Notary Public
Connecticut
Notary Public Commission Requirements
5 years
Commission Term
before renewal
No
Education Required
no course needed
Yes
Exam Required
100%
No
Bond Required
no bond needed
Application Process
VerifiedReview the Connecticut Notary Public Manual
Complete and notarize a Jurat and Writing Sample (handwritten)
Obtain a completed Certificate of Character from a public official or business professional who has known you for at least one year and is not legally related to you
Prepare payment of $120 non-refundable application fee
Register on eLicense.ct.gov website
Complete and submit the online application, including passing the embedded exam with 100% score
Receive Certificate of Appointment via email (typically 3-5 business days)
Take oath of office (must be administered within 30 days of receiving Certificate of Appointment)
If Connecticut resident: record oath and notary certificate with town clerk of your town of residence ($120 town clerk recording fee). If non-resident: record with town clerk of town where your principal place of business is located.
Basic Requirements
Minimum Age
18 years old
Residency
Must reside in Connecticut or have a principal place of business in the state.
Citizenship
No citizenship requirement explicitly stated. Connecticut does not require U.S. citizenship to become a notary.
Background Check
Not required
Education & Exam Requirements
Education
Not RequiredNo formal education or training course is mandated. The state recommends reviewing the Notary Public Manual before taking the exam.
Exam
RequiredApplicants must pass an exam embedded within the online application process on the eLicense.ct.gov system. All questions must be answered correctly (100% score required) before a commission will be issued.
Passing score: 100%
Administered by: Connecticut Secretary of the State (online via eLicense.ct.gov)
Bond, Insurance & Seal
Surety Bond
Not RequiredConnecticut does not require notaries to have a surety bond.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Not RequiredNot required by the state. May be purchased voluntarily for personal protection.
Seal / Stamp
Not RequiredNot legally required but considered best practice. If used, must be an inked stamp or embosser containing the notary's name, 'Notary Public', 'Connecticut', and commission expiration date.
Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $120 (waived for state employees upon attestation) |
Bond Premium Bond not required in Connecticut | N/A |
Stamp / Seal Seal is optional. If purchased, approximately $20-$30 from private vendors. | N/A (seal optional) |
Total Estimated Cost $120 application fee + $120 town clerk recording fee. Additional optional seal cost not included. | $240 |
Commission Term & Renewal
Commission Term
5 years
Renewal Process
Commissions may be renewed online via eLicense.ct.gov up to 90 days before and after the expiration date using a PIN sent by mail or email. Renewal fee is $60.
Renewal Fee
$60
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Connecticut authorized remote notarial acts via Public Act 23-28, effective October 1, 2023. However, RON is PROHIBITED for: wills, living wills, codicils, trusts, healthcare directives, powers of attorney, and real estate closing packages.
Additional Requirements
Certain document types are prohibited from remote notarization (wills, trusts, healthcare directives, POAs, real estate closings)
Important Notes
What Makes Connecticut Unique
Connecticut is notable for its high fees ($240 total between application and town clerk recording) despite not requiring a bond. The 100% exam score requirement and the Certificate of Character reference requirement are distinctive. RON is allowed but with unusually broad exclusions for important document types.
Connecticut has the highest combined startup cost ($240) among states that don't require a bond, due to the $120 application fee and $120 town clerk recording fee.
The exam is embedded in the online application and requires a perfect 100% score.
A personal 'Certificate of Character' reference is required from someone who has known the applicant for at least one year.
No bond is required, and the seal/stamp is optional - relatively unusual combination.
Connecticut does not appear to require U.S. citizenship.
RON is permitted but with significant restrictions - wills, trusts, healthcare directives, powers of attorney, and real estate closings are excluded.
The $120 application fee is waived for state employees.
Name change fee is $15.
⚠ Data Conflicts Found
The following fields have conflicting information across sources.
town_clerk_recording_fee
The NNA lists the town clerk recording fee as $120, which seems high and may vary by municipality. The Connecticut Secretary of State website does not specify this fee. This may need verification with specific town clerks.