How Remote Closings Work in Colorado

Buying or selling in Denver from a different city or on a tight schedule? You can often close without stepping into a title office. Remote-friendly workflows are common in Colorado, but the exact process depends on your lender, title company, and the county recorder. In this guide, you’ll see how remote closings typically work in Denver, what might still need a wet signature, and how to prepare so everything records on time. Let’s dive in.

Remote closings basics

Colorado recognizes electronic signatures and electronic records when statutory requirements are met. Many closings now use secure platforms for eSigning and remote online notarization (RON) where a commissioned notary verifies your identity over video. Counties control how documents are recorded, so acceptance of electronically notarized and eRecorded documents can vary. In practice, most Denver transactions use a hybrid approach that blends eSigning with a few originals.

Three closing options

Full eClosing

• All documents are signed electronically, including any notarized items.
• The promissory note is an eNote stored in a secure eVault, and documents are eRecorded with the county.
• This requires lender support for eMortgages, title company capability, a certified RON platform, and county acceptance. Vendors used by providers often include DocuSign, Notarize, NotaryCam, and Snapdocs.

Hybrid closing (most common)

• You eSign most documents. Items that require notarization may be completed via RON or in wet ink, depending on lender and county rules.
• If originals are required, a small package is typically couriered for wet signatures and returned for recording.
• This balances speed with investor and county requirements.

Traditional in-person closing

• All documents are signed in person at the title or escrow office with a notary present.
• You may see this when the lender or county does not permit RON or eRecording, or when investors require original documents.

What to confirm early

• Lender: Ask if the lender supports eClosings and eNotes or if any wet-ink originals are required.
• Title/escrow: Confirm the title company offers RON and eRecording, and which documents they expect to be electronic vs. wet ink.
• County: Verify whether the Denver County Clerk & Recorder currently accepts electronically notarized documents and eRecording for deeds and mortgages. If the property is in another county, check that county’s policy.

Step-by-step timeline

1) Pre-closing

• Title search, payoff requests, HOA info, and lender underwriting occur in the background.
• Your Closing Disclosure is delivered under federal TRID timing, typically at least three business days before consummation for most loans.

2) Document preparation

• The title company and lender assemble documents in an eClosing platform and send secure links for review and signatures.

3) Identity verification

• For RON, the platform verifies your ID with your driver’s license or passport, knowledge-based questions, and credential analysis.
• The audiovisual session is recorded and retained per state rules.

4) Signing session

• You sign electronically from a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
• The notary completes remote acknowledgments for documents that allow RON.

5) Post-signing

• Certified and notarized files are packaged by the title company.
• If any originals are needed, they are couriered to the county or the lender’s vault.

6) Funds and recording

• Wire transfer instructions are confirmed directly with the title company and funds are sent.
• Documents are recorded, then the title company issues the final settlement statements and disburses funds.

What may require wet ink

• Promissory note: If your lender does not support eNotes, you will sign a wet-ink original that must be delivered physically.
• Loan or investor forms: Specific lender or investor documents may require wet signatures or restrict RON.
• Recording limits: If the recorder does not accept eRecording or RON acknowledgments, paper documents with physical notary seals are required.
• Power of Attorney (POA): Common in remote closings, but acceptance varies. Some parties require an original wet-ink POA, while others accept RON-notarized POAs. Confirm in advance.

How to prepare

Tech and ID checklist

• A laptop or tablet with a webcam, or a smartphone with a camera and microphone.
• Stable, high-speed internet and a quiet, well-lit space.
• A current government-issued photo ID, and be ready for identity questions.

Notary session expectations

• You must be on camera, show your ID, and answer verification questions.
• Ask for copies of fully executed documents and any notary certificates or receipts after the session.

Funds and timing

• Confirm wire instructions verbally with the title company using a phone number you trust.
• Review the Closing Disclosure carefully and allow time for any courier or recording steps.
• If you are in a different time zone, coordinate signing windows with the lender, title company, and notary.

Security and wire safety

• Call the title company to confirm wire instructions using a number from their official website or your closing team, not from an email.
• Treat last-minute changes to wiring details as suspicious and verify by phone.
• Use multi-factor authentication for any closing portals and your email account.

Quick verification checklist

• Confirm lender support for RON and eNotes, and understand TRID timing.
• Confirm the title company’s capability for RON and eRecording.
• Confirm whether the recording county accepts eRecording and RON acknowledgments for deeds and mortgages.
• Prepare a valid government ID, stable internet, a quiet location, and verified phone numbers for voice confirmation.
• Verify wire instructions by phone, never only by email.
• Ask whether a POA is acceptable and whether it must be original wet ink.

Fees to expect

• RON sessions, notary services, and couriers may carry additional fees.
• Ask your title or escrow company for an itemized breakdown of any remote-closing or platform charges so there are no surprises.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Waiting to confirm county acceptance of eRecording or RON, which can force last-minute courier runs.
• Assuming your lender supports eNotes when many still require wet-ink originals.
• Relying on email-only wire instructions without a voice confirmation.
• Not verifying whether a POA or specific affidavits will be accepted if notarized remotely.

Who to contact

• Title or escrow company handling your file for logistics, RON, and eRecording details.
• Your lender or loan officer for investor requirements and whether eNotes are supported.
• The Denver County Clerk & Recorder, or the recorder in the property’s county, for current recording acceptance and formatting requirements.
• The Colorado Secretary of State and Colorado Division of Real Estate for statewide rules on RON and electronic records.
• The CFPB and the American Land Title Association for consumer guidance and industry best practices on closings.

Ready to close from anywhere? Our team can coordinate with your lender and title company, set expectations up front, and keep your timeline on track. If you are planning a move to the Denver area or selling from afar, connect with Nino Pepper for clear next steps.

FAQs

Is a fully remote closing legal for a Denver home?

• Colorado law recognizes electronic signatures and permits remote online notarization where implemented, but feasibility depends on your lender, title company, and the county recorder’s acceptance, so confirm each party early.

Will Denver County record a deed that was notarized remotely?

• County acceptance can vary, so you need direct confirmation from the Denver County Clerk & Recorder and your title company on RON acknowledgments and eRecording for deeds and mortgages.

Do all lenders accept eNotes in Colorado?

• No, some lenders support eNotes and full eClosings while others still require a wet-ink promissory note, so ask your lender at the start.

What if my lender does not allow RON for certain documents?

• You can usually proceed with a hybrid closing, eSigning most documents and completing a small wet-ink package with a local notary or a courier.

Can I use a Power of Attorney to close remotely on a Denver property?

• Often, yes, but acceptance varies by lender and title company, and the POA may need to be an original wet-ink document, so confirm requirements in advance.

How do TRID timelines affect my remote closing?

• For most loans your Closing Disclosure must be delivered at least three business days before consummation, so build your signing and any courier time around that window.