How to Become a Notary Public in Connecticut

1. Complete the Online Connecticut Notary Training Course  (not required, but highly recommended)
2. The following is provided as a quick and convenient source of general information about the appointment of Notaries Public in the State of Connecticut.   For more detailed information, please consult the Notary Public Manual on the web site.
3. Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) provides that any person eighteen years of age or older, who either resides in, or has a principal place of business in Connecticut may apply for appointment as a Notary Public.
4. All applicants must submit a completed application form, pay the application fee of $120.00, and pass a written examination administered by the Secretary of the State's Office.  The examination is contained in the application form and the applicant completes the examination under oath.  Successful applicants will receive a certificate of appointment.
5. All notaries, whether new or renewal appointments, are required to take an oath of office before they can perform any notarial acts.  The notary's certificate of appointment contains a panel for recording the administration of the oath.   The oath may be administered by any official having the authority to administer oaths but notary's may find it convenient to take the oath of office from the town clerk at the same time they record their certificate, see below.
6. Connecticut requires that the oath and the notary's certificate be recorded with the town clerk in the town in which the notary resides, if the notary is a Connecticut resident.  Nonresidents who have qualified for appointment because their principal place of business is in Connecticut, must also record their oath of office and certificate.  That recording is made with the town clerk of the town in which their place of business is located.  It is very important for all notaries to remember these requirements, which must be completed within 30 days of receiving the Certificate of Appointment.
7. All five year terms of appointment expire on the last day of the month in which the notary was originally appointed.  Renewal applications are mailed three months in advance of the expiration date to the address recorded in the Notary Public Database.   If a notary fails to record changes of address, it will be unlikely that they will receive the renewal application.  As a consequence, the notary's term may expire.

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