How to Become a Notary in Colorado

How do I renew my notary commission in Colorado?

You can renew your notary public commission online up to ninety days before your current commission expires. The commission renewal process is the same as for the initial application for your appointment as a notary public. To renew your commission, apply on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website and attach scanned copies of the following:

1. A signed and notarized Affirmation for Appointment and Commission as a Notary Public form.
2. A photocopy of both sides of an acceptable identification document.
3. A notary training certificate from a state-approved training course issued within the last ninety days.
4. A notary exam certificate issued by the Colorado Secretary of State within the last ninety days.
5. If not a U.S. citizen, a photocopy of both sides of your permanent resident card or visa.

You must also pay a $10 filing fee. Payment can be made online by credit or debit card.

The Colorado Secretary of State provides a free online notary training course and notary examination. See the Notary Public Training page. To renew a notary public commission online, visit the Colorado Secretary of State’s website shown below.

Who appoints notaries in Colorado?

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

The Colorado Secretary of State can be contacted at:

Colorado Secretary of State
Business and Licensing Division
Notary Program
1700 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, Colorado 80290
Phone: 303-894-2200 & Press 4
Fax: 303-869-4871
Website: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/notary/home.html

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

Yes. A non-resident may apply to become a Colorado notary public if they meet the below requirements [CRS §24-21-521(3)(c)]. A non-resident must:   

1. Have a place of employment or practice in Colorado.
2. Satisfy the same qualifications as Colorado residents (except for the residency requirements).
3. Take a notary training course.
4. Pass a state notary exam.
5. Apply online at the Colorado Secretary of State’s website, pay the $10 filing fee with a credit or debit card, and attach scanned copies of the following:

• A signed and notarized Affirmation for Appointment and Commission as a Notary Public form.
• A photocopy of both sides of an acceptable identification document.
• A notary training certificate from a state-approved training course issued within the last ninety days.
• A notary exam certificate issued by the Colorado Secretary of State within the last ninety days.
• If not a U.S. citizen, a photocopy of both sides of their permanent resident card or visa.

Note: A non-resident Colorado notary public must continuously maintain a place of employment or practice in Colorado and relinquish their notary public commission if terminated from a regular place of employment or practice in Colorado by returning the commission certificate and notary seal to the Colorado Secretary of State.

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

The commission term of a Colorado notary public is four years, commencing with the date specified in the notary public commission. However, a notary’s commission may be rendered void for the following reasons:   

1. By resignation, death, or revocation.
2. When a notary is no longer a resident of Colorado during the notary’s commission term.
3. When a non-resident notary no longer has a place of employment or practice in
   Colorado.
4. When a notary is no longer a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States.
5. When a notary loses their capability to read and write English.
6. When a notary has been convicted of a felony offense, and the notary’s civil rights have not been restored.

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

Yes. New notaries and notaries renewing their notary commissions in Colorado are required to successfully complete a state-approved notary training course and pass the online notary examination administered by the secretary of state or an approved entity. The course must cover the laws, rules, procedures, and ethics relevant to notarial acts. The Colorado Secretary of State may enter into a contract with a private contractor or contractors to conduct notary training programs, and such contractors may charge a fee for the notary training course. The notary applicant will have ninety days to complete the course. The enrollment expires after ninety days, and the applicant must re-enroll in the training course.

The Colorado Secretary of State offers free online notary training and a notary exam through its eLearning notary training course. A new applicant seeking a notary public commission or a renewing notary must attach a scanned photocopy of the certificate of completion for an approved notary training course and a certificate showing they have successfully passed the online notary examination to their application. The secretary of state will only accept training certificates from the approved vendors listed on their website.

To access the secretary of state’s free online notary training course, go to eLearning notary training course.

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

To become a notary public in Colorado, you must pay the following: 

1. A $10 filing fee for processing your notary application.
2. The tuition for a notary training course.

Other expenses include the cost of purchasing:

1. A notary stamp.
2. A notary journal.
3. An errors and omissions insurance policy to protect yourself if you are sued for unintentional mistakes or if a false claim is filed against you. (This step is optional.)

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

An errors and omissions insurance policy is optional in Colorado and 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 an errors and omissions insurance policy. This insurance protects you from a claim if a client sues you as a notary. A notary E&O policy covers unintentional notarial mistakes and pays for legal fees and damages based on the coverage a Colorado notary public selects.

You can order a Colorado notary errors and omissions insurance policy online at the American Association of Notaries website at https://www.notarypublicstamps.com/notary-insurance/colorado

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

No. Colorado does not require a notary bond to become a notary public or to renew your notary public commission.

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

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Colorado?

Yes. The Colorado notary statute requires notaries public to use a rectangular inked stamp to authenticate all their notarial acts (CRS §24-21-517). Section 24-21-517 provides the legal specifications regarding the layout and the information required on all official stamps.

Dimensions: The Colorado notary statute does not provide the legal dimensions for an official stamp.

Required Elements: The official ink stamp of a Colorado notary public must contain only the outline of the seal and the following information printed within the outline of the seal [CRS §24-21-517(1)(a)]:

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.”

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 [CRS §24-21-517(2)].

To order a Colorado notary stamp, complete notary package, and notary supplies, please visit the American Association of Notaries website at https://www.notarypublicstamps.com/notary-stamps/colorado

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

Colorado notary fees are set by state notary statute (CRS §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. Electronic signatures - $25.

Is a notary journal required in Colorado?

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 and fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices.
 

Notary journal requirements in Colorado:

• Traditional Notarizations - A Colorado notary public is required to maintain a notary journal to chronicle all 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 notary public 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 notary public 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.
   

The American Association of Notaries offers a wide variety of notary journals.

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?

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.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Colorado?

You may 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?

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 [CRS §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.

Can I perform electronic notarizations in Colorado?

Yes. Effective July 1, 2018, the State of Colorado enacted the “Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts,” which includes provisions authorizing a notary public to obtain an electronic or digital signature and electronic seal to notarize electronic records in the physical presence of the individual seeking the notarization (CRS §24-21-520). The Colorado Secretary of State also adopted and promulgated rules and regulations (“Rules Concerning Electronic Notarization”—8 CCR 1505-11) in the Code of Colorado Regulations to implement the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts. Furthermore, Colorado enacted the “Uniform Electronic Transaction Act,” which includes the provision on notarization and acknowledgment (CRS 24-71.3-111): “If a law requires that a signature or record be notarized, acknowledged, verified, or made under oath, the requirement is satisfied if the electronic signature of the person authorized to perform those acts, together with all other information required to be included in a notarization by other applicable law, is attached to or logically associated with the signature or record.”

What is the process to become a Colorado electronic notary public?

To register as an electronic notary public in Colorado, you must:

1. Be a commissioned notary public in Colorado.
2. Submit a notice of intent on the approved form and receive approval from the secretary of state before electronically notarizing your first document. (A new applicant may file the intent at the time of application for appointment as a notary public.)
3. Review the “Rules Concerning Electronic Notarization”—8 CCR 1505-11—before applying and being certified.
4. Contract with a vendor that provides the technology you intend to use to perform electronic notarizations.
5. Complete the registration application online with the Colorado Secretary of State to become an electronic notary and to notarize electronically.
6. Provide the secretary of state with a description of the tamper-evident technology you intend to use to perform electronic notarizations.
7. Ensure the technology you intend to use conforms to the standards approved by the secretary of state.
8. Use a DAN as your electronic signature or adopt a different electronic signature, which you must always use in conjunction with a DAN.
9. Ensure your electronic signature conforms to the standards promulgated by the secretary of state.
10. Notify the secretary of state of all electronic signature changes.
11. Verify the document signer has adopted an electronic signature to function as their signature before electronically notarizing a document.

A person may not require an electronic notary to perform a notarial act with respect to an electronic record with a technology that the electronic notary public has not selected. All notary filings must be submitted via the secretary of state’s online electronic filing system. To initiate the registration process to perform electronic notarial acts, visit the Colorado Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/notary/FAQ/eNotary.html

Can I perform remote online notarizations in Colorado?

Yes. The Colorado Legislature enacted Senate Bill 20-096 (2020), which includes remote online notarization provisions. Senate Bill 20-096 was signed into law on June 26, 2020. This bill [SB 20-096 (PDF)] codified the temporary rules for remote notarization until December 31, 2020, and took effect on December 31, 2020, with permanent rules.

How do I become a remote online notary in Colorado?

To become a remote online notary in Colorado, you must:

1. Be currently commissioned as a notary public in the state of Colorado.
2. Provide a notice to the secretary of state that you will be performing remote notarizations before performing your initial remote online notarial act.
3. Include the description of the remote notarization system you intend to use in the notice.
4. Include an affirmation that you have read and will comply with CRS 24-21-514.5 when performing remote notarial acts in the notice.
5. Include proof that you have successfully completed any remote notarization training and exam required by the Colorado Secretary of State in the notice.
6. Ensure the remote notarization system you identify conforms to the new act and the rules and standards adopted by the Colorado Secretary of State.

For additional information regarding the application process for the authorization to perform remote notarizations, visit the Colorado Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/notary/FAQ/remote.html

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

If you change your business or residential address, you have thirty days to notify the Colorado Secretary of State (CRS §24-21-530). The notification can be filed electronically using your secure online access portal on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website at https://www.coloradosos.gov/notary/login.xhtml

To file a change of address, log in using your notary ID and password and select “Edit my profile” under “Actions” on your “Summary” page.

In the case of a home address change, you can print a notary commission certificate with your new residential address.

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

If you change your name, you must notify the secretary of state within thirty days (CRS §24-21-530). You can do so by logging into your secure online access portal on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website at https://www.coloradosos.gov/notary/login.xhtml

The online access portal will provide you with a signature page to apply a specimen of your signature. You will need to upload it along with a copy of your ID showing your new name.

Revised:

August 2023