Electronic signing and remote signing: two different things
"Can I sign electronically?" and "Can I sign remotely?" are two distinct questions — even though they are often asked as if they were the same. The confusion is understandable, but it leads to expectations that do not match the reality of current notarial practice.
The distinction is simple. Electronic signing answers the question "how do we sign?" — on a screen rather than on paper. Remote signing answers the question "where do we sign?" — from home rather than at the notary's office. These are two independent dimensions.
The four possible combinations
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On screen (electronic)
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On paper
In Person (at the office)
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Our everyday practice at CBNotaire
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When the law or the file requires it
Remotely (videoconference)
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Exceptional situations only
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Not applicable
In short: signing remotely necessarily means signing electronically, but signing electronically does not at all mean signing remotely. That is the heart of the misunderstanding.
Electronic signatures: our standard practice
At CBNotaire, we have adopted a 100% electronic, paperless* process. You come to our offices as you would for any other signing, but the document is presented to you on screen and you sign it electronically. We use technologies that comply with the requirements of the Chambre des notaires du Québec (Quebec Chamber of Notaries).
* Except when paper is still required. Certain documents, institutions, or specific situations still require paper documentation. We will inform you of this as soon as the file is opened.
What this changes in concrete terms for you
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No stack of documents to sign and initial page by page
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A faster processing of your file: less handling, shorter printing and shipping times
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A notarial deed in electronic form has exactly the same legal value as a deed in paper form.
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A reduced environmental footprint
Is the legal value the same?
Yes, absolutely. The electronic notarial deed has the same legal force as a paper deed. The notary remains the public official who receives the deed, verifies your identity, ensures your free and informed consent, explains its contents to you, and keeps the original document. The medium changes; the rigor and legal effects do not.
Remote signing: a regulated exception
Remote signing: a regulated exception
Remote signing allows a notarial act to be signed from another location, by secure videoconference, without travelling to the notary's office. This possibility exists legally in Quebec and was widely used during the pandemic.
Since the Chambre des notaires du Québec tightened its standards in December 2024, remote signing is no longer a routine service. It has become an exceptional practice, granted case by case by the notary. At CBNotaire, we do not offer it systematically.
Why this tightening?
During the pandemic, many notaries verified the identity of parties simply by asking them to display their ID documents to the camera. This method, tolerated at the time for public health reasons, is no longer compliant:
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It does not satisfy the notary's obligation under the Act respecting notaries to take all reasonable means to verify the identity of the parties
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It is no longer recognized as compliant by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)
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Real estate identity fraud has surged in Canada, with several cases involving fraudulent transactions concluded "remotely" by impostors
The notary is the guardian of the reliability of the Land Registry. Their caution on this point directly protects your ownership rights.
In which cases can remote signing be granted?
The decision belongs exclusively to the notary handling the file, who assesses each request individually. Genuinely exceptional situations may justify it (as an example only):
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A party resides outside the region — another province, another country
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Severe and documented mobility constraints (disability, serious illness)
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Any other situation deemed exceptional by the notary
Conversely, a simple preference for convenience — a busy schedule, wanting to avoid a drive, wishing to sign in the evening — does not constitute sufficient grounds. Certain acts, such as a marriage, can moreover never be signed remotely.
FAQ: Electronic signature and remote signature
Does an electronically signed document have the same legal value as a document on paper?
Yes. The electronic notarial deed has the same legal force as the paper deed, and it is registered in the Land Registry in exactly the same way. The notary keeps the original in electronic form. Your financial institution, the municipality, and any other third party will recognize it without distinction.
I sign electronically, so I don't need to go anywhere?
No, and that's the most common misconception. Electronic signatures are normally done in person, at our offices: you sign on a screen rather than on paper, but you are still present before the notary. Not being physically present is called remote signing—a separate exception, subject to certain conditions.
Why are you refusing remote signing when it was possible during the pandemic?
The standards have changed. The identity verification methods tolerated during the pandemic have been non-compliant since December 2024, and real estate fraud through identity theft has increased significantly since then. Our caution on this matter is not merely administrative; it protects the validity of your transaction and your rights as a property owner.
Are there any cases where paperwork remains mandatory?
Yes. Certain documents, institutions, or specific circumstances still require paper documentation. These cases are becoming rare, but they do exist. We will inform you as soon as your file is opened if it falls into this category.