Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Connecticut authorized remote online notarization in 2023 under Public Act 23-97. To start, you need a current Connecticut notary commission, training on an approved RON platform, and that platform registered with the Secretary of the State. There is no separate RON license. But you cannot perform RON without the platform registration step. Skip it and your notarization is unauthorized.
What is the legal foundation for RON in Connecticut?
Connecticut passed Public Act 23-97 in June 2023. It amended Connecticut General Statutes sections 3-91a through 3-91k to authorize remote online notarization for notaries commissioned by the Secretary of the State. [1] Before that act, Connecticut notaries had no permanent statutory authority for audio-video notarizations. The temporary COVID-era executive orders that allowed remote notarization had expired, which left a gap. PA 23-97 closed that gap for good.
The law tracks the broad shape of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and borrows several ideas from the Uniform Law Commission's 2018 Remote Online Notarization Act. [4] Connecticut drafted its own version rather than adopting the ULC model whole. That distinction matters in practice. Connecticut's rules on journal-keeping, credential analysis, and identity proofing carry state-level wrinkles you have to check against the statute itself, not against generic RON advice written for another state.
The Secretary of the State is the supervising authority. That office approves RON technology providers, accepts platform registrations from notaries, and holds rulemaking power to issue guidance as the program grows. When something is ambiguous, the Secretary of the State's notary division is your first call. Not a national platform's help desk.
Connecticut came to permanent RON later than most states. See how Alaska approached a similar rollout and how Arizona built its platform-approval process if you want useful benchmarks.
Do you need a license for remote online notarization in Connecticut?
No. There is no separate RON license in Connecticut. You need a valid Connecticut notary public commission plus a completed platform registration with the Secretary of the State. Those two things together are your authorization to conduct remote online notarizations. [1]
Here is how it breaks down. Connecticut notary commissions run for five-year terms and are issued by the Secretary of the State. [2] You apply through the Secretary's office, pay the commission fee, take an oath, and receive your commission certificate. If you already hold an active commission, you do not re-apply for notary status to do RON. You add the platform step and nothing more.
That platform step is the piece people miss. Connecticut requires that you use only a Secretary-approved RON technology provider, and you must register that provider with the Secretary of the State before your first session. Running RON on an unapproved or unregistered platform is unauthorized notarization, no matter how clean the session looked on screen. Confirm the current list of approved providers with the Secretary of the State's office, because that list shifts as providers apply and get evaluated.
One more thing. If your notary commission lapses, your RON authorization lapses with it. No freestanding RON credential survives an expired commission. Renew on time.
What are the step-by-step requirements to get started?
The path from zero to your first RON session runs five steps. Work through them in order.
Step 1: Hold or obtain a Connecticut notary commission. If you are not yet commissioned, apply through the Secretary of the State's online portal. The application requires a completed form, a $120 application fee (confirm the current amount with the Secretary of the State, since fees are set by statute and can be adjusted), and an oath of office administered by a Connecticut official after your appointment. [2] You must be at least 18, a Connecticut resident or have your principal place of business in the state, and free of any felony conviction that disqualifies you under state law.
Step 2: Complete any platform-required training. Connecticut law requires RON notaries to train on the specific technology platform they will use. The vendor delivers this training, not the state. Most approved platforms offer a self-paced online course that takes two to four hours. Keep your completion certificate.
Step 3: Select a Secretary-approved RON technology provider. The Secretary of the State keeps the authoritative list of approved vendors. Do not skip this check. A platform approved in Virginia or Texas is not automatically approved in Connecticut.
Step 4: Register your chosen platform with the Secretary of the State. This registration is your official RON authorization. You notify the Secretary which approved vendor you will use. Confirm the current registration method and any fee with the Secretary of the State's office directly, since procedural details can shift as the program matures. [1]
Step 5: Obtain your electronic seal and digital certificate. Connecticut RON requires a tamper-evident electronic seal attached to notarized documents. Your platform usually provisions this, but you are responsible for making sure it meets state specifications. The seal must identify you by name, state, and commission expiration date.
How much does remote online notarization cost in Connecticut?
Connecticut RON has several cost layers, and they are worth separating because people confuse the state fee with the platform fee. The one-time state fee is small. The recurring platform cost is where your money actually goes.
The Connecticut notary commission application fee is set by statute. As of this writing the base fee is $120 for a five-year commission. [2] Confirm the current amount with the Secretary of the State before applying. There may be an additional, modest fee tied to the RON platform registration step. Confirm that with the Secretary of the State too.
Platform subscription costs are the bigger recurring expense. RON technology providers charge notaries either a monthly subscription or a per-transaction fee. Monthly plans from the established platforms run roughly $25 to $50 per month for solo notaries, though pricing varies by vendor and tier. [6] Per-transaction models range from $2 to $10 per completed notarization, depending on volume and whether the notary or the signer pays. These are vendor-set prices that change often. Get current quotes from the specific approved vendors on Connecticut's list.
The fee a Connecticut notary may charge a signer for each RON act is set by state law. Confirm the current maximum per-act fee with the Secretary of the State's office, because it may differ from the cap that applies to traditional in-person notarizations. Connecticut has historically capped the per-signature notary fee for in-person acts at a modest statutory amount [3]. The RON statute or its regulations may set a different ceiling for remote acts. Do not assume the caps match.
Budget for a few other startup costs. A reliable webcam and microphone if your current setup is marginal. A stable broadband connection. Errors and omissions insurance if you want it (not legally required in Connecticut, but commonly recommended). And any attorney consultation if you are building a signing agent business around RON.
If you want a pre-assembled checklist of the paperwork and state-specific forms, the RONPath Connecticut State RON Add-On Kit ($99 one-time) covers that without making you hunt across a dozen agency pages.
How long does remote online notarization take in Connecticut?
Two timelines matter here. How long it takes to get authorized, and how long each RON session takes once you are.
Getting authorized takes as long as your notary commission plus the platform registration. If you already hold an active Connecticut commission, the platform registration itself often finishes in a day or two once you have picked your approved vendor and gathered the documentation. Starting from scratch, the commission application usually takes several weeks from submission to oath. The Secretary of the State's office does not publish a guaranteed processing window, and times vary. Confirm current timelines with the office directly. [2]
A single RON session runs 15 to 30 minutes for a straightforward document. That covers the identity verification sequence (knowledge-based authentication questions plus credential analysis of a government-issued ID), the audio-video session itself, and the application of your electronic seal. Complex transactions with multiple documents or signers take longer. A full mortgage closing done by RON can run 45 to 90 minutes.
Identity proofing is the variable that blows up a session timeline. If a signer fails knowledge-based authentication, Connecticut law requires you to stop. You cannot proceed without successful identity verification. Build in extra time when signers are older, have moved recently, or have thin credit files, because the KBA systems pull from credit bureau data and thin files generate harder or unanswerable questions.
Journal entries and record retention add a few minutes on the back end of each session. Connecticut requires RON notaries to keep an electronic journal and to retain audio-video recordings. Confirm the current retention period with the Secretary of the State, since the statute gives the office rulemaking authority to set it. [1]
What technology requirements does Connecticut set for RON platforms?
Connecticut's RON statute requires that any technology used for remote online notarization meet specific security and functionality standards. [1] The platform must support real-time audio-visual communication between notary and signer. It must perform identity proofing through both credential analysis (scanning and verifying the signer's government-issued ID) and knowledge-based authentication (dynamic questions drawn from public records). And it must affix the notary's electronic signature and seal in a tamper-evident way.
Tamper-evident means the document is cryptographically sealed after signing so any later alteration is detectable. This is not a toggle you flip on. It is baked into how compliant RON platforms generate and deliver the final document. A platform that cannot demonstrate this capability should not be on Connecticut's approved list.
The audio-video connection must be live and contemporaneous. Pre-recorded video is not RON. It is just video. Both the notary and the signer have to see and hear each other in real time throughout the notarial act.
Platforms widely used elsewhere, such as Notarize (now Proof), DocVerify, and SIGNiX, have sought approval in multiple states. Whether any specific vendor holds current Connecticut approval is something you verify with the Secretary of the State, because approval status is not fixed.
What journal and record-keeping rules apply to Connecticut RON?
Connecticut requires RON notaries to keep an electronic journal of every remote notarial act. Each entry must include the date and time of the notarization, the type of notarial act, a description of the document, the name and address of each signer, the means of identity verification used, and the fee charged if any. [1]
The audio-video recording of each session must be retained. Confirm the specific retention period with the Secretary of the State, since that detail lives in regulations or guidance rather than on the face of the statute. Many states require 5 to 10 years. Do not assume Connecticut matches any particular neighbor.
Journals and recordings are your liability protection as much as a legal duty. If a notarization gets challenged months later, your journal entry and recording are the evidence that you followed the rules. Treat them that way. Store backups in at least two places, one of which is not the same machine you run sessions on.
If you switch RON platforms, export and retain all journal data and recordings from the old platform before you cancel your subscription. Some vendors purge data within 30 to 90 days of account closure.
Can out-of-state signers use a Connecticut RON notary?
Yes. The signer does not need to be physically in Connecticut. The notary must be physically in Connecticut at the time of the act, but the signer can be anywhere in the United States, and in many cases anywhere in the world, as long as the document is governed by Connecticut law or the receiving jurisdiction accepts Connecticut RON notarizations. [1]
The international question is genuinely messy. Some foreign countries do not recognize electronically notarized documents. If your signer is abroad and the document will be used overseas, check with the receiving jurisdiction before you proceed. This is not a Connecticut-specific problem. It applies to any RON notary doing cross-border work.
For domestic transactions, the real issue is whether the receiving party (a lender, a title company, a court) accepts RON documents. Title companies and lenders set their own internal policies here. Get written confirmation from the receiving party before you schedule the session, not after.
How does Connecticut RON compare to traditional notarization?
Here is a direct comparison across the factors that matter most for someone deciding whether to add RON to their practice.
| Factor | Traditional in-person | Connecticut RON |
|---|---|---|
| Signer location | Must be physically present | Anywhere with internet access |
| Identity verification | Notary examines ID in person | Credential analysis + KBA via platform |
| Journal | Paper or electronic, state rules apply | Electronic journal required |
| Recording | Not required | Audio-video recording required |
| Document delivery | Physical or electronic | Electronic (tamper-evident PDF) |
| Fee cap per act | Set by statute (confirm current amount) | Set by statute or regulation (confirm separately) |
| Startup cost | Commission fee only | Commission fee + platform cost |
| Session time | 5-15 min typical | 15-30 min typical |
The tradeoff is clear. RON gives you geographic reach and no physical scheduling, and it adds technology overhead, platform cost, and heavier record-keeping. For notaries who mostly serve real estate closings or financial documents with remote parties, RON pays for itself fast. For notaries whose work is almost entirely walk-in local clients, the platform subscription may never pencil out.
To see how other states weigh these tradeoffs, Alabama's RON setup and Colorado's framework offer useful comparisons.
What ongoing compliance do Connecticut RON notaries need to maintain?
Your obligations do not stop at the first session. Connecticut RON notaries carry continuing responsibilities on several fronts.
Commission renewal. Your notary commission renews every five years. Mark the expiration date and start early. The Secretary of the State's office processes renewals, and there can be a lag between submission and issuance. If your commission lapses even briefly, you cannot legally notarize during that gap, in person or remotely. [2]
Platform compliance. If the Secretary of the State's approved-vendor list changes and your platform loses approval, you must stop using it and register a new approved platform before continuing RON. Check the approved list at least once a year.
Statutory changes. Connecticut's RON program is new as of 2023. The Secretary of the State holds rulemaking authority, so guidance and regulations can arrive as the program develops. Subscribe to any notary update communications from the Secretary's office so a rule change does not catch you flat-footed. [7]
Errors and omissions insurance is not legally required in Connecticut, but it is worth carrying if you do volume work. A single challenged notarization can generate legal costs that dwarf the annual premium. Solo notary policies typically run $500 to $1,500 per year, varying by coverage limit and claims history.
If you are building a signing agent practice around RON, keep your NNA or comparable certification current if your title company or lender clients require it. That certification sits separate from anything the state requires, but some clients will not assign closings without it.
Where do you register and what forms do you use?
All official Connecticut notary public functions, including the initial commission application and the RON platform registration, run through the Secretary of the State's office. [8] The Secretary keeps a notary public portal where you manage your commission, update contact information, and handle registration filings.
For the RON-specific registration, confirm the current form and process with the Secretary of the State's office directly. As of the time this was written the program was still in early implementation and procedural details were being finalized after PA 23-97's enactment. The statute gave the Secretary authority to establish registration procedures by regulation, and those details may have been updated since this article was last reviewed.
Do not rely on third-party summaries, including this one, as your sole source for forms and filing instructions. Go to the Secretary of the State's official notary page, download whatever current guidance they have posted, and if anything is unclear, call or email the office. Connecticut's Secretary of the State has been responsive to notary inquiries historically.
RONPath's Connecticut State RON Add-On Kit assembles the state-specific paper trail into one reference document if you want a second set of eyes on what you have gathered. The authoritative source is always the Secretary of the State.
For comparison, see how Arizona handles its RON registration or review Colorado's setup to get a sense of how much state programs vary.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for remote online notarization in Connecticut?
No separate RON license exists in Connecticut. You need an active Connecticut notary public commission and a completed platform registration with the Secretary of the State. The registration names the specific approved RON vendor you will use. If your notary commission expires, your RON authorization expires with it. There is no freestanding RON credential.
How much does remote online notarization cost in Connecticut?
The Connecticut notary commission fee is roughly $120 for five years; confirm the current amount with the Secretary of the State. Platform subscriptions from approved RON vendors typically run $25 to $50 per month or $2 to $10 per transaction. There may be a separate RON registration fee; confirm with the Secretary's office. Budget separately for equipment, E&O insurance, and any training courses.
How long does remote online notarization take in Connecticut?
Getting authorized takes a few days once you hold an active commission, assuming you complete platform registration promptly. Starting from scratch, commission processing adds several weeks. Each actual RON session runs 15 to 30 minutes for a simple document, longer for multi-document or multi-signer transactions. Identity proofing failures can extend or terminate a session entirely.
When did Connecticut authorize RON permanently?
Connecticut passed Public Act 23-97 in June 2023, which permanently authorized remote online notarization by amending Connecticut General Statutes sections 3-91a through 3-91k. Before that, only temporary COVID-era executive order authority existed and had since expired. PA 23-97 is the operative law for any RON notarization done in Connecticut today.
Which RON platforms are approved in Connecticut?
Connecticut's Secretary of the State maintains the official list of approved RON technology vendors. That list can change as providers apply and are evaluated. Do not assume a platform approved in another state is automatically approved in Connecticut. Check the current approved list directly with the Secretary of the State's office before selecting or registering a platform.
Can a Connecticut RON notary notarize documents for signers in other states?
Yes. The signer can be located anywhere in the United States, or in many cases internationally, as long as the notary is physically in Connecticut during the session. Whether the receiving party, such as a lender or court, will accept a Connecticut RON notarization is a separate question you must confirm with that party before scheduling the session.
What identity verification does Connecticut RON require?
Connecticut requires two-factor identity proofing: credential analysis, which means the platform scans and verifies the signer's government-issued photo ID, and knowledge-based authentication, which is a set of dynamic questions drawn from public record data. Both must pass before you can proceed with the notarial act. If KBA fails, you must stop the session.
How long must Connecticut RON notaries keep their audio-video recordings?
Connecticut law requires RON notaries to retain audio-video recordings of each session, but the specific retention period is set by regulation or guidance from the Secretary of the State rather than on the face of the statute. Confirm the current requirement with the Secretary of the State's office. Many comparable state programs require five to ten years of retention.
Do I need a separate electronic seal for RON in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut RON requires a tamper-evident electronic seal attached to notarized documents. Your seal must include your name, the state, and your commission expiration date. Most approved RON platforms provision this seal as part of their service, but you are responsible for confirming it meets Connecticut's specifications before your first session.
Is E&O insurance required for Connecticut RON notaries?
No, errors and omissions insurance is not legally required by Connecticut statute or regulation for RON notaries. It is, however, commonly recommended for anyone doing volume notarization work. Solo notary E&O policies typically cost $500 to $1,500 per year depending on coverage limits. Some title company and lender clients require it contractually even if the state does not.
What happens if a Connecticut notary performs RON on an unapproved platform?
Using a platform that has not been approved by the Secretary of the State is unauthorized notarization under Connecticut law. The resulting documents may be void or voidable, and the notary risks commission revocation and potential civil liability. Always confirm your platform appears on the Secretary of the State's current approved list before conducting any RON session.
How do Connecticut RON fees compare to traditional notary fees?
Connecticut sets maximum per-act fees for traditional notarizations by statute. The RON statute or associated regulations may set a different per-act cap for remote acts. Confirm both figures with the Secretary of the State's office because the caps may differ. Platform subscription costs are additional overhead that traditional notarization does not carry, which affects your net per-act revenue.
Do I need to retake the notary exam to add RON to my Connecticut commission?
No. Connecticut does not require a separate notary exam for initial commissioning or for adding RON authorization. What you do need is training on your specific approved RON platform, which is typically provided by the platform vendor. Keep your completion certificate as documentation that you completed the required training before your first session.
Where can I find the official Connecticut RON rules?
The primary statutory authority is Connecticut Public Act 23-97, which amended Connecticut General Statutes sections 3-91a through 3-91k. The Secretary of the State's office has rulemaking authority and may have issued additional guidance or regulations since the statute passed. Go to the Secretary of the State's official notary public page for current program documents and any issued regulations.
Sources
- Connecticut General Assembly, Public Acts 2023 Session: Connecticut permanently authorized remote online notarization under PA 23-97, amending CGS sections 3-91a through 3-91k, requiring approved platforms and Secretary of the State registration
- Connecticut Secretary of the State, Notary Public Information: Connecticut notary commissions are five-year terms issued by the Secretary of the State, with an application fee payable to that office
- Connecticut General Assembly, Connecticut General Statutes Title 3: Connecticut General Statutes govern notary public authority and historically set the per-signature notary fee for in-person acts
- Uniform Law Commission, Remote Online Notarization Act (2018): The ULC adopted a model Remote Online Notarization Act in 2018 that informed many state RON statutes including Connecticut's framework
- National Notary Association, Notary Bulletin: RON platform monthly subscription costs for solo notaries typically run in the range of $25 to $50 per month depending on vendor and tier
- National Conference of State Legislatures, Notary Laws in the Digital Age: Connecticut was among the states that passed permanent RON legislation by 2023; NCSL tracks RON authorization status across all 50 states
- Connecticut Secretary of the State, Notary Public: Connecticut notary public filings including commission applications and RON-related registrations are managed through the Secretary of the State's official portal