Witnesses on the Proof Platform

Audience: Everyone

The short answer: Proof supports several witness types depending on your transaction — and a couple it doesn't. This guide covers what's available, what isn't, and why.

Witness Types Overview

Available Types of Witnesses

Proof supports several witness types depending on the nature of your transaction. Select a witness type in the table below to learn more about it.

Witness Type Description
Credible Witness Vouches for the identity of a signer after successfully completing identity verification.
Document Witness An individual who watches another person sign a document.
Florida Property Witness Personally known to the notary and observes the execution of a document by a person who is in the witness's electronic presence — but not their physical presence. Only available on select transactions that meet specific eligibility criteria.
On-Demand Witness A notary may be able to call an on-demand witness if one is needed during a session.
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A total of 10 devices can connect to a single meeting. One must be a notary and one must be a signer — the remaining slots can be any combination of participants (signers, real estate contacts, etc.), with a maximum of 2 witnesses.

Unavailable Types of Witnesses

Not every witness type is supported on Proof. Here are two that aren't available.

🛑 Signature Witness (Proxy Signer) +

A signature witness is a notary who officially witnesses or observes someone signing a document as a notarial act. This is different from a document witness and is relatively uncommon — an affirmation or jurat is typically performed instead.

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Pro tip: A quick way to tell if a signature witness is required: check the notarial certificate. If it reads "Signed (or attested) before me…," that's a signature witnessing.
🛑 Subscribing Witness (Attestation) +

A subscribing witness — also called an attestation — watches the signing of a document and then appears before a notary in the principal signer's place to confirm the absent party willingly signed. Some states prohibit subscribing witnesses entirely due to the elevated risk of fraud.

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Pro tip: If you need someone to sign on another person's behalf, the representative signer feature may be a better fit for your situation.

Summary Checklist

  • Proof supports four witness types: Credible Witness, Document Witness, Florida Property Witness, and On-Demand Witness.
  • A maximum of 2 witnesses can connect to a single meeting, with a total of 10 devices allowed.
  • Signature witnesses and subscribing witnesses are not available on Proof.
  • The representative signer feature may be an alternative for those who need someone to sign on another person's behalf.
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Still unsure? Reach out to Proof Support for any help with the platform itself. If you have questions about specific witness requirements for your document, please contact the document recipient or sender directly.

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