The pandemic revealed something peculiar about the settlement industry: those who work in the industry are “front-line workers.” Though we do not typically equate settlement agents with doctors and teachers, like these noble professions the settlement industry is one of the last industries to require in-person, physical presence. Virginia in particular is a “wet signature” state, meaning that signatures are to be written in ink and in person.
But just as the medical and teaching professions are giving way to telemedicine and virtual learning, so to is the settlement industry slowly coming around to the acceptability remote settlements. Known as “eClosings,” settlement documents are signed and notarized via online video conferencing, typically in the presence of a “Remote Online Notary”, a licensed notary who notarizes signatures via video conferencing.
There is still a major caveat: the lender must approve of such remote service. And while most lenders will still not allow for anything but a wet signature, the prolonged pandemic has given some lenders no choice but to give way to the future of settlements — one that provides parties to the transaction with ultimate flexibility to sign from anywhere in the world.
Talk to an attorney at Highland Title today – 703-723-3300 – to discover if an eClosing is available for your settlement.