Mortgage pipelines are clogging on invisible paperwork. While digital closings get all the attention, notarizations outside the final package erode productivity.

The Big Picture

Lenders have made meaningful progress in modernizing the closing process. eSignatures, hybrid eClosings, and remote online notarization have reduced friction at the signing table. That focus has paid off; digital closings move faster, require fewer manual corrections, and are easier to manage at scale than they were even a few years ago.

But the signing of closing documents is not the only place where notarization occurs. Across processing, underwriting, title, and pre-close preparation, lenders routinely handle powers of attorney, trust certifications, corporate resolutions, business authorization forms, affidavits, and corrections that also require notarization but sit outside the formal closing event.

“These documents tend to be less predictable, more ad hoc, and more likely to fall back into manual handling, even in otherwise digital workflows.”

Why It Matters

Unlike closing documents, these notarizations do not follow a standard sequence. They often surface late, originate from outside the lender, or depend on circumstances that are difficult to anticipate. A borrower may need to appoint an agent. A trust may require certification. A business borrower may need to authorize a signer. A file may require a corrective affidavit before it can move forward.