How to Become a Notary in Colorado

How do I renew my notary commission in Colorado?

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To renew your Colorado notary commission, follow the same steps you took when you applied to become a notary the first time. You can renew your notary public commission online up to ninety days before your current commission expires.

Who appoints notaries in Colorado?

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The Colorado Secretary of State receives applications for the appointment and reappointment of notaries public, administers the commissioning process, and maintains an electronic database of active notaries.

Colorado Secretary of State
Business and Licensing Division
Notary Program
1700 Broadway, Suite 550
Denver, Colorado 80290
Phone: 303-894-2200 & Press 4

Can a non-resident of Colorado apply for a commission as a notary public?

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Yes. A non-resident may apply to become a Colorado notary public if they satisfy the same qualifications as Colorado residents and have a place of employment or practice in Colorado.

How long is a notary public's commission term in Colorado?

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The commission term of a Colorado notary public is four years. A notary cannot notarize documents after their notary commission expires without first renewing their notary commission with the secretary of state.

Is notary training or an exam required to become a notary or to renew a notary commission in Colorado?

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Yes. First time notary applicants and current notaries wishing to renew their notary commission are required to successfully complete a state-approved notary training course and pass the online notary examination administered by the secretary of state. The course must cover the laws, rules, procedures, and ethics relevant to notarial acts.

The American Association of Notaries offers an online notary course approved by the Colorado Secretary of State. Click here to register for the Colorado notary course.

How much does it cost to become a notary public in Colorado?

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The cost to become a notary in Colorado includes: 

1. A $10 notary application fee.
2. The cost to register for a notary training course. Click here to register for the AAN notary training course.
3. The fee to have your Affirmation for Appointment and Commission as a Notary Public form notarized.

Other expenses include the cost of purchasing:

1. A notary stamp. Click here to view our notary stamp prices.
2. A notary journal. Click here to view our notary journal prices.
3. An errors and omissions insurance policy (optional) to protect yourself if you are sued for unintentional mistakes or if a false claim is filed against you. Click here to view our notary E/O policy premiums and coverage amounts.

Do I need a notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to become a notary in Colorado?

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A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is not required to become a Colorado notary public or to renew your notary commission. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that every Colorado notary obtain a notary E&O insurance policy. A notary E&O policy covers unintentional notarial mistakes and pays for legal fees and damages based on the coverage you select as a Colorado notary public.

Colorado notary errors and omissions insurance policies are available to order online at the American Association of Notaries website: https://www.notarypublicstamps.com/notary-insurance/colorado.

Do I need a notary bond to become a notary in Colorado?

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No. Colorado does not require you to provide proof of a notary bond in order to become a notary public or to renew your notary public commission.

A notary public is liable to any person for damages that result from their negligence, errors, or omissions. Colorado notaries are encouraged to purchase a notary E&O insurance policy to insure themselves against unintentional mistakes.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Colorado?

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Yes. Colorado notary law requires notaries public to fix an impression of their notary stamp on every notarial certificate they complete [C.R.S. 24-21-515(2)].

The official ink stamp of a Colorado notary public must be rectangular and contain only the outline of the seal and the following information printed within the outline of the seal [C.R.S. 24-21-517(1)]:

1. The notary public’s name as it appears on the notary’s certificate of commission.
2. The notary’s identification number.
3. The notary’s commission expiration date.
4. The words “State of Colorado.”
5. The words “Notary Public.”

Note:

• The Colorado notary statute does not provide the dimensions for an official stamp.
• The official stamp must be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated.
• A Colorado notary public must not provide, keep, or use a seal embosser to perform notarial acts [C.R.S. 24-21-517(2)].

The American Association of Notaries offers quality notary stamps and seals at savings of up to 40% compared to the cost of the same products elsewhere. Click here to order your Colorado notary stamp, complete notary package, and other notary supplies.

What are the steps to replace a lost or stolen Colorado notary seal?

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If your notary stamp is lost or stolen, you must notify the secretary of state in writing within thirty days after discovering the loss. To report the loss or theft, log in to your account on the secretary of state’s website and select “Report loss of stamp or journal” under “Actions” on your summary page.

How much can a Colorado notary public charge for performing notarial acts?

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Colorado notary fees are set by state notary statute (C.R.S. 24-21-529). The maximum allowable fees a Colorado notary public may charge for notarial acts are listed below:

1. An acknowledgment - $15.
2. An oath or affirmation - $15.
3. A deposition or other sworn testimony - $15.
4. A verification on oath or affirmation - $15.
5. Witnessing or attesting a signature - $15.
6. A copy certification - $15.
7. Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument - $15.

Note: In lieu of the fee authorized in C.R.S. 24-21-529(1), a notary public may charge a fee, not to exceed $25, for the notary’s electronic signature.

Is a notary journal required in Colorado?

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Notary journal requirements for each type of notarization in Colorado:

• Traditional Notarizations - A Colorado notary is required to maintain a notary journal to chronicle all traditional notarial acts they perform. A notary journal can be maintained in a tangible or electronic format. If the journal is maintained in a tangible form, it must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. If it is maintained in electronic format, it must be in a tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules of the secretary of state.
• Electronic Notarizations - A Colorado electronic notary is required to maintain a notary journal to chronicle all electronic notarial acts performed. A notary journal can be maintained in a tangible or electronic format. If the journal is maintained in a tangible form, it must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. If it is maintained in electronic format, it must be in a tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules of the secretary of state.
• Remote Notarizations - A Colorado remote notary performing remote notarizations is required to maintain a journal in an electronic format. The electronic journal must be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules of the secretary of state.

A notary journal (also known as a record book, log book, or register book) is your first line of defense in proving your innocence if a notarial act you performed is questioned or if you are requested to testify in a court of law about a notarial act you performed in the past. A properly recorded notarial act creates a paper trail that will help investigators locate and prosecute signers who have committed forgery or fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices.
 

The American Association of Notaries offers notary journals in tangible and electronic formats.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

Click here to become a member and access our electronic notary journal.

What information must Colorado notaries record in their notary journals?

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Colorado requires notaries to chronicle the following information in their notary journals:

• For Traditional Notarizations:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. A description of the record, if any, and type of notarial act.
3. The full name and address of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.
4. The signature or electronic signature of each individual for whom the notarial act is performed.
5. If the identity of the individual is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect.
6. If the identity of the individual is based on satisfactory evidence, a brief description of the method of identification and the type of identification credential presented, if any.
7. The full name and address of any interpreter who provided interpreter services to facilitate the notarial act.
8. The certification or credential number of any interpreter who provided interpreter services to facilitate the notarial act.
9. The fee, if any, charged by the notary public.

• For Electronic Notarizations - In addition to the information required for traditional notarizations, the journal should include:

1. The handwritten signature of the signer who uses an electronic signature.
2. The document authentication number(s) (DANS) applied to the particular document(s) that were notarized electronically.

• For Remote Notarizations - In addition to the information required for traditional notarizations, the journal should include the name of the remote notarization system provider used for each remote notarization.

What steps should I take if my Colorado notary journal is lost or stolen?

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If your notary journal is lost or stolen, notify the secretary of state in writing within thirty days after discovering the notary journal is lost or stolen. To report the lost or stolen journal, log in to your account on the secretary of state’s website and select “Report loss of stamp or journal” under “Actions” on your summary page.

How long should I retain my Colorado notary journal?

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A journal maintained in a tangible or electronic format must be retained for a minimum of ten years after the final notarial act chronicled in the notary journal.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Colorado?

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Colorado notaries are authorized to perform notarial acts while physically located anywhere within the geographic borders of the state of Colorado.

What notarial acts can a Colorado notary public perform?

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A Colorado notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts, whether performing a notarial act with respect to a tangible or electronic record [C.R.S. 24-21-502(6)]: 

1. Take acknowledgments.
2. Administer oaths or affirmations.
3. Take depositions or other sworn testimonies.
4. Take verifications on oaths or affirmations.
5. Witness or attest signatures.
6. Certify copies.
7. Note protests of negotiable instruments.

What type of notarizations are allowed in Colorado?

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Colorado law allows the following three types of notarizations:

Traditional notarization – This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. Traditional notarization involves an individual signing a tangible document with an inked pen and a notary public signing and affixing an inked notary stamp impression to the tangible notarial certificate.

Electronic notarizations (e-Notarization) – This type of notarization requires the signer and the electronic notary (e-Notary) to meet physically in the same room within face-to-face proximity of one another. However, the notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Remote notarization – The signer appears remotely before a remote notary via audio-video communication. The notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

What are the steps to become an electronic notary in Colorado?

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To become an electronic notary public in Colorado, follow the steps listed below:

1. You must be a commissioned notary public in Colorado.
2. Be familiar with the law and rules regulating electronic notarization before being certified.
3. Contract with a vendor that provides the technology you intend to use to perform electronic notarizations.
4. Submit a notice of intent on the approved form and receive approval from the secretary of state before electronically notarizing your first document. This can be accomplished by logging in to the secretary of state’s online system and clicking on the eNotary application link on the left side bar or under “Actions” on your Summary page. (A new applicant may file the intent at the time of application for appointment as a notary public.)

Note: The Colorado Secretary of State offers a free eNotary tutorial on their website.

Click here to start the application process to become an electronic notary public in Colorado.

What are the steps to become a remote notary in Colorado?

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To become a remote notary in Colorado, you must:

1. Be a commissioned notary public in the state of Colorado.
2. Successfully complete the remote notarization training and examination administered by the secretary of state.
3. Familiarize yourself with the remote notary laws and rules.
4. Select one or more remote notarization system providers from the secretary of state’s list of approved providers.
5. Provide a notice of intent on the approved application form to the secretary of state that you will be performing remote notarizations before performing your initial remote online notarial act. This can be accomplished by logging in to your notary account on the secretary of state’s website and clicking on “Become a remote notary” under the “Actions” section. (An individual may file the notice of intent when initially applying to become a Colorado notary public but may only remotely notarize a document after being commissioned and approved.)
6. Pay the $10 application fee.

Click here to start the application process to become a remote notary in Colorado.

How do I update my address on my Colorado notary commission?

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If you change your business or residential address, you have thirty days to notify the Colorado Secretary of State (C.R.S. 24-21-530). The notification can be filed electronically using your secure online access portal on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website. In the case of a home address change, print your notary commission certificate with the new residential address after you update your information.

To file a change of email address or phone number, log in to your secure online access portal and select “Edit my profile” under “Actions” on your “Summary” page.

How do I change my name on my notary commission in Colorado?

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If you change your name, notify the secretary of state within thirty days (C.R.S. 24-21-530). You can do so by logging into your secure online access portal on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website. You will be asked to upload a copy of your ID showing your new name and a specimen of your notary official signature that you intend to use when notarizing documents.

Revised:

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January 2024