Becoming a Colorado Notary Public

Oh no, not another one of those 'How to become a notary ...' articles.

I'm fed up with the articles too, whose purpose is usually to get you to buy something, or to drive traffic to their website, since they usually have the procedures for all 50 states. And they take an oversimplistic approach to becoming a notary: fill out a form, send in an application fee, and Voila ... you're a notary.

There's a bit more to it than that. So I wanted to write an article on becoming a notary public in the state of Colorado. 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 commission in the state of Colorado, which you can also get from 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. A Colorado notary 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 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 Secretary of State website:

• Michael Shea's PowerPoint presentation on Notary Law and the
• Colorado Notary Handbook

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.

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 also 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, in my opinion.

Colorado Notary Supply Package 

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:

• National Notary Association
• Notary Law Institute
• American Society of Notaries

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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Notary Application, Instructions, and Law (Colorado Secretary of State website: in PDF Format)

Colorado Secretary of State: Notary

National Notary Association
Notary Law Institute
American Society of Notaries
Notary Rotary
123notary.com
Colorado Notary (ActiveRain group)
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References:

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.

Notary Education: Notary Public Procedures, Laws, & Common Sense (ActiveRain blog article)

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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."