What Is KBA (Knowledge-Based Authentication)?
Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) is a federally approved identity verification method used during Remote Online Notarization (RON) to ensure the person signing a document is who they say they are—before the notarization session begins.
It’s a required step under many state RON laws and serves adds additional protection against identity theft or fraud.
How Does KBA Work?
KBA asks you a series of personal, multiple-choice questions that only you should know the answers to. These questions are generated using public records and credit history databases, and may include topics like:
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Previous addresses
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Loan amounts
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Vehicle ownership
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Former employers
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Property records
You do not need to supply this information manually—the system pulls it automatically and you simply choose the multiple choice answer.
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What to Expect During KBA
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You’ll be asked 5 questions.
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You must answer at least 4 correctly (80%).
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You get 2 chances to pass.
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It must be completed within a time limit (usually 2 minutes).
If you fail twice, you will typically need to wait 24 hours to try again.
Why Is KBA Important?
KBA helps prevent fraud in online notarizations by proving that:
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You are the same person whose name appears on the document.
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You can’t fake your identity using someone else’s ID or information.
It also satisfies compliance requirements set by:
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The Ohio Secretary of State
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State RON laws
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Federal guidelines under the ESIGN Act and UETA
Tips for a Smooth KBA Process
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Have your U.S. government-issued ID ready (unexpired driver’s license or passport).
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Use your legal name and current address.
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Make sure your credit report is not frozen—a credit freeze may prevent the questions from generating.​
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Please note
*Failure to pass the identity verification process will result in denial of notarization services. Furthermore, if the required identification (US driver’s license or US passport) is presented and the Knowledge-Based Authentication is successful, the notary reserves the right to deny notarization based on her own discretion. If the notary denies notarization for any reason after the notarization session has started, the $10 technology fee will not be refunded.
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By proceeding with the scheduling of a remote notarization, the client further agrees not to dispute or initiate a chargeback with their credit card issuer or financial institution regarding the non-refundable $10 technology fee, having acknowledged these terms at the time of booking. Please read our complete Terms and Conditions.