The Green Checkmark That Changed Everything: Why Digital Certificates Matter More Than Ever

Every day, we notarize documents that shape the most important moments of our lives - mortgages, contracts, powers of attorney. And increasingly, those documents are signed online. But how do you know the notary who signed it is real? That the signature wasn’t forged? That the document hasn’t been altered?

At Proof, we believe trust shouldn't be assumed. It should be verifiable.

That’s why we created Proof Digital Certificates, a new standard for secure, trusted, and auditable online notarizations. This isn’t just about upgrading technology. It’s about preserving confidence in a digital-first world.

A Familiar Problem, Made Digital

In the paper world, notaries protect their stamp like it’s gold, locking it in safes, guarding it against misuse. And for good reason. If someone steals a notary’s stamp, they can forge legal documents, jeopardize property ownership, and commit fraud with alarming ease.

The same risks exist in the digital world. Only now, the notary’s “stamp” is their digital certificate - a cryptographic credential that proves their identity and seals a document with integrity. Protecting this certificate is essential, as it enables trusted transactions and ensures the validity of every notarization performed.

So, we asked: What would it look like to reimagine trust in these digital-first transactions?

What Is a Digital Certificate?

Let’s demystify it.

A digital certificate is a cryptographic credential (essentially, a unique digital key) that’s issued only after a notary’s identity is rigorously verified. When a notary signs a document using their certificate, the certificate “seals” the document with tamper-evident technology.

That seal isn’t just security theater. It’s real protection.

• If the notary wasn’t who they said they were, the certificate wouldn’t be issued in the first place.
• If the document is altered, the seal breaks.
• If a certificate isn’t valid, Adobe Acrobat flags it immediately.
  

This is where the green checkmark comes in.

The Green Checkmark: Proof at a Glance

Open a digitally notarized document in Adobe Acrobat and you’ll see one of two things:

✅ A green checkmark, meaning the signature has been cryptographically sealed and independently verified
⚠️ A yellow warning, meaning the signature can’t be validated

For years, most RON (Remote Online Notarization) platforms delivered documents with the yellow warning. Why? Because they didn’t meet Adobe’s strict standards for identity verification, certificate security, and infrastructure integrity.

Proof changed that.

We’re the first notary platform to be trusted by Adobe and listed on the AATL (Adobe Approved Trust List). Our certificates produce the green checkmark automatically…no guesswork required.

And that green checkmark? It’s your visual signal that the notary was real, the document is authentic, and the process was secure.

Why It Matters, For Everyone

For Businesses

From title insurers to banks, businesses rely on notarized documents to transfer risk, authorize payments, and move assets. But every forgery introduces liability. Every unverifiable signature becomes a potential dispute.

Now, businesses can instantly confirm the legitimacy of a notarization - no phone calls, no guesswork. If it’s got the green checkmark, it’s good to go.

For Notaries

A compromised certificate damages more than a single transaction. It threatens the notary’s livelihood. That’s why Proof protects notary certificates in FIPS 140-3 Level 2-compliant Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), the same technology used to secure internet infrastructure. 

Notaries don’t have to install anything, store credentials on a USB drive, or risk losing their stamp. They sign on our platform, go through identity verification steps, and we handle the rest - with security that exceeds every state requirement.

For Real Estate Professionals

Deed fraud is on the rise. Criminals steal identities and forge documents to illegally transfer property, often without the rightful owner’s knowledge. With Proof Digital Certificates, that becomes dramatically harder.

Each notarized document is cryptographically sealed and traceable. You don’t just hope the notary did their job. You can verify it instantly.

What's Next: Digital Identity, Everywhere

Right now, digital certificates are mostly tied to notarization. But their potential goes much further. As the world moves toward persistent digital identity, certificates could power everything from job applications to loan approvals.

They’re not just a technical requirement. They’re a new kind of digital credential - verifiable, portable, and secure.

We believe every digital transaction should be easy to trust and impossible to fake. That’s what Proof Digital Certificates deliver. Next time you open a notarized document, look for the green checkmark. It’s not just a symbol. It’s a signal that you’re protected.

Interested in bringing trusted digital signatures to your workflow? Let's talk about it.