Colorado Notary Public — All Questions

What is Colorado's approach to a notary journal?

• a.Journals are prohibited
• b.Only attorneys may keep journals
• c.A journal must be surrendered to the county after each act
• d.The Secretary of State strongly encourages keeping a record of notarial acts, and any journal kept must include each signer's signature and the fee charged✓

Colorado strongly encourages notaries to keep a record of all official acts, and requires that any journal kept include the signature of each individual served and any fee charged. A good record helps the notary reconstruct and defend an act if it is later questioned.Colorado Notary Handbook (Colorado Secretary of State)

Which elements must appear on a Colorado notary's official stamp?

• a.The notary's home address and photo
• b.The notary's name, the words 'Notary Public, State of Colorado,' the commission ID number, and the commission expiration date✓
• c.The Colorado State Seal in gold
• d.The signer's name and the county recorder's number

A Colorado stamp shows the notary's name, the words 'Notary Public' and 'State of Colorado,' the notary's commission identification number, and the commission expiration date. It authenticates the notary's acts and never contains the signer's information.Colorado RULONA (C.R.S. Title 24, Art. 21, Part 5); Colorado Notary Handbook

What should a Colorado notary's record of an act ideally capture?

• a.The signer's income
• b.The notary's shopping list
• c.The date, type of act, description of the document, the signer's name and signature, the identification method, and any fee✓
• d.A photocopy of the signer's entire wallet

A sound record captures the date, the type of act, a brief description of the document, the signer's name and signature, how the signer was identified, and any fee. It documents the act without storing unnecessary sensitive data.Colorado Notary Handbook (Colorado Secretary of State)

A Colorado notary's stamp is lost or stolen. What is the proper response?

• a.Do nothing unless it is misused
• b.Ignore it until renewal
• c.Keep using a scanned image of the old stamp
• d.Take prompt steps to prevent misuse, notify the Secretary of State as required, and obtain a replacement✓

Because a stolen stamp can facilitate fraud, the notary should promptly act to prevent misuse, notify the Secretary of State as required, and obtain a new stamp. Continuing to rely on an old scanned impression is not acceptable.Colorado Notary Handbook (Colorado Secretary of State)