Notarization Trends to Watch For in 2026
By Carin Guertin
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January 17, 2026
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4 min to read
Potential increase in loan signing volume.
With interest rates on loans declining, many borrowers, both corporate and individual, will begin comparing rates with lenders to secure new lines of financing. This could mean a significant uptick in loan signings in the next few months of the new year. Why is this sudden shift such a boon for notaries public? Because borrowers have a limited time to see if rates drop, they may be able to save immediately on their loan payments or thousands of dollars over the life of their loan.
According to Forbes Advisor, mortgage rates are influenced by a mix of national policy factors, individual lender practices, and borrowers’ personal factors. Platforms such as Notary Dash and Snapdocs are used by multiple signing services to hire notary publics who are also certified Notary Signing Agents to perform loan document signing with borrowers.
Some states are already completing these signings electronically or remotely, but here in California, we still have a few years to go before our remote online notarization is rolled out. So if a notary public is educated in loan signings and has good relationships with signing services and/or title companies, the number of notary appointments for these types of signings may increase.
Maxed-out real estate values mean moves.
Even with a relatively flat real estate market, home values in California have increased year over year. And at some point, families and investors alike see the opportunity to cash in on this equity growth. I’ve chatted with many in my generation who have parents or other family members who can no longer live on their own, and now is the time to ready that property for the market. Now that the winter holidays have passed, the uptick for the spring and summer selling season is just around the corner. That also aligns with many families seeking a job change and relocation as their younger children transition to the next grade level.
The California Association of Realtors expects 2026 to see a slightly more balanced, stable, and selective housing market with buyers having a slight edge over sellers. Commercial real estate will also likely stabilize due to uniform interest rates and the increased value of investment properties. Many commercial properties are still “mom & pop” owned, but now, as they age out of the business without additional family to take over, they, too, are looking to cash in and sell to conglomerates or investment funds.
Families’ future preparedness.
To avoid probate and ensure that assets are distributed according to a person’s specific wishes, estate plans and family trusts are excellent planning tools. The management of financial accounts and personal healthcare is safeguarded through the use of several documents that require notarization. These documents include trust certifications, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and grant deeds, among others. Anyone can benefit from estate planning, not just the wealthy with large asset portfolios.
Many attorney offices have notaries on their team, ready to assist with notarization when the documents are ready for execution, ensuring the signatures’ legal validity and preventing fraud or future disputes. But mobile and on-demand notarial services are still in high demand since the pandemic.
The signing of estate documents can take quite a bit of time – especially if certain end-of-life or incapacitation decisions have not been confirmed in writing with the estate planners before a signing appointment. If a client is hesitant to spend an hour or more at the attorney’s or estate planner’s office, sending a mobile notary to meet with the homebound or extremely busy client at a location of their choice provides that extra level of care and service.