How to Become a Notary in Connecticut: Requirements, Fee and Commission Term

Becoming a notary public in Connecticut is a state commission you apply for online through the Secretary of the State. The commission costs $120, lasts five years, and requires you to pass an exam and record your paperwork with a town clerk. Two steps need particular care: the exam, which has to be answered with no errors, and the recording step, which has a 30-day deadline. This guide walks through the full process in order, with the fees and dates you need.

This article is informational, not legal or tax advice. Fees and procedures can change, so confirm current figures with the Connecticut Secretary of the State and your town clerk before you pay or file. For questions about your own situation, consult a qualified attorney or CPA.

Who Qualifies for a Connecticut Notary Commission

The Secretary of the State licenses every notary public in Connecticut. To apply, you must meet both of these requirements:

• You are 18 years old or older.
• You live in Connecticut, or your principal place of business is in Connecticut.

If you live in a neighboring state but run your business in Connecticut, the second requirement can still apply. Make sure the address you list on your application is the one that matches your situation.

Connecticut Notary Fees and Key Dates at a Glance

Item	Amount or term	Paid to or governed by	Notes
New commission	$120	Secretary of the State	Paid with your online application
Renewal	$60	Secretary of the State	Due before your commission term ends
Commission term	Five years	Secretary of the State	Ends on the last day of your appointment month
Recording your certificate and oath	$20	Town clerk	Amount reported on 2025 town pages; check with your clerk
Recording deadline	30 days	Town clerk	Counted from when you receive your Certificate of Appointment
Maximum fee per notarial act	$10	Set by state law	Raised from $5 by PA 26-81 (signed May 26, 2026), effective July 1, 2026
Mileage charge	Changed under PA 26-81	Set by state law	Confirm the current rate before you charge a client

Keep this table handy, because the fee cap and mileage rule changed on July 1, 2026. Many older guides still show the $5 cap, and that figure is out of date.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you open the application. Gather them first so you do not have to stop partway through.

• A Connecticut residence or principal place of business that you can document and list on the application.
• A copy of the Notary Public Manual from the Secretary of the State, which you will need to study for the exam. Every exam answer must be correct.
• A computer or device with internet access to complete the online application through the Secretary of the State's eLicense system.
• A payment method for the $120 commission fee.
• A handwriting sample written as the application requires. Practice your signature so it is legible and matches the name on your application.
• A jurat, which is a sworn statement you sign in front of a notary. Because you are not yet a notary, you will need to sign it before a notary who is already commissioned. Plan that visit before you submit.
• A Certificate of Character signed by a public official. Use the form from the Secretary of the State and confirm which officials are allowed to sign it.
• Cash or a check for the $20 town clerk recording fee, plus a plan to visit your clerk within 30 days of your appointment.

Step-by-Step: How to Become a Notary in Connecticut

Step 1: Confirm you meet the eligibility rules

Check your age and your Connecticut residence or principal place of business before you spend any money. If either one is uncertain, resolve it first. An application that does not meet the residence or business requirement will not get you the commission, and you should confirm with the Secretary of the State whether the $120 fee can be refunded if you find out late.

Step 2: Study the Notary Public Manual and pass the exam

The application includes an examination on the Notary Public Manual. Read the manual from start to finish, then go back and study the sections that cover identification, acknowledgments, jurats, and the notary's duties. Do not rely on memory or on summaries from other websites. Answer each practice question by pointing to the part of the manual that supports the answer.

Because every answer must be correct, review every question you missed until you can explain why the right answer is right. Read each question slowly, since many exam mistakes come from misreading a question rather than not knowing the rule.

Step 3: Prepare your handwriting sample and jurat

Write your handwriting sample on the form or in the format the application specifies. Use the same name you will use as a notary, and keep the spelling consistent with the rest of your application. Then sign the jurat in front of a commissioned notary. Bring a valid photo ID to that appointment, and make sure the notary completes the notarial certificate correctly, because an error on the jurat can hold up your application.

Step 4: Get your Certificate of Character signed

The application requires a Certificate of Character signed by a public official. Fill in your personal information, then take the form to an official who is allowed to sign it. Check the form for who may sign before you make the appointment, since a signature from an unqualified official can send your application back to you.

Step 5: Submit your application and pay the $120 fee

File the complete application through the Secretary of the State's online system at portal.ct.gov/sots/business-services/bsd, where the Secretary of the State's Business Services Division publishes its forms and notary information. Upload or enter every item from the checklist above, then pay the $120 new commission fee. Save a copy of your confirmation and every document you submitted.

Check the spelling of your name, your address, and the dates on the application before you submit. Changing these details after filing usually means correcting the record and waiting longer for your commission.

Step 6: Receive your Certificate of Appointment

If the Secretary of the State approves your application, you receive a Certificate of Appointment. Read it carefully. Confirm that your name, your commission dates, and your town information are correct, because you will use this document in the next step. Note the date you received it, since your 30-day recording deadline starts from that date.

Step 7: Record your certificate and oath with the town clerk

You must record your certificate and oath with the town clerk of the town where you live or where you have your business, within 30 days of receiving your Certificate of Appointment. Bring the certificate, your oath, and the $20 recording fee, which was the amount listed on 2025 town pages. Call the clerk's office first to confirm the fee, hours, and whether they want an appointment, because town procedures differ.

Connecticut has no county government, so you record with the town clerk, not a county office. If you move to a different town after recording, confirm with the Secretary of the State whether you need to update your records.

Step 8: Prepare to perform your first notarial act

Before your first notarization, review the duties in the Notary Public Manual, including how to confirm a signer's identity and what to record for each act. Buy any supplies the manual calls for, such as a seal or a journal, and check the manual rather than relying on a list from another source. Confirm your fee schedule against the current maximum of $10 per notarial act and the mileage rules under PA 26-81.

Your Commission Term and Renewal

A Connecticut notary commission runs for five years and ends on the last day of the month in which you were appointed. For example, if you were appointed in March 2027, your commission would end on March 31, 2032. Confirm your exact end date on your Certificate of Appointment, not on this example.

To keep your commission active, you must renew it. The renewal fee is $60. Start the renewal well before the end date so a late filing does not interrupt your ability to notarize documents. Confirm the renewal procedure and timing with the Secretary of the State before you file.

Is a Notary Bond Required in Connecticut?

Many people searching for a Connecticut notary bond want to know whether they must buy one. This guide does not state that a surety bond is required for the application or the $120 commission fee. Before you pay, confirm with the Secretary of the State whether any bond or other financial requirement applies to your commission. Do not buy a bond on the assumption that one is required, and do not skip one on the assumption that none is.

Mobile Notary and Loan-Signing Businesses

Connecticut has no general state business license, so your notary commission is not a business license. If you plan to run a mobile notary or loan-signing business, though, you may need additional registrations:

• Local business registration with the town where you operate. Zoning and local rules vary by town, so ask the town clerk or planning office what applies.
• A trade name certificate if you operate under a name other than your own. This is filed with the town clerk, not the Secretary of the State, and the fee is $20.
• State tax registration where it applies. The Department of Revenue Services handles sales tax permits, which carry a $100 registration fee. Whether your notary services are taxable is a question for the Department of Revenue Services or a CPA, so confirm it before you charge clients.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using different versions of your name. Keep your name the same on the application, the handwriting sample, the jurat, and the Certificate of Character.
• Missing exam answers. Every answer must be correct, so review the manual more than once rather than relying on a single pass.
• Recording late. The 30-day clock starts when you receive your Certificate of Appointment, not when you feel ready to visit the clerk.
• Recording in the wrong town. You record with the town clerk where you live or have your business.
• Charging the old fee cap. The maximum fee for a notarial act rose from $5 to $10 on July 1, 2026, and the mileage rule also changed.
• Looking for a county office. Connecticut has no county government, so the clerk you need is in your town.
• Treating the commission as a business license. A notary commission is a personal appointment. Any business you run from it may need separate local and state registrations.
• Letting the commission lapse. Mark your renewal date on your calendar as soon as you receive your appointment.

What to Expect After You Are Commissioned

A commission lets you perform notarial acts in Connecticut. Many notaries use it as a service they offer alongside other work, while others use it mainly for their own employer or organization. Results vary with local demand, how much you market your services, and how many hours you are able to work. Nothing in this guide guarantees income, approval, or a particular number of clients.

A notary confirms identity and witnesses signatures. A notary does not give legal advice or decide whether a document is valid. If a client asks you to draft, explain, or choose a legal document, refer them to an attorney.

Next Steps

Start by confirming your eligibility, then order the Notary Public Manual and schedule time for the exam. Once you have your Certificate of Appointment, put the 30-day recording deadline on your calendar and book your visit to the town clerk. For current forms, fees, and renewal details, go directly to the Secretary of the State's Business Services Division at portal.ct.gov/sots/business-services/bsd, and check with your town clerk for the recording fee and hours.

Reminder: this article is informational only and is not legal or tax advice. Confirm the figures in this guide with the Secretary of the State and your town clerk before you act.