific document retention and transmission protocols,
and if the notary follows specific methods to reduce the risk of forgery, incompetency and duress. </li></span></font>
</ul>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><b><u>Is a “remote acknowledgment” a valid acknowledgment for a WA conveyance?</u></b></span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">The premises of the logic for use of a remote acknowledgment for a WA transaction are that if the notary is licensed in the other state to witness an acknowledgment using a remote
computer connection, and WA allows the acknowledgment by a notary if done pursuant to the notary laws of a different state, then the Virginia acknowledgment certificate signed by a Virginia-licensed notary will be valid for WA transactions.</span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">My concerns include that the Virginia licensed notary is not satisfying WA law requiring an acknowledgment, unless the signing person “personally appears before” the notary in
Virginia, as defined in WA laws for a compliant acknowledgment. Prior to July 1<font size="1"><span style="font-size:5pt;"><sup>st</sup></span></font>, WA law does not authorize an electronic acknowledgment certificate either. Even after that new notary law
[<a href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5081-S.PL.pdf"><font color="blue"><u>SB 5065</u></font></a>], WA still will not recognize a remote acknowledgment until a future law is passed. WA is awaiting promulgation
of standards before it changes the requirements for an acknowledgment. </span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">WA law [<a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=65.08.030"><font color="blue"><u>65.08.030</u></font></a>] says a defective acknowledgment certificate does not invalidate
the document and it still constitutes notice to a third party of the conveyance. However, note that WA law does not waive the requirement for an acknowledgment. If the remote acknowledgment is not a compliant acknowledgment, it may not matter that Virginia
says its notaries there may witness a remote acknowledgment using unknown software and unknown methods to reduce the risk of forgery, incompetency and duress. </span></font></div>
<div><font size="3" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri" size="2" color="#1F497D"><span style="font-size:11pt;">As we go into the future, we do so <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/618118-we-look-at-the-present-through-a-rear-view-mirror"><font color="blue"><u>watching in the rear
view mirror</u></font></a>. If I was your lawyer, I would advise you not to use a remote acknowledgment until the WA Legislature accepts that future technology. It will.</span></font></div>
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<div><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#44546A"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><b>Dwight A. Bickel</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="gray"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Regional Counsel</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="gray"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Fidelity National Title Group</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="gray"><span style="font-size:10pt;">701 - 5th Avenue, Suite 2700</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="gray"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Seattle, WA 98104<br>
Phone: (206) 370-3189</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="gray"><span style="font-size:10pt;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:Dwight.Bickel@fntg.com"><font color="blue"><u>Dwight.Bickel@fntg.com</u></font></a></span></font></div>
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<div><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><u> ________________________________ </u></span></font></div>
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