Common Mistakes: Not Staying Informed

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The Colorado Secretary of State lists common mistakes for notaries to avoid on their website. Some of these deal with the notary seal. Others deal with notarial certificates and journal entries. All of them are covered in our Colorado Notary Training, but since the state specifically calls them out, we want to cover them here too. Knowing these mistakes helps you pass the notary exam and avoid problems during your commission term. This is part four in a four-part series.

Why Notaries Need to Know the Law

A notary public must understand the Colorado notary law (C.R.S. 24-21-501 through 24-21-515). The law controls everything a Colorado notary may do when performing notarial duties. If you notarize something incorrectly because you did not know the rule, that is still your responsibility. Ignorance of the law does not protect you from liability.

Practical situations where knowing the law matters:

• A signer asks you to backdate a document. Colorado law prohibits this, but if you don’t know the rule, you might agree to it.
• A family member needs something notarized. Colorado permits this in some cases but not others, depending on whether you have a direct financial interest.
• A signer cannot produce acceptable ID. Colorado allows credible witnesses in certain situations, but only if you know the procedure.
• A document has blank spaces. The law says you should not notarize a document with incomplete blanks.

The Colorado Notary Handbook

The Secretary of State publishes a Notary Handbook that explains notary duties in plain language. It covers the same material as the statute but in simpler terms, with practical examples and guidance. If the statute is the rule book, the handbook is the instruction manual.

Keep a copy of both the handbook and the statute with your notary supplies. You can reference them during notarizations if a situation comes up that you are not sure about. See our full writeup on the Colorado Notary Handbook for more recommendations on using it effectively.

Colorado Notary Law Changes

Colorado adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), which significantly changed how notaries operate in the state. Some of the changes included new requirements for notary stamps, updated journal rules, and the addition of remote online notarization (RON) authorization. The law continues to evolve. In 2020, Senate Bill 20-096 authorized remote online notarizations, and additional changes have been discussed in subsequent legislative sessions.

The Secretary of State announces major changes on their website and sometimes by email to commissioned notaries. But it is on you to stay current. If the law changes and you continue notarizing under the old rules, you could face disciplinary action.

How to Stay Current

• Bookmark the Colorado SOS notary page and check it periodically
• Download the latest version of the Notary Handbook at the start of each year (the SOS updates it when laws change)
• Retake training when you renew your commission (required anyway, and it covers any recent changes)
• Subscribe to the SOS notary newsletter if one is available

If you have questions that the law, handbook, or training course do not answer, contact your training provider or the Secretary of State’s notary program directly. All of our Online Notary Training students can contact us with questions before, during, or after completing the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find Colorado notary law?

The full statute is C.R.S. 24-21-501 through 24-21-515, available free on the Colorado Secretary of State website.

What is the Colorado Notary Handbook?

A plain-language guide published by the Secretary of State that explains notary duties in simpler terms than the statute. Download it from the SOS website.

Do Colorado notary laws change?

Yes. Colorado adopted RULONA and updates rules periodically. SB 20-096 added remote online notarization in 2020. Check the SOS website for the latest version of the handbook and statutes.

Who can I contact with notary questions?

Your training provider or the Colorado Secretary of State’s notary program. Our training students can contact us anytime.

Is the notary handbook a substitute for training?

No. Colorado requires approved training for all new and renewing notaries. The handbook supplements that training but does not replace it.