Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-30.1-5. Personal appearance required

If a notarial act relates to a statement made in, or a signature executed upon, a record, the individual making the statement or executing the signature shall appear personally before the notarial officer. For purposes of this section, personal appearance means that the principal and the notary public communicate by communication technology at the time of the notarization; or that the principal and notary public are physically close enough to communicate with each other at the time of notarization.