Remote online notarization gives commissioned Colorado notaries the ability to perform eligible notarial acts for remotely located signers using secure audio-video technology. Instead of requiring the signer and notary to sit in the same room, the notarization can take place electronically through an approved remote-notary platform.

Colorado does not allow just anyone to begin performing remote notarizations, however. You must first hold an active Colorado notary commission and then receive approval to act as a Colorado remote notary.

Below, we'll explain how to become an online notary in Colorado, step by step.

Step 1: Make Sure You Qualify to Be a Colorado Notary

Before you can become a Colorado remote online notary, you must first qualify for and obtain a regular Colorado notary public commission.

According to the Colorado Secretary of State, applicants generally must be at least 18 years old, be lawfully present in the United States, be a Colorado resident or have a place of employment or practice in Colorado, be able to read and write English, meet the state's disqualification requirements, complete approved training, and pass the Colorado notary exam.

If you are not yet commissioned, review our Colorado online notary requirements and the Colorado Secretary of State's official notary resources before moving forward.

Step 2: Obtain an Active Colorado Notary Commission

Colorado requires remote-notary applicants to already be currently commissioned Colorado notaries with an Active status in the Secretary of State's database.

For a new traditional commission, Colorado's application process includes notary training, an examination, identification documents, a notarized affirmation, and an online application.

Colorado currently lists the state filing fee for a new notary application as $10. A Colorado notary commission generally lasts four years.

Step 3: Complete Colorado's Remote Notary Training and Exam

Once you have an active commission, your next step is to complete Colorado's remote notary training and exam.

This training is separate from the basic training used to obtain your original Colorado commission. It is designed to help remote notaries understand Colorado-specific requirements for audio-video communication, electronic records, identity verification, electronic signatures and seals, recordkeeping, and other remote notarization procedures.

Keep the certificate showing that you successfully completed the remote notary training and exam. You will need the appropriate information when applying for remote-notary status.

You can access current Colorado notary training resources through the Colorado Secretary of State .

E&O insurance can be offered or required separately by an employer, customer, or technology platform, but that should not be confused with a Colorado state insurance requirement.

Step 4: Choose a Colorado-Approved Remote Notary Provider

Colorado requires remote notarizations to be performed using technology that complies with the state's remote-notarization requirements. Remote notarization providers must be approved by the Colorado Secretary of State before offering their systems to Colorado remote notaries.

Online Notary Center is listed by the Colorado Secretary of State as an approved Full system provider.

This means Colorado notaries can use Online Notary Center as their technology provider when setting up and performing compliant remote online notarizations.

You can confirm current approved providers through the Colorado Secretary of State Remote Notarization Provider list .

Step 5: Apply to Become a Colorado Remote Notary

After completing the required remote training and exam, log in to your Colorado notary account with the Secretary of State.

Under the account's Actions section, select "Become a remote notary" and complete the remote notary application.

Colorado's current fee schedule lists the remote notary application fee as $10.

You should also be prepared to identify the approved remote-notary provider you plan to use. Colorado permits notaries to use more than one approved provider, but the Secretary of State states that a remote notary must have at least one provider on record.

Step 6: Set Up Your Electronic Signature and Remote Notary Seal

A remote notarization is completed electronically, so you will need the electronic tools required to properly sign and seal the electronic record.

Colorado specifies that a remote notary's digitized signature should match the official signature the Secretary of State has on record. The remote notary seal must also match the appearance and content of the notary's official wet stamp.

Your RON provider may have additional technical onboarding steps or security tools that must be configured before you begin accepting remote notarization sessions.

Step 7: Set Up a Compliant Electronic Notary Journal

Colorado remote notaries generally must record remote notarizations in a tamper-evident electronic journal. If you already use a paper journal for traditional notarizations, you may still need a separate compliant electronic journal for your remote transactions.

The journal entry for a remote notarization must include the required notarial information and identify the remote notarization provider used for the transaction.

Proper recordkeeping is one of the most important parts of running a Colorado remote-notary practice. Do not rely on memory or informal notes to document your sessions.

Step 8: Understand Colorado's Audio-Video Recording Rules

A Colorado remote notarization must happen in real time using audio-video communication. The notary and remotely located individual must be able to see and hear each other substantially simultaneously. You cannot notarize a document simply by watching a prerecorded video of someone signing it.

The remote notarization session must be recorded, and Colorado requires the audio-video recording to be securely stored for 10 years.

Before recording begins, the notary must disclose that the interaction will be recorded, explain the applicable storage details, and obtain the remotely located individual's consent to the recording and its storage.

A compliant RON provider can help provide the technical infrastructure, but the notary remains responsible for conducting the notarization correctly.

Step 9: Follow Colorado's Remote Identity Verification Rules

One of a notary's most important responsibilities is determining that the person appearing for the notarization has been properly identified. Remote notarization does not eliminate that responsibility.

Colorado's remote rules allow identification through methods such as personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of identity. When technology-based identity verification is used, the process can include presentation and analysis of qualifying government-issued identification along with an approved additional authentication method.

The identity process should be completed during the live remote notarization workflow rather than treated as an informal check outside the transaction.

Step 10: Stay Physically Located in Colorado During the Notarization

This is one of the most important rules for Colorado online notaries:

A Colorado remote notary must be physically located within the State of Colorado when performing the remote notarial act.

The signer does not necessarily have to be in Colorado.

A Colorado remote notary may perform eligible remote notarizations for remotely located individuals elsewhere in the United States while the notary remains physically in Colorado.

Remote notarizations involving a signer outside the United States have additional restrictions. Among other conditions, the notary must not have actual knowledge that the notarization is prohibited where the signer is located, and the electronic record must have the required connection to the United States.

Step 11: Know What You Can Charge for a Colorado Remote Notarization

Colorado currently permits a notary to charge up to $25 for a remote notarial act.

If you charge additional fees for other services, Colorado requires appropriate disclosure and documentation of the charges. Notaries should clearly distinguish the notarial fee from other services.

State fee limits and filing fees can change, so it is smart to verify the latest fee schedule with the Colorado Secretary of State before publishing a permanent price list for your business.

Are All Documents Eligible for Remote Notarization in Colorado?

No. Although many documents that can normally be notarized under Colorado law can also be notarized remotely, Colorado places special restrictions on certain records.

For example, Colorado does not allow remote notarization of records relating to the electoral process. Wills and related documents can also be subject to special requirements under Colorado law.

The notary should always determine whether the requested notarial act is permitted before beginning the remote session.

Why Become a Remote Online Notary in Colorado?

Adding remote notarization to your Colorado notary commission can give you more flexibility in how you serve clients. Instead of limiting your work to people who can meet you in person, eligible transactions can be completed through an online session.

Remote notarization can be especially useful for notaries working with real estate professionals, businesses, legal professionals, families, customers traveling outside Colorado, or clients who simply prefer the convenience of an online appointment.

With an approved technology provider such as Online Notary Center, Colorado remote notaries can manage electronic documents, connect with signers through secure audio-video sessions, and maintain required electronic records through an online workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming an Online Notary in Colorado