How to Become a Notary in Vermont

How do I renew my notary commission in Vermont?

To renew your notary commission in Vermont, you must take the same steps as a new applicant, but instead of taking an exam, you must complete a continuing education course through a course provider and upload the continuing education certificate of completion to complete the notary renewal application. Visit the Vermont Secretary of State’s website for a list of approved courses and a list of individuals exempt from the course.

A notary public commission is effective on a fixed two-year cycle. In January of odd years, notaries public must renew their commissions if they wish to continue to perform notarial acts.

Late penalties will apply if you do not complete your renewal by midnight of the day your commission expires per 3 V.S.A §127(d)(1). You will receive three courtesy email notifications when it is time to renew. These notifications will be sent to the email address you have provided to OPR. You must keep your email address up to date in the online system. It is solely your responsibility to know the date your commission expires and to renew on time if you intend to continue practicing as a notary public.

Who appoints notaries in Vermont?

The Vermont Secretary of State appoints Vermont notaries public. The Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) administers the commissioning process for new and renewing notaries public and maintains an electronic database of all active notaries public.

The Vermont Secretary of State can be contacted at:

Vermont Secretary of State
Office of Professional Regulation: Notaries Public
89 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Montpelier, VT 05620-3402
(802) 828-1505

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

Yes. A non-resident applicant may apply for a Vermont notary public commission if they meet the qualification requirements to become a Vermont notary and have a place of employment or practice in Vermont [26 VSA §5341(b)(3)].

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

A Vermont notary public’s term is two years. Notary commissions expire on January 31st in odd years.

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

Yes. You must take an exam if you are a first-time notary applicant. The exam is part of the notary application process.  

If you are renewing your notary commission, you must take a continuing education course by a notary course provider. Click here to download a list of course providers.

Important: Notaries are responsible for maintaining their continuing education certificate of completion records. OPR will conduct a random audit of continuing education completed by commissioned notaries. A percentage of licensees are chosen and asked to provide proof of their continuing education certificate of completion records.

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

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

1. A $30 application filing fee for processing the online notary application.
2. The cost for the continuing education course (required for renewing notaries).

Other expenses include the cost of purchasing:

1. An official notary stamp to authenticate all notarial acts you perform.
2. A notary journal if you wish to maintain a record of the notarial acts you performed.
3. A notary errors and omissions insurance policy to protect yourself if you are sued for unintentional mistakes or if a false claim is filed against you as a notary. (This policy is optional)

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

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

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

No. Vermont 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. Vermont 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 Vermont?

A notary public is not required to have an official stamp or to affix an official stamp on a record. If you decide to use a stamp, it must be capable of being copied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated, and it must contain the following:

1. The notary public's legal name.
2. The jurisdiction (e.g., “Vermont” or county and state).
3. The notary's commission number (also referred to as a "credential number" or "license number") found on the notary's commission certificate. The stamp may contain all ten digits of this number or the last seven digits.

The official notary stamp may be an inked notary stamp or a notary seal embosser that makes a raised impression. It may be round or rectangular and must not include the Vermont State Seal.

If a Vermont notary chooses not to use a notary stamp, the notary must clearly print or type the following in the notarial certificate:

1. Their full notary public name.
2. The date of the notarial act.
3. The jurisdiction (county and state).
4. The name of the person signing the record.
5. Their title of office (“Notary Public”).
6. Their notary public commission expiration date.
7. Their notary public commission number.

Any official stamp and printing combination is acceptable as long as all the required information is included in the notarial certificate.

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

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

The Vermont state notary statute does not prescribe the maximum allowable fees that a notary public may charge for their notarial services.

Is a notary journal required in Vermont?

While Vermont notary law does not require a notary to keep a journal, here is a good question to ask when considering whether to keep one: How will you defend yourself in a court of law if a notarization is called into question? If your answer is: "My notary journal," you would be correct. Your journal is the only sure way you can prove you used reasonable care in your performance as a notary, and it may also be used as irrefutable evidence that a correct notarization occurred. Without it, you're on your own.

If you decide to record your notarial acts in a notary journal, select a notary journal that is paper-bound with numbered pages to create and preserve a chronological record of every notarial act performed.

To order a Vermont notary journal, please visit the American Association of Notaries website at https://www.notarypublicstamps.com/record-book/vermont.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Vermont?

You may perform notarial acts while you are physically anywhere within the geographic borders of the state of Vermont.

What notarial acts can a Vermont notary public perform?

A Vermont notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts, whether performed with respect to a tangible or an electronic record [26 VSA §5304(10)(A)]:

1. Take an acknowledgment.
2. Administer an oath or affirmation.
3. Take a verification on oath or affirmation.
4. Attest a signature.
5. Certify or attest a copy.
6. Note a protest of a negotiable instrument.

Can I perform electronic notarizations in Vermont?

As of the time of this writing, Vermont does not allow notaries to perform electronic notarizations. Vermont law prohibits electronic notarizations until the secretary of state has adopted rules and prescribed standards for this practice (26 V.S.A. § 5323).

Can I perform remote online notarizations in Vermont?

As of the time of this writing, Vermont does not allow notaries to perform remote online notarizations. Vermont law prohibits remote online notarizations until the secretary of state has adopted rules and prescribed standards for this practice (26 V.S.A. § 5323).

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

If your address changes, Vermont law requires that you notify the Office of Professional Regulation within thirty days of the change [3 V.S.A. § 129a(a)(14)].

You can update your address and email address online with the Office of Professional Regulation’s Online Licensing Platform. There is no fee to update the address for your Vermont notary commission.

Notaries public must keep their email addresses up to date. The Office of Professional Regulation communicates with notaries mainly via email.

A non-resident Vermont notary public must also follow the procedures mentioned above if they change their employment or practice in Vermont during the term of their notary commission.

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

As a commissioned Vermont notary public, you are required under 3 V.S.A. § 129a(a)(14) to notify the Office of Professional Regulation within thirty days of a name change.

To change your Vermont notary commission name, log into your account in the Office of Professional Regulation’s Online Licensing Platform and click “UPDATE PROFILE.” You will be required to upload the following:

1. A copy of an acceptable name change document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other court documents supporting the name change).
2. A revised Oath of Office / Affirmation form containing your new legal name and signature.

Revised:

January 2023