Vermont Online Notary Requirements at a Glance

Can You Become a Remote Online Notary in Vermont?

Yes. Vermont law permits remote online notarization, sometimes called RON, for notaries who have received the required Special Endorsement from the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR).

A standard Vermont notary commission by itself is not enough to notarize documents electronically or for remotely located individuals. The Special Endorsement expands your authority to perform notarial acts on electronic records and for signers who appear through approved communication technology.

Here is how to complete the process.

Step 1: Make Sure You Qualify for a Vermont Notary Commission

If you are not already a commissioned Vermont notary, your first step is obtaining a traditional notary public commission.

Under Vermont law, a standard applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
• Be a Vermont resident or have a place of employment or professional practice in Vermont.
• Not be disqualified from receiving a commission under Vermont law.
• Pass an examination approved by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation.
• Execute and submit a notarized oath of office.
• Pay the required state application fee.

Certain public officials, attorneys and government-related employees can qualify for specific exemptions, so applicants in those categories should review the Vermont rules that apply to their position.

Step 2: Apply Through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation

Vermont notary commission applications are completed through the Office of Professional Regulation's online licensing system.

As part of the commissioning process, make sure you complete all required application questions and attestations, pass the required examination, submit your notarized oath of office and pay the state fee.

The Office will issue your commission after you have satisfied the applicable requirements. Do not perform notarial acts until your commission is active.

Vermont OPR Online Services

Step 3: Select Vermont-Compliant Online Notary Technology

Before obtaining your Special Endorsement, you need to be prepared to attest that you have selected technology that meets Vermont's requirements for electronic and remote notarizations.

Your technology must address three major areas:

Tamper-Evident Technology

Electronic notarizations must use tamper-evident technology so that changes made to the electronic document after notarization can be detected. Vermont's rules also require the use of a valid digital certificate issued by a third-party provider when performing a notarial act on an electronic record.

Live Audio-Video Communication

A remote signer must be able to appear before the notary using real-time communication technology. The system must provide sufficient audio and video quality for the notary and signer to see and communicate with one another throughout the notarial act.

Identity Proofing

When identity is established through technology rather than personal knowledge or a qualifying credible witness, Vermont requires both credential analysis and dynamic knowledge-based authentication (KBA).

Vermont's permanent rules specify standards for these processes, including authentication of an identification credential and a KBA assessment based on information associated with the remote signer's identity.

Step 4: Apply for Vermont's Special Endorsement

Once you hold an active Vermont notary public commission, you can apply for the Special Endorsement that authorizes electronic and remote notarial acts.

To qualify, you must:

• Hold a current Vermont notary commission in good standing.
• Attest that you have selected compliant tamper-evident technology for electronic records.
• Attest that you have selected compliant communication technology for remotely located signers.
• Attest that you have selected compliant identity-proofing technology.
• Pay the required Special Endorsement application fee.

If you are starting from scratch, Vermont's initial state fees are therefore $60 total: $30 for your traditional commission and $30 for your Special Endorsement. Technology, digital certificate, platform or other business expenses are separate.

Step 5: Complete Your Electronic Notary Setup

After receiving your Special Endorsement, finish configuring the tools you will use to notarize electronic documents.

Vermont requires electronic notarizations to use appropriate electronic signature and tamper-evident technology. The notary must maintain exclusive control over security credentials associated with the electronic signature and electronic official stamp.

Your electronic notarial certificate must also contain the information required by Vermont law and, when applicable, indicate that communication technology was used.

Step 6: Follow Vermont's Rules During Every Remote Notarization

Receiving your Special Endorsement is only the beginning. Each remote notarization must comply with Vermont's procedures.

You Must Be Physically Located in Vermont

A Vermont notary must be physically within Vermont's borders when performing a notarial act under the authority of a Vermont commission. This applies to remote notarizations as well.

The signer does not need to be physically located in Vermont. A signer may generally be located elsewhere in the United States while appearing remotely before the Vermont notary.

Vermont also permits certain notarizations for people located outside the United States, but additional requirements apply. Among other conditions, the act cannot be prohibited where the signer is located, and the document must have the required connection to the United States.

Confirm the Signer's Identity

Before completing the remote notarization, the notary must establish the signer's identity through a method authorized by Vermont law. Depending on the circumstances, that may involve personal knowledge, a qualifying credible witness or Vermont-compliant identity-proofing technology.

Confirm the Document

The notary must be reasonably able to confirm that the document before the notary is the same record on which the remote signer made a statement or executed a signature.

Record the Remote Session

Vermont requires an audiovisual recording of the performance of a notarial act for a remotely located individual.

Under Vermont's current permanent administrative rules, that recording must be retained for at least seven years from the date of the notarial act.

Use the Correct Certificate

The notarial certificate for a remote notarization must include the information required by Vermont law and indicate that the notarial act was performed using communication technology.

Step 7: Keep Your Vermont Commission and Special Endorsement Current

Vermont notary commissions and associated Special Endorsements operate on fixed two-year periods.

For renewal, most commissioned notaries must complete at least one hour of continuing education during the preceding two-year period.

A notary renewing a Special Endorsement must complete one additional hour of continuing education covering electronic notarization, notarizations for remotely located individuals, or both.

That generally means a Vermont online notary maintaining both credentials should plan for two hours of applicable continuing education during the two-year renewal period, unless a statutory or regulatory exemption applies.

How Much Does It Cost to Become an Online Notary in Vermont?

The totals above include Vermont state requirements only. A remote online notary may have separate costs for technology, a digital certificate, equipment or an online notarization platform.

Does Vermont Require E&O Insurance for Online Notaries?

No. Vermont does not currently require Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance as a condition of obtaining a notary public commission or the Special Endorsement for electronic and remote notarizations.

Therefore, the Vermont state-required E&O insurance amount is $0.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming an Online Notary in Vermont