Last updated: August 2026. This summary is written in plain language. It is not legal advice.
Information we collect
- Account details: your name and email, and an optional saved address and ID type for faster intake. Your password is stored only as a salted bcrypt hash.
- Booking and intake details: the information you provide to schedule and prepare for a session, such as phone number, document type, and number of signers.
- Identity documents: the government-issued photo ID you upload or present for identity verification.
- Documents: the file you upload to be notarized and the finished sealed document.
- Session recording: the audio-video recording of your notarization session, which New Jersey requires.
- Notarial journal: the record of the notarial act, as required of a notary.
- Payment information: the amount, status, and a payment reference. Card numbers are handled by Stripe and are not stored by us.
- Technical information: basic connection information needed to run the site and set up the video call, and server logs used for reliability and security.
How we use it
We use your information to verify your identity, perform the notarization, produce and deliver your sealed document, keep the notarial record New Jersey requires, take payment, respond to your messages, and keep the service secure.
How it is stored
Documents, identity files, and recordings are stored on a private server volume, not in any public location. Access requires an authenticated, authorized request. See Security for the controls involved.
Who we share it with
We do not sell your personal information. We use a small number of service providers to run the service:
We may also disclose information if required by law, or as needed to complete and defend the notarial act.
How long we keep it
The notarial record, including the journal entry and the session recording, is retained for the period New Jersey law requires. Your account information is kept while your account is active. Other operational data is kept only as long as needed for the purposes above.
ITIN and Form W-7 applications
If you use our ITIN service, we collect the identity details needed for IRS Form W-7 (for example date of birth, place of birth, citizenship, addresses, foreign tax identification numbers, and passport details) and images of your supporting documents (for example passports, identification cards, birth certificates, tax returns, and IRS letters). Identity details and documents are stored encrypted, are visible only to you and authorized BKS staff, are never sent by email, and every access is logged. Video interviews are not recorded.
We keep the client file for an ITIN application for at least three calendar years after the year we mail the application to the IRS, because IRS rules for Certifying Acceptance Agents require it. Applications that are cancelled or never completed are closed and their documents are securely deleted after a further period. We share information with the IRS only as needed to submit your application, and with our payment processor for the service fee.
Your choices
You can view and update your account details when signed in. You can ask us to access, correct, or delete personal information by emailing notary@bks.agency. Please note that we cannot delete records we are legally required to retain as a notary, and completed notarial records fall into that category.
Security
We protect your information with the controls described on our Security page, including encryption in transit, authenticated access controls, and private storage.
Contact
Questions about privacy? Email notary@bks.agency.