How to Become a Notary in Vermont

How do I renew my notary commission in Vermont?

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Approximately six weeks prior to your commission expiration date, you will receive a courtesy reminder email from the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation. The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation will start accepting notary renewal applications in mid-December.

 To renew your notary commission, follow the steps below:

1. Complete an approved one-hour continuing education course (see exemptions).
2. Log in to your online services account.
3. Select “renew license.”
4. Complete the Vermont online renewal application.
5. Pay the non-refundable renewal fee (see exemptions).
6. Upload your continuing education certificate (see exemptions).

Who appoints notaries in Vermont?

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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.

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

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

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Yes. A nonresident applicant may apply for a Vermont notary public commission if they meet all the eligibility requirements, setting aside the residency requirement, and have a place of employment or practice in Vermont.

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

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Vermont notary public commissions are valid for a fixed, two-year biennial period and expire on January 31st of odd years. Your expiration date is found on your commission and on OPR’s online lookup. You cannot notarize documents after your notary commission expires without first renewing your notary commission.

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

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If you are a first-time notary applicant, you must take the Vermont State Jurisprudence Exam, which is part of the notary application process.  

If you are renewing your notary commission, you must take a continuing education course offered by a notary course provider. Click here to register for an approved notary public continuing education course. During your renewal application process, you will be asked to upload a copy of your course completion certificate.

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?

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The cost to become a notary in Vermont includes:

1. A $30 application filing fee.
2. The cost for the continuing education course (required for renewing notaries).
3. An official notary stamp. Click here to view our notary stamp prices.
4. A notary journal (optional). Click here to view our notary journal prices.
5. A notary errors and omissions insurance policy (optional) to protect yourself in the event you are sued for unintentional notarial mistakes, or 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 Vermont?

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A notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy 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. A notary 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?

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No. Vermont 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.

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

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Notaries public are not required to affix notary official stamps on records they notarize. However, if you decide to use a notary stamp, it must be capable of being photocopied together with the record to which it is affixed or attached or with which it is logically associated, and it must include the following information:

1. The name under which you were commissioned.
2. Your jurisdiction (e.g., “Vermont” or county and state).
3. Your notary commission number, which can be found on your notary commission certificate. The stamp may contain all ten digits of this number or only 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 you choose not to use a notary stamp, you must clearly print or type the following on the notarial certificate:

1. Your 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. Your title of office (“Notary Public”).
6. Your commission’s expiration date.
7. Your notary public commission number.

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 Vermont notary stamp, notary seal, complete notary package, and other notary supplies.

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

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If your notary stamping device is lost or stolen, you or your personal representative or guardian must notify the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation upon discovering the device is lost or stolen.

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

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

Is a notary journal required in Vermont?

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Notary journal requirements for each type of notarization in Vermont:

For traditional notarizations, electronic notarizations, and remote notarizations - Vermont notaries are not required to record their notarial acts in a notary journal. However, it is a notary’s best practice to record all notarial acts in a journal. A notary public can maintain a journal on a tangible medium or in an electronic format.
 

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 Vermont notaries record in their notary journals?

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Although notaries are not required to maintain a notary journal, in keeping with best practices, they should record the following information:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. The type of notarial act.
3. A description of the document being notarized.
4. The printed name and address of the signer including any witnesses.
5. The method by which the signer was identified.
6. The fee charged, if any.
7. Any additional information that may assist the notary in recalling the notarial act performed.

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

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Vermont notary law does not address this question, since notary journals are optional. However, the American Association of Notaries recommends you contact the appropriate law enforcement agency and the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation upon discovering that your notary journal has been lost or stolen.

How long should I retain my Vermont notary journal?

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Vermont notary law does not address this question, since notary journals are optional. The American Association of Notaries recommends that you keep the notary journal indefinitely. However, for remote notarizations, a notary is required to retain an audio-visual of the performance of the notarial act for at least seven years.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Vermont?

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

What notarial acts can a Vermont notary public perform?

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A Vermont notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts, whether performed with respect to a tangible or an electronic record:

1. Taking an acknowledgment.
2. Administering an oath or affirmation.
3. Taking a verification on oath or affirmation.
4. Attesting a signature.
5. Certifying or attesting a copy.
6. Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument.

What kind of notarizations are allowed in Vermont?

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Vermont law allows the following four 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 (in-person) – 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. However, the notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Electronic notarizations (for remotely located individuals) - The signer appears remotely before the notary via audio-visual communication technology. The notarization is performed on an electronic document using electronic signatures, an electronic notary seal, and an electronic notarial certificate.

Remote notarizations (on tangible documents) - The signer appears before the 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 notary public to use a physical stamp to notarize the document without the aid of an electronic seal or electronic signature.

IMPORTANT: The Emergency Rules for Remote and Electronic Notarial Acts waive the requirement that a notary public hold a special endorsement to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals; however, it does not waive the special endorsement requirement for electronic records.

What are the steps to register to perform electronic notarizations in Vermont?

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To perform electronic notarizations in Vermont, you must:

• Hold a current notary public commission in good standing.
• Obtain an electronic notary special endorsement from the Office of Professional Regulation to perform notarial acts on electronic records, whether in the presence of the individual or for a remotely located individual.
• Attest to selecting and using communication and tamper-evident technology that complies with requirements set by the state.
• Pay all required application fees.

Please visit the Office of Professional Regulation for more information on how to obtain a special endorsement to perform electronic notarizations.

What are the steps to register to perform remote online notarizations in Vermont?

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The Vermont Secretary of State issued an emergency rule allowing commissioned notaries in Vermont to perform remote notarizations on tangible documents for remotely located individuals without the need of a special endorsement.

However, notaries who would like to perform electronic notarizations, in-person or remotely, must obtain a special endorsement from the Office of Professional Regulation. See “What are the steps to register to perform electronic notarizations in Vermont?”

All parts of these Emergency Rules took effect on February 28, 2024, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, 3 V.S.A. § 800 et seq and will remain in effect for 180 days thereafter, except for Part 4 of these Rules which took effect on March 23, 2024, and will remain in effect for 180 days thereafter.

For more information regarding remote notarizations in Vermont, visit the Office of Professional Regulation’s website.

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

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If your address changes, you are required to notify the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation within thirty days of the change. You can update your address and email address online using the Office of Professional Regulation’s Online Licensing Platform. The Office of Professional Regulation communicates with notaries mainly via email. For this reason, notaries public must keep their email addresses up to date.

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?

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As a commissioned Vermont notary public, you are required to notify the Office of Professional Regulation within thirty days of a name change.

To change the name on your Vermont notary commission, 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:

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April 2024