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 website below.
Qualifications, Fee & Examination
Section 3-94b of the 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.
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.
The Term of Appointment
Notaries in the State of Connecticut are appointed for terms of five (5) years. Each term is separate
The Oath of Office & Recording the Certificate and Oath
All notaries, whether new or renewal appointments, are required by Section 3-94c CGS, 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 (see Section 1-24 CGS), 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.
Section 3-94c CGS also 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.
Renewal of Appointment
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. For further information see “Changes of Name & Address” below.
Changes of Name or Address and Replacement Certificates of Appointment
If a notary who is a Connecticut resident changes his or her name or residence address, the notary is required to report that change to the Secretary of the State’s Office within thirty days. Nonresident notaries must maintain a principal place of business in Connecticut and must report any change in their business address, as well as changes in residence address. Forms for reporting such changes are available from this web site’s forms page. When completed, the forms must be filed with the Secretary’s office with the appropriate fees ($15.00 for Change of Name and Change of Address, $5.00 for Duplicate Certificates).
When the form has been processed, a new certificate will be issued. It is not necessary for the notary to take an oath of office upon receiving a replacement certificate, but if the notary has relocated to a new town of residence or principal place of business, the replacement certificate must be recorded with the town clerk in the new town of residence.
Resignation
A notary may resign his or her commission at any time, by advising the Office of the Secretary of the State, in writing, of his or her intention to resign and the effective date of that resignation.
Complaints
Any person may file a formal complaint against a notary public. All complaints must be submitted in writing to the Notary Public Unit of the Secretary of the State’s Office. A complaint must allege a specific violation of Connecticut Notary Public Law. It must also include photocopies of relevant documents.
SOURCE: http://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Legislative-Services/Applying-for-Appointment-as-a-Connecticut-Notary-Public