Colorado Notary Laws You Need to Know in 2026

If you’re looking to become a Colorado notary, our state-approved online course covers everything including your certificate. Learn about the course 

Colorado notaries operate under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), enacted by the state legislature in 2017 through Senate Bill 17-132 and taking effect July 1, 2018. The notary article sits in Title 24, Article 21, Part 5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS 24-21-501 through 24-21-540) and covers commission requirements, seal rules, journal duties, fees, and prohibited acts.

Who Can Become a Colorado Notary

Under CRS 24-21-521, you qualify for a Colorado notary commission if you:

• Are at least 18 years old
• Are a Colorado resident, or work or practice in Colorado as a non-resident
• Are a United States citizen, legal permanent resident, or otherwise lawfully present in the United States
• 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 every applicant to complete a training course from a state-approved provider and pass the Colorado notary exam before applying. The Secretary of State offers free online training and administers the open-book exam through its website.

Renewing notaries retake both. Since July 1, 2018, Colorado has required training and the exam for renewals as well as new commissions: both new notaries and notaries renewing their commissions must attend approved training and take the online examination. The renewal window opens 90 days before your commission expires. See the Colorado notary renewal guide for the full walkthrough.

Commission Term and Renewal

A Colorado notary commission lasts four years. You can renew online starting 90 days before expiration. The filing fee is $10 for a new commission and $10 for a renewal.

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 24-21-517, 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)

The $15 and $25 maximum fees are statutory, set by CRS 24-21-529 and raised from $5 and $10 by SB 23-153 in 2023. The disclosure rules are separate: under a Secretary of State rule effective April 30, 2024, notaries who charge fees must tell the customer about any additional charge before performing the notarial act and provide a written document listing the specific fees charged afterward (a receipt, invoice, or fee list all count). Failing to provide that documentation creates a presumption that you overcharged. Employees of title companies performing notarial acts as part of closing services are the one exception, and the Secretary of State does not regulate signing-service fees. The fee guide covers the mechanics.

Changes Since RULONA Took Effect (July 1, 2018)

RULONA brought several changes when its notary provisions took effect on July 1, 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: state-approved training and the exam apply to new and renewing notaries alike.
• Journal requirements clarified: journals kept on paper must be bound with numbered pages.

Common Questions