Connecticut has a unique application — there's an exam built into the online form, and you need 100% to pass (open-book, retake until correct). The state doesn't require a bond but the application fee is $120, the highest in New England.
Under Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 6, the requirements are:
Connecticut's $120 application fee is the highest in New England, but there's no bond requirement, which keeps total costs moderate.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State application fee | Required | $120 |
| Town clerk recording fee | Required | $20 |
| Notary stamp/seal (optional in CT) | Optional but recommended | $15–$35 |
| Notary journal | Optional but recommended | $10–$25 |
| Surety bond | Not required | $0 |
| Education course | Not required | $0 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $140–$180 |
Connecticut has a unique embedded exam in the online application. Each question must be answered correctly — incorrect answers prevent you from proceeding. You can reference the CT Notary Public Manual during the exam and try again until you get every question right. The exam tests responsibilities, notarial act definitions, and basic state laws.
Connecticut's process is fully online — even the exam is embedded in the application.
Available free from the CT Secretary of State website. Study all sections — the exam questions come directly from the manual.
Hand-write a complete acknowledgment, sworn affidavit, and oath example. Get the Jurat section notarized by a current Connecticut notary. This step is where most applicants make mistakes — be careful.
Download the form. Have it signed by a reputable professional or public official who is unrelated to you and has known you for at least 1 year. Digital signatures are acceptable.
Create an account at eLicense.ct.gov. Complete the online application — the exam is embedded as you progress. Upload your Jurat/Writing Sample and Certificate of Character.
Answer each question correctly to proceed. You can reference the manual. Incorrect answers prompt you to review and retry. Official pass rate is ~90% on first attempt.
Pay the non-refundable $120 application fee. Approval typically arrives in 3-5 business days. You'll receive your Certificate of Appointment by email.
Bring your Certificate of Appointment to the town clerk where you reside (or where your business is, for non-residents). Pay the $20 recording fee. The clerk administers your oath and records your commission.
Connecticut notaries can perform these acts statewide under CGS Chapter 6:
Connecticut caps notary fees at the lowest in the country:
The Fairfield County (Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk) corridor and Hartford area are the highest-volume markets. CT's wealth concentration and high real estate values make mobile notary services particularly valuable, even with the low statutory fees — most income comes from service/convenience fees on top of the per-act limits.
Connecticut authorized Remote Notarization under Public Act 23-28 (effective October 1, 2023). CT's version is more like Remote Ink Notarization (RIN) than fully electronic notarization:
Your Connecticut commission is valid for 5 years, expiring on the last day of the month you were originally appointed.
Renewal applications are emailed (or mailed) 3 months before expiration. If renewing on time (before expiration), the fee is $60 (plus $20 town clerk recording). If your commission expired within 90 days, you can still renew. If expired more than 90 days, you must reapply as a new notary — full $120 fee, full process. Keep your email address updated with the SOS so renewal notices reach you.
Connecticut uses the embedded exam as a knowledge verification mechanism rather than a difficulty barrier. You can reference the manual and retry until you get every question right. The point is to ensure you understand the material, not to filter applicants out. The 100% requirement is actually more applicant-friendly than typical 70-80% pass thresholds because there's no "fail" outcome — just "keep trying."
Anyone unrelated to you who's a "reputable business/professional person or public official" and has known you for at least 1 year qualifies: your doctor, dentist, attorney, accountant, religious leader, employer, longtime business associate, etc. Family members and people who've known you less than a year don't qualify.
Yes. Connecticut's $5 maximum is one of the lowest in the country (some states have no caps; New Jersey is $2.50). However, travel fees and service fees are unregulated, so mobile notaries can structure their pricing around base fees plus mileage.
Connecticut law makes seals technically optional. If you don't use a seal, you must legibly print or type "Notary Public" and "My commission expires on [date]" next to your signature on every notarization. Almost every notary uses a stamp anyway for credibility and consistency.
Active Connecticut state employees (including state police) can apply for a notary commission for their official duties with the application fee WAIVED. Select "yes" on Question 18 of the application to claim this exemption. You're subject to audit to verify your employment.
Yes. Most states with RON have notaries and signers both using electronic documents with digital signatures. Connecticut's RIN requires the signer to sign a physical paper document on camera, then mail it to the notary. The notary handles the paper document and completes the certificate. It's a hybrid approach — convenient for the signer but doesn't fully eliminate paper handling.
Connecticut's Fairfield County (high real estate values, dense affluent population) and Hartford insurance/finance markets create strong opportunities for mobile notary work — especially given the low statutory fee caps make convenience pricing the real revenue driver. We're recruiting founding-cohort Connecticut notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
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