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Closing Smarter with REN

Real Estate Law Firms

North Carolina real estate closings are changing — permanently. With the adoption of Remote Electronic Notarization (REN), attorneys now close transactions securely online while still maintaining their central role in supervising the process.
But REN is not just “going paperless.” It introduces new obligations, stronger safeguards, and higher expectations from clients, lenders, and the NC Bar. Growth Office Partners is here to help attorneys embrace this change with confidence.

What We Do

What is REN?

Remote Electronic Notarization (REN) allows a notarial act to be completed through a secure audio-video connection rather than requiring everyone in the same room. Signers can be across town, in another state, or even abroad — while the notary remains in North Carolina.

Key compliance features include:

Identity Proofing & Credential Analysis 

advanced ID checks beyond a simple driver’s license glance.

Continuous Audio-Video Recording

creating a tamper-proof record of the entire act.

Electronic Notarial Journal

automatically capturing essential details and securely stored for 10 years.

Tamper-Evident Digital Documents

ensuring closings are locked and verifiable.

What Does REN Mean for Real Estate Law Firms?

Attorneys remain the gatekeepers of real estate closings in North Carolina. REN doesn’t change that — it simply modernizes the way you serve your clients.

Ethics & Supervision:
 Attorneys must continue supervising closings and ensuring staff and vendors follow NC Bar requirements.
Trust Account Integrity: 
Recording still must be verified before disbursement — REN provides a digital trail to back you up.
Retention Requirements: 
Firms must reconcile 6-year client file retention rules with REN’s 10-year journal/recording requirement.
Risk Management:
 Wire fraud, business email compromise, and cyberattacks remain top threats. REN adds built-in audit trails that strengthen your defense.

The Benefits of REN

Close Anywhere 

Keep deals moving even if you or your clients are remote.

Protect Against Fraud 

Identity proofing and video evidence reduce impersonation risks.

Client Convenience 

Meet rising expectations for speed and flexibility.

Defensible Compliance

Built-in journal + recording create stronger malpractice protection.

Competitive Advantage 

Position your firm as secure, innovative, and future-ready.

How Growth Office Partners Can Help

We partner with law firms to ensure REN adoption is not only lawful, but also secure and profitable. Whether you need a quick readiness check, a full workflow redesign/ implementation plan, or ongoing compliance assurance, we have the right package for your firm.

Package 1

Cybersecurity & REN Readiness Check

Who it’s for: Firms that just want to know where they stand.

What’s Included:

  • Cybersecurity baseline assessment (MFA, portals, email security).
  • REN compliance gap review (identity proofing, journals, recording).
  • Summary report with risk ranking + action checklist.

Deliverable: The firm knows their exposure and the minimum steps to become compliant.

Package 2

Practice Management Upgrade

Who it’s for: Firms ready to integrate REN into their practice.

What’s Included:

  • Full practice workflow redesign with REN platforms.
  • Vendor diligence & selection support (RFP checklist, side-by-side review).
  • Staff training on REN sessions, out-of-band verification, and cyber protocols.

Deliverable: The firm has a REN-ready, secure practice that meets NC Bar ethics and client expectations.

Package 3

Annual Compliance & Cyber Defense

Who it’s for: Real estate law firms that want to demonstrate continuous compliance with NC Bar ethics, protect against wire fraud, and keep staff aligned with REN and cybersecurity standards year-round.

What’s Included:

  • Annual REN + Cyber Risk Audit – review of law firm REN workflows, trust account security, document retention, and cyber protections.
  • Annual Staff Cybersecurity & Ethics Training – tailored for attorneys, paralegals, and closing staff handling client funds and sensitive documents.
  • Incident Response Playbook Review – clear protocols for responding to suspected fraud, trust account compromises, or REN disputes.

Deliverables:
Annual audit report documenting firm compliance posture (cyber + REN).
Training records showing attorney and staff participation.
Updated incident response playbook 

Ready to Close Smarter?

REN is here to stay — and the law firms who adopt it early will lead the way in delivering secure, efficient closings their clients trust.
👉 Partner with Growth Office Partners today to make your firm REN-ready, compliant, and confident.

Schedule a Consultation 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my client sign if they are in another state?

Yes. As long as the notary/attorney is physically in NC at the time of the REN act, the signer can be located in another state (or country, with caution).
Always record both the notary’s NC location and the signer’s location in the audio-video recording and journal.

Possible, but riskier. Some countries have strict data-privacy laws (like GDPR in Europe).
Attorneys must confirm the REN platform is compliant before proceeding.
Safer practice: consult lender and underwriter first before allowing international signers.

NC law allows two failed attempts at KBA.
After that, the signer cannot proceed with REN and must use an in-person notarization.
Always log the failure in the journal.

If the platform cannot verify the ID (e.g., expired, damaged, foreign passport not recognized), the REN must stop.
Options:
Try a different compliant ID.
Revert to in-person notarization.

Minor variances (middle initial vs. full name) can often be explained and noted in the journal.
Major mismatches (different last name, spelling errors) should be corrected before proceeding.
Attorneys should follow title company/underwriter guidelines on acceptable discrepancies.

REN law requires a minimum 10-year retention of recordings and journals.
If litigation or regulatory requirements extend beyond that, attorneys must ensure:
Recordings are exported before platform retention ends.
Additional storage arrangements are made (secure firm archive, escrow storage).

NC rules require vendors to have escrow agreements for journals and recordings.
Attorneys should confirm this in writing and regularly export copies for their own records.

Most national underwriters (First American, Fidelity, Old Republic) accept REN closings if performed on state-approved platforms.
Attorneys should check lender closing instructions — some lenders still require in-person signings.

Staff can assist (upload docs, schedule sessions), but the attorney must supervise and remain responsible.
The notary act itself cannot be delegated.

The law requires a continuous audio-video recording.
If the connection drops, the notarization must restart from the beginning.

Platforms may charge per-session or per-notarization fees.
Attorneys should disclose these costs up front and decide whether to pass them to clients.

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