Becoming a Colorado Notary Public
There's a bit more to becoming a Colorado Notary Public than what you will find on most websites. So I wanted to
write an article that goes into more detail. Not an outline. Not a simplified approach that will have you thinking that
anyone with a pulse can become a notary. No.
Becoming a notary involves a never-ending process. There is more to it than receiving a notary certificate suitable
for framing to hang on your wall. The mandate is to become a Colorado notary -- one who is continually learning.
First I'll give you the basic requirements on what it will take to get a notary commission in the state of Colorado,
which you can also find on the Colorado Secretary of State website:
You must be at least 18 years old, able to read and write English, and be a resident of the state of Colorado.
You may not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving dishonesty during the last 5 years, or a felony
conviction in your lifetime.
You will be denied a commission if you ever had a notary commission revoked -- from any state.
A Colorado notary may not have dual commissions. You may only perform notarizations in the state of Colorado. If
you visit someone in another state, and they ask you to notarize something for them, you will have to decline.
The application process
You must complete an application to become a Colorado notary public. On the application is an Affirmation that
must be notarized. You can find a notary in many public places such as FedEx Kinkos, the UPS Store, etc.
If you attend the Notary Public Training class in Denver (not mandatory, but beneficial), you can have your
application notarized there. Be thorough when completing the application. There is an instruction page for
completing the notary application. Read it carefully before starting to fill out the application.
Training and Education
You do not need to pass a notary course in order to become a notary in the state of Colorado (CRS 12-55-103.5).
Nevertheless, you should do a lot of reading, especially of the Colorado Notary Public Statutes. Know the
Colorado notary laws thoroughly.
Build a library.
In addition to the Colorado Notary Public Statutes, it's a good idea to have additional references to notary law
and procedures. They will contain examples on how to perform various notarial acts, answer questions that are
frequently asked, and more.
There are two valuable resources, in addition to the Colorado Notary Public Statutes, that you can get from the
Colorado Secretary of State website:
- Michael Shea's Notary Law Training PowerPoint Presentation, and the
- Colorado Notary Handbook
(Visit the Colorado Secretary of State website, click on Notary Training. They're listed under Offered by the
Office of the Secretary of State.)
You will also want to buy a copy of the Colorado Notary Law Primer, published by the NNA (National Notary
Association). I highly recommend it. Almost everything that you need to know is contained in that booklet. It's small
enough that you can carry it with you wherever you go.
Notary Course
If you want a course of instruction, and want to study at your own pace, I recommend that you order: Notary Public
- Procedures, Laws & Common Sense, A Self-Study Course. It is published by the Notary Law Institute and
written by Peter J. Van Alstyne. It's an excellent course. It comes in a ring binder, and also contains an audio tape
and a CD. It includes the Colorado Notary Public Statutes.
Beyond that, constantly read and review. Do research on the internet.
Notary Supplies
There are several things you will need and want to have in order to perform notarizations. You will need:
- a notary seal
- a notary journal
- notary acknowledgement certificates
- Errors & Ommissions insurance policy
You can order a complete Colorado Notary Supply Package from the National Notary Association. It includes a one-
year membership. It's a good way to get started as a notary, in my opinion.
Memberships and Organizations
Join notary organizations. This will help you a lot in your career as a notary public. The ones that I recommend are:
Join all three. Each has something unique to offer. You will benefit from the periodicals, opportunities to further your
notary education, discounts on notary supplies, and a lot more.
What can you do with your notary commission?
The primary reason for becoming a notary is to serve the public. Notarizations are required on many types of
documents: financial, real estate, employment, travel, ... and a lot more.
If you choose to work independently you can serve the public as a mobile notary. There are many people who are
not able to get out of the house, or get away from work. I work as a Notary Signing Agent.
There is much that is beyond the scope of this article. There are many things that I haven't mentioned, such as
electronic notarization. You can learn more by joining organizations, visiting notary websites, reading what other
notaries have to say on notary message boards, etc.
This article was written to serve as starting point. Hopefully it served that purpose.
Good luck.
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Colorado Secretary of State - Notary
National Notary Association
Notary Law Institute
American Society of Notaries
Notary Rotary
123notary.com
Colorado Notary (ActiveRain group)
GoGetNotary
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Footnotes:
CRS 12-55-103.5. Training. The office of the secretary of state may enter into a contract with a private contractor or
contractors to conduct notary training programs. The contractor or contractors may charge a fee for any such
training.
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"The National Notary Association is the nation’s professional Notary organization and serves the professional, educational, career and
business needs of Notaries throughout the U.S. Since 1957, the NNA has helped Notaries to serve society responsibly and ethically."