How to Become a Notary in Connecticut

How do I renew my notary commission in Connecticut?

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Approximately ninety days before your commission expires, you will receive a letter from the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office, either by mail or email, letting you know that your notary commission is about to expire. The notice will provide you with a PIN to access your notary renewal application online at fast-track renewal. Email the state at bsd@ct.gov if you do not receive the notification email. After successful completion of your notary renewal application, you will be prompted to pay a $60 filing fee. A new Certificate of Appointment will be issued, and, as with an original appointment, you must take the oath of office and record your notary commission and oath of office with the town clerk.

Note: If your notary public commission has been expired for more than ninety days, you will need to request a reinstatement by emailing the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office at bsd@ct.gov.

Who appoints notaries in Connecticut?

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The Connecticut Secretary of State appoints notaries public. The secretary of state’s notary public unit oversees the applications for appointment and reappointment of notaries public and administers the commissioning process.

Connecticut Secretary of State
Notary Public Unit
PO Box 150470
Hartford, CT 06115-0470
Phone: (860) 509-6002
Email: bsd@ct.gov

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

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Yes. A nonresident can apply to become a notary public in Connecticut. To qualify, a nonresident must meet the same eligibility requirements as a Connecticut resident, setting aside the residency requirement, and maintain a principal place of business in the state of Connecticut at the time of application and appointment.

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

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The term of office of a Connecticut notary public is five 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 Connecticut?

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Yes. A new applicant seeking appointment as a Connecticut notary public is required to complete and pass (with a score of 100%) the exam that is incorporated into the online notary public application. The exam is intended to be a comprehensive test of the applicant's knowledge and ability to perform their duties and responsibilities as a notary public.

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

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The cost to become a notary in Connecticut includes:

1. A $120 filing fee to process an application for appointment as a notary public or a $60 filing fee to process a notary renewal application.
2. A $20 filing fee to record the notary’s oath of office and Certificate of Appointment with the town clerk.
3. The cost of an official seal. Click here to view our notary seal prices.
4. The cost of a notary journal. Click here to view our notary journal prices.
5. An errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy (optional) to protect yourself if you are sued for unintentional mistakes or if a false claim is filed against you as a notary.

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

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A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy is not required to become a Connecticut notary public or to renew your notary commission. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that every Connecticut notary obtain a notary E&O 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 you select as a Connecticut notary public.

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

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No.  New and renewing notary applicants are not required by the state notary statute to procure notary bonds to be appointed as notaries public in the state of Connecticut.

Note: A notary public is liable to any person for damages that result from their negligence, errors, official malfeasance, or omissions. Connecticut 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 Connecticut?

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The Connecticut notary statute does not require Connecticut notaries public to authenticate the notarial acts they perform with an official notarial seal. The use of an official notarial seal is optional.

If a notary public utilizes a notary seal, the following information is required:

1. The notary’s name exactly as it appears on the notary’s certificate of appointment.
2. The words “Notary Public.”
3. The word “Connecticut.”

Note:

• State law gives the notary public the option of having the words “My commission expires (commission expiration date)” appear on the seal.
• If a notary public does not utilize a notarial seal, the notary public must type or print legibly near the notary’s official signature on a notarial certificate the words “Notary Public” and “My commission expires (commission expiration date).” 

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

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

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If your Connecticut notary stamp is lost or stolen, you must notify both the local police and the Office of the Secretary of the State. You should also notify the Department of Motor Vehicles, Dealer, Repairers & Emissions Division, in writing, at 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06109. The Secretary’s Office will record the loss or theft to protect the notary.

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

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The maximum allowable fee that a Connecticut notary public may charge for any notarial act performed is $5 plus an additional $0.35 for each mile traveled.  

Is a notary journal required in Connecticut?

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Notary Journal requirements for each type of notarization in Connecticut:

For traditional notarizations and remote notarizations - Connecticut notary law does not require notaries public to maintain a journal of their notarial acts. However, the secretary of state strongly recommends that all Connecticut notaries public maintain a chronological journal of their notarial acts.  A journal can be kept in a tangible medium or in an electronic format. If a journal is maintained in a tangible medium, it should be a permanent, paper-bound journal with consecutively numbered pages.

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 Connecticut notaries record in their notary journals?

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The Connecticut Secretary of State recommends that notaries record the following information:

For traditional notarizations:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. The nature or type of notarial act performed.
3. A description of the document or proceeding.
4. The signature, printed name, and address of each person for whom a notarial act is performed.
5. The method by which a person’s identity has been determined.
6. The fee, if any, charged.
7. The place where the notarial act was performed.

For remote notarizations:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. The nature or type of notarial act performed.
3. A description of the document or proceeding.
4. The signature, printed name, and address of each person for whom a notarial act is performed.
5. The method by which a person’s identity has been determined.
6. The fee, if any, charged.
7. The place where the notarial act was performed.
8. The location of the signer.
9. The method that was used to meet with the signer.
10. A notation of whether a recording of the video was retained.

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

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Since notary journals are optional, Connecticut notary law does not address this question. We recommend you contact the appropriate law enforcement agency and the Connecticut Secretary of State to report your lost or stolen journal.

How long should I retain my Connecticut notary journal?

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Connecticut notary law does not address this question because notary journals are optional. We recommend that you keep your notary journal indefinitely.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Connecticut?

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Connecticut notaries public have statewide jurisdiction and may perform notarial acts in any county of Connecticut. A notary public must be physically present in Connecticut regardless of whether the notarization is performed in-person or remote.

What notarial acts can a Connecticut notary public perform?

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A Connecticut notary public is authorized to perform these notarial acts (CGS §§3-94a and 1-57):

1. Taking an acknowledgment.
2. Administering an oath or affirmation.
3. Witnessing or attesting a signature.
4. Completing a copy certification.

Note: It is also important to know which notarial acts are allowed by statute but which you should not perform unless you have received specific legal guidance.

What kind of notarizations are allowed in Connecticut?

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Connecticut law allows the following two types of notarizations:

Traditional notarizations – 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.

Remote notarizations – The signer appears before a notary via audio-video communication technology. This type of notarization requires the signer and the notary to send the document to each other and for the online notary public to use their physical stamp to notarize the document without the aid of an electronic seal or electronic signature.

Important: The Connecticut Secretary of State’s office is researching whether the Act can be interpreted as allowing a notary and signer to execute the document electronically. Until this issue is resolved, the secretary of state strongly recommends that all remote notarizations be done on paper and that the notary sign and certify the document by hand. For more information on performing notarizations on electronic documents, visit the Connecticut Secretary of State’s website.

What are the steps to register to perform remote notarizations in Connecticut?

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As of October 1, 2023, Public Act 23-2, authorizes a Connecticut notary public to notarize a document for a person who is not in the notary’s physical presence under specific conditions. These conditions must be followed for a remote notarization to be effective.

A remote notarization involves the following conditions:

• The notary must confirm the individual’s identity and watch the individual sign the document using real-time communication. 
• The document must be on paper, and the notary and signer must sign by hand. 
• The notary must receive the signed original document by mail or delivery service. 
• The notary must then mail or deliver the document back to the signer.

Notaries are not required to offer remote notarization but may choose to do so in compliance with Public Act 23-2.

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

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If your address changes during your term, you must notify the Connecticut Secretary of State within thirty days of the change. Non-resident notaries must maintain a principal place of business in Connecticut and must report any change in the address of their business or residence. Address changes may be reported using the online eLicense system on the secretary of state’s website for a fee of $15.

If you need assistance logging in, you may email the Connecticut Secretary of State Notary Public Licensing Department at bsd@ct.gov.

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

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If you change your name during your term, you are required to notify the Connecticut Secretary of State within thirty days of the change by completing the Change of Name form and emailing it to bsd@ct.gov. Once the change is processed, you will receive an invoice for the $15 name change fee. A replacement certificate of appointment will be emailed to you by the secretary of state once payment is received.

Note: It is not necessary for the notary public to take an oath of office upon receiving a replacement certificate of appointment, but if the notary public has relocated to a new town of residence or principal place of business, the replacement certificate must be recorded with the town clerk of that new town.

Revised:

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March 2024