Colorado Notary Laws You Need to Know in 2026

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Colorado’s notary laws are based on the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), adopted by the state legislature in 2018 through Senate Bill 18-132. The statute is found in Title 24, Article 21, Part 5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS 24-21-501 through 24-21-530). The statute covers your commission requirements, seal rules, journal duties, and prohibited acts.

Who Can Become a Colorado Notary

Under CRS 24-21-503, you qualify for a Colorado notary commission if you:

• Are at least 18 years old
• Are a Colorado resident or are employed in Colorado
• Are a United States citizen or legal permanent resident
• Can read and write English
• Have not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty (unless rights restored)
• Have completed the required training and passed the exam

Training and Exam Requirements

Colorado requires first-time notary applicants to complete a training course from a state-approved provider and pass the Colorado notary exam before applying. The exam is open-book and administered online through the Secretary of State’s website.

For renewals, you do not need to retake the training or exam if you renew before your commission expires. If your commission lapses, you must complete the training and exam again as if you were a first-time applicant.

Commission Term and Renewal

A Colorado notary commission lasts four years. You can apply for renewal starting 60 days before expiration. The renewal application is filed online with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $10 for new commissions and $10 for renewals.

If your commission expires and you fail to renew on time, you cannot perform notarial acts until your new commission is issued. Any notarizations performed during a lapsed commission period are invalid.

Your Notary Seal

Under CRS 24-21-522, every Colorado notary must have an official seal. The seal must contain:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words “Notary Public”
• The words “State of Colorado”
• Your commission expiration date

The seal must be photographically reproducible (a rubber stamp, not an embosser). If your seal is lost, stolen, or damaged, you must notify the Secretary of State and obtain a replacement before performing any more notarial acts.

Journal Requirements

Colorado requires notaries to maintain a journal of notarial acts (CRS 24-21-519). You must record:

• The date and time of the notarial act
• The type of notarial act performed
• The type of document notarized
• The signer’s name and address
• How the signer was identified (ID type, credible witness, personal knowledge)
• The fee charged, if any

Your journal must be a permanent, bound book with numbered pages if kept on paper. Electronic journals are also allowed under CRS 24-21-519, but they must be in a permanent, tamper-evident electronic format that complies with the Secretary of State’s rules. If you perform remote notarizations, you are required to maintain an electronic journal for those transactions. If you stop being a notary, you must keep your journal for ten years after your last entry.

Prohibited Acts

Colorado law explicitly prohibits notaries from certain actions. Violating these prohibitions can result in commission suspension or revocation, civil liability, and criminal penalties:

• Notarizing without personal appearance. The signer must be physically present (or appear via approved audio-video technology for RON) at the time of notarization.
• Notarizing your own signature. You cannot notarize a document you signed as a party to the transaction.
• Notarizing when you have a financial interest. If you stand to benefit financially from the transaction, you are disqualified.
• Notarizing for a spouse or close family member in certain situations. While not flatly prohibited in Colorado, it creates conflicts of interest that can invalidate the notarization.
• Overcharging. Charging more than the statutory maximum per notarial act violates CRS 24-21-529.
• Providing legal advice. Unless you are a licensed attorney, you cannot advise signers on legal matters, including which type of notarial act to use or how to complete legal forms.
• Post-dating or backdating. The date on the certificate must be the actual date of the notarization.

Remote Online Notarization (RON)

Colorado has authorized remote online notarization under its RULONA statute (Title 24, Article 21, Part 5). To perform RON, you must:

• Hold a current Colorado notary commission
• Notify the Secretary of State that you intend to perform RON
• Use an approved communication technology that meets state requirements
• Use an approved identity verification method
• Maintain an audio-video recording of each RON session for ten years

The maximum fee for a RON notarization is $25 for the notary’s electronic signature, compared to $15 per document for in-person notarizations.

Fee Disclosure Rules (2024)

As of April 30, 2024, Colorado notaries who charge fees must disclose those fees to customers before performing the notarial act and provide a written itemized document afterward. The itemization must list each notarial act fee and any ancillary charges separately. Failure to provide the itemization creates a legal presumption that you overcharged, even if you did not.

Changes Since RULONA Adoption (2018)

RULONA brought several changes when Colorado adopted it in 2018:

• Signature witnessing added as a new notarial act type. Previously, Colorado only recognized acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, and copy certifications.
• Electronic notarization formalized with specific requirements for electronic notarial acts and electronic seals.
• RON authorized for remote notarizations using audio-video technology.
• Training requirement strengthened. All first-time applicants must complete state-approved training.
• Journal requirements clarified. Bound journals with numbered pages are required for all notaries.

Common Questions

Where can I read the full Colorado notary statute?

The full text is available on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website and through the Colorado Revised Statutes online. Search for CRS Title 24, Article 21, Part 5. The Secretary of State also publishes a notary handbook that summarizes the key provisions.

Does Colorado require a notary bond?

No. Colorado is one of the few states that does not require a surety bond. However, most Colorado notaries carry errors and omissions insurance anyway.

What happens if I move out of Colorado during my commission?

If you move out of state and are no longer a Colorado resident or employed in Colorado, you can no longer serve as a Colorado notary. You must notify the Secretary of State and stop performing notarial acts under your Colorado commission.

Can a Colorado notary notarize documents from another state?

Yes, as long as the notarization takes place within Colorado and you follow Colorado law. The document itself can be from anywhere. Your Colorado commission gives you authority to act within Colorado’s borders.

How do I file a complaint against a Colorado notary?

Complaints about Colorado notaries are filed with the Secretary of State’s office. The Secretary of State has the authority to investigate complaints and take administrative action, including commission suspension or revocation.