Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Connecticut does not issue a separate RON license. You need an active notary public commission from the Secretary of the State, then you register with an approved RON platform that meets the state's audio-visual and identity-proofing standards. The commission application costs $120 and takes roughly four to six weeks. RON can begin as soon as your platform is live.
Do you need a license for remote online notarization in Connecticut?
No separate RON license exists in Connecticut. The state does not issue a "remote online notarization license" as a distinct credential you go apply for. What you need is a current Connecticut notary public commission, issued by the Secretary of the State, and then you must use a platform that meets the technical standards set out in Connecticut General Statutes Section 3-94n through 3-94s, the laws that govern electronic and remote notarization in the state. [1]
So the path is two-layered. Layer one is the notary commission itself. Layer two is a compliant technology platform. Neither layer involves a standalone RON permit or a separate government approval beyond the commission.
Hold an active Connecticut notary commission already? Then you are legally able to perform RON right now, provided you use a platform that satisfies the statutory audio-visual, identity-proofing, and record-keeping requirements. If your commission is expired or you have never been commissioned, start with the commission application. Nothing else matters until that is in hand.
Here is one thing Connecticut does not have that some other states do: a mandatory pre-RON registration filing with the Secretary of the State's office. Virginia and Florida require notaries to register their technology platform with the state before doing their first RON. Connecticut's statute does not require that step. The compliance burden falls on using a qualifying platform, not on filing paperwork with the state about that platform. [1]
What Connecticut law actually says about remote online notarization
Connecticut enacted its RON framework under Public Act 19-136, later codified in CGS Sections 3-94n through 3-94s. The core rule is plain: a notary performing a remote notarial act must use communication technology that lets the notary see and hear the principal in real time, and must use an identity-proofing procedure that meets the standards prescribed by the Secretary of the State. [1]
The statute defines "communication technology" as an electronic device or process that allows a notary and a remotely located individual to communicate with each other simultaneously by sight and sound. A basic video call with no identity verification does not satisfy the law. The platform you use must include credential analysis, knowledge-based authentication, or a combination of both.
Connecticut also requires the notary to create and retain a secure audio-visual recording of the entire RON session. The retention period is at least ten years. That recording is part of the notary's journal, and the statute treats it the same way as a traditional paper journal entry. [1]
The Secretary of the State publishes guidance on which identity-proofing methods satisfy the statutory standard, but does not publish a formal list of pre-approved platforms the way some states do. The notary carries the responsibility for verifying that a chosen platform actually meets the statute before using it commercially.
How do you get a Connecticut notary public commission?
The Connecticut Secretary of the State handles all notary commissions. Here is the sequence as it actually works.
First, you submit an application through the Secretary of the State's online portal. You must be at least 18, a Connecticut resident or have a place of employment or practice in Connecticut, and you cannot have been convicted of a felony (or if you have, you need to disclose and may need a waiver). [2]
Second, your application goes to the town clerk in the town where you live or work. The town clerk administers your oath of office and certifies it. This is a real in-person step that surprises people who assume the whole process happens online. You have 30 days from the date the Secretary of the State approves your application to appear before the town clerk and take the oath.
Third, once the town clerk records your oath, you are commissioned. Your commission is valid for five years from the date the Secretary of the State grants it. [2]
The application fee paid to the Secretary of the State is $120. [3] Some town clerks charge a small fee for administering the oath and recording it. That amount varies by municipality. Confirm the current amount with your town clerk directly before you go.
There is no required notary training course in Connecticut, and no state-mandated exam. That is different from Texas and Florida, where you must complete a course before being commissioned. Connecticut trusts the application and oath process to screen candidates.
How much does remote online notarization cost in Connecticut?
Connecticut caps the fee a notary may charge per notarial act at $5 per signature under CGS Section 3-94a. [4] That cap applies to in-person notarization. For RON, the statute does not set a separate higher cap, so the $5 per-signature limit technically governs the notarial act itself.
RON platforms charge their own technology fees on top of the notarial act fee, and those platform fees are not regulated by the state. In practice, most consumers using a RON platform pay between $25 and $50 per session, with the platform keeping the bulk of that amount as a technology fee and the notary receiving the notarial act fee portion. If you are starting your own RON practice rather than working through a marketplace platform, you set your own total session price subject to the $5 statutory cap on the notarial act itself.
Here is how the costs stack up for someone starting from scratch as a Connecticut RON notary:
| Cost item | Approximate amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State commission application fee | $120 | Paid to SoS at application [3] |
| Town clerk oath fee | Varies, often $0 to $20 | Confirm with your specific town |
| E&O insurance (optional but common) | $50 to $200/year | Not required by CT statute |
| RON platform subscription | $20 to $100/month | Varies widely by provider |
| Digital certificate / electronic seal | $50 to $100 one-time | Required for electronic notarization |
The commission renewal fee is also $120 every five years. [3]
Using a Connecticut RON notary rather than becoming one? Your total cost is whatever the notary or platform charges per session, typically $25 to $50 for a single document. Nothing in state law requires notaries to charge the maximum $5 or to disclose the platform fee separately, so prices vary.
How long does remote online notarization take in Connecticut?
Two timelines are worth separating: the time to get authorized to perform RON, and the time a single RON session takes.
To get authorized, the bottleneck is the notary commission process. The Secretary of the State's office processes applications, and then you need the town clerk step. In practice, the total calendar time from submitting your application to holding an active commission runs roughly four to six weeks, though the Secretary of the State's office does not publish a guaranteed processing time. [2] If your town clerk can schedule you quickly, the gap between approval and oath is short. The 30-day window to take your oath starts from the SoS approval date, not your application date.
After commission, if you already have a platform subscription and a digital certificate, you can start performing RON within days. There is no waiting period imposed by the state between your commission date and your first RON session.
A single RON session depends on the document and the signer. A straightforward single-document signing typically takes 10 to 20 minutes, including identity verification. Knowledge-based authentication, where the signer answers questions drawn from public records, adds three to five minutes. Complex multi-document closings take longer. The recording must capture the entire session, so the platform timer runs from start to finish.
If a signer fails identity verification, the session stops. The notary cannot waive the identity-proofing requirement. That is the most common reason RON sessions fail to complete.
What platform do you need and how do you choose one?
Connecticut does not maintain a state-approved vendor list the way some states do. You are responsible for confirming that the platform you use meets the statutory requirements in CGS 3-94n through 3-94s. [1] Check the platform against four requirements before you commit to a subscription.
First, real-time audio-visual communication. The platform must allow synchronous two-way sight and sound, not asynchronous video or pre-recorded sessions.
Second, identity proofing. The platform must perform credential analysis (scanning a government-issued ID) and knowledge-based authentication, or an equivalent method that meets the Secretary of the State's standards.
Third, tamper-evident technology. The completed electronic document must be sealed in a way that reveals any alteration after notarization.
Fourth, audio-visual recording and storage. The platform must create and retain the session recording for at least ten years, or you must store it yourself in a secure manner.
Most major RON platforms, like Notarize (now Proof), DocuSign Notary, and Pavaso, are built to meet standards across many states and will satisfy Connecticut's requirements. Smaller or newer platforms may not. Before subscribing, ask the vendor specifically whether their platform meets Connecticut's identity-proofing and recording retention requirements, and get that answer in writing.
For notaries building out their first RON setup, RONPath's $99 State RON Add-On Kit at /start packages Connecticut's specific statutory checklist and platform selection criteria so you are not reading the statutes cold. That said, the statutes are publicly available and you can do this research yourself if you prefer.
Platform pricing varies a lot. Solo notary plans on major platforms run $20 to $50 per month. Volume pricing for closing services runs higher. Some platforms charge per-session fees instead of monthly subscriptions. Run the math based on how many sessions per month you expect before you commit.
Can out-of-state notaries perform RON for Connecticut signers?
Yes, with conditions. Connecticut's statute recognizes RON performed by notaries commissioned in other states, provided those states have RON laws that are substantially equivalent to Connecticut's requirements. [1] This is common in real estate closings where a Florida or Virginia RON notary handles a document for a Connecticut property owner.
For Connecticut-commissioned notaries, you can also notarize for signers located outside Connecticut during a RON session. The notary's authority flows from where the notary is commissioned, not where the signer is sitting. So a Connecticut notary can legally serve signers in other states or countries through RON, as long as the receiving state or country accepts the RON notarization. Always confirm acceptance requirements with the receiving jurisdiction before completing a cross-border RON.
If you are an attorney in Connecticut, separate rules may apply under court or regulatory requirements for specific document types. RON authority under the notary statute does not override any other professional rule that limits how certain legal documents must be executed.
What records does a Connecticut RON notary have to keep?
Connecticut's RON statute treats the audio-visual recording as a notarial record, equivalent to the journal entry you would make for an in-person notarization. The recording must be retained for a minimum of ten years. [1]
You also need to maintain an electronic notarial journal. Each entry should include the date and time of the notarial act, the type of notarial act, the title or type of document notarized, the name and address of each principal, and how identity was verified. That matches the standard notary journal requirements, with the addition of the identity-proofing method.
Storage of recordings and journal entries must be secure. The statute does not mandate a specific technical standard for storage security, but the reasonable interpretation is that access controls, encryption, and backup are expected. Many RON platforms store recordings on your behalf as part of the subscription. Verify that your platform's retention period actually covers the ten-year requirement before assuming it does. Some platforms delete recordings after two or three years by default unless you configure retention settings.
If you end your RON practice or close your business, you are still responsible for maintaining access to those records for the remainder of the ten-year period. Plan for that before you sign up with any platform.
How does Connecticut compare to nearby states for RON?
The Northeast has a patchwork of RON laws, and Connecticut sits in a relatively permissive position compared to some of its neighbors.
| State | Separate RON credential required | Pre-registration with state | Notary fee cap per act | Approved vendor list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | No | No | $5 [4] | No |
| New York | No (emergency orders lapsed; permanent RON law pending as of mid-2025) | N/A | $2 [5] | N/A |
| Massachusetts | No | No | $1.25 [6] | No |
| Rhode Island | No | No | $5 | No |
| New Hampshire | No | No | $10 | No |
| Vermont | No | No | No cap | No |
New York is the notable gap in the Northeast. As of mid-2025, New York does not have a permanent RON statute in place for general notaries, which means many New York documents still require in-person notarization. That creates real demand from New York signers who use Connecticut-commissioned RON notaries for documents that legally permit it. [5]
Connecticut's $5 per-act cap is higher than Massachusetts's $1.25 but lower than New Hampshire's $10. The cap on the notarial act itself matters less in RON because the platform technology fee is what drives total consumer cost.
For comparison with states outside the region, see how states with more bureaucratic RON processes work: remote online notarization license in Arizona and remote online notarization license in Colorado both involve state-level approval steps that Connecticut skips entirely.
Common mistakes Connecticut RON notaries make in the first year
The single most common mistake is using a RON platform without confirming it meets Connecticut's specific identity-proofing standard. Not all platforms are equal, and the notary is the responsible party if a notarization is challenged.
The second most common mistake is neglecting the recording retention requirement. Ten years is a long time, and platform defaults may not preserve recordings that long. Check your platform settings on day one.
Third: confusing the notarial act fee cap with the total session price. The $5 cap is on the notarial act, not on the total fee you charge for your time and technology. You can charge a reasonable technology or service fee on top of the $5, but be transparent about the breakdown if clients ask. Misrepresenting the fee structure creates complaints.
Fourth: taking the oath late. Once the Secretary of the State approves your application, the 30-day window to appear before the town clerk starts ticking. Miss that window and your application lapses, so you have to reapply. Schedule the town clerk appointment the same day you get the approval notice.
Fifth: operating while commissioned in another state but not Connecticut. RON authority in Connecticut requires a Connecticut commission. A Florida commission does not let you hold yourself out as a Connecticut notary performing RON for Connecticut documents, even if the receiving state would accept it in some circumstances.
For a broader view of how state-by-state differences affect RON operations, the remote online notarization license in Alaska and remote online notarization license in Arkansas guides show how different the paper paths look even within the same national framework.
Step-by-step: how to start RON in Connecticut
Here is the actual sequence, in order.
Step 1. Confirm eligibility. You must be 18 or older, a Connecticut resident or have a Connecticut place of employment, and have no disqualifying criminal history. [2]
Step 2. Apply for your notary commission online through the Connecticut Secretary of the State's eLicense portal. Pay the $120 application fee. [3]
Step 3. Wait for the Secretary of the State to process and approve your application. Budget four to six weeks. [2]
Step 4. Schedule your oath of office with your town clerk immediately after approval. You have 30 days. The clerk administers the oath, you sign the commission certificate, and the clerk records it.
Step 5. Obtain your electronic notary seal and digital certificate. These are required to affix your notarial certificate to electronic documents. Major providers include IdenTrust and DocuSign. Costs run $50 to $100.
Step 6. Choose and subscribe to a RON platform that meets Connecticut's audio-visual, identity-proofing, and recording-retention requirements under CGS 3-94n through 3-94s. [1]
Step 7. Configure your platform's recording retention settings to meet the ten-year requirement.
Step 8. Do a test session with a friend or family member before taking on paid clients. Confirm the video, audio, identity-proofing flow, and recording all work correctly.
Step 9. Market your services. Connecticut does not restrict how RON notaries advertise, but be accurate about what you can and cannot notarize remotely.
RONPath's State RON Add-On Kit covers the platform vetting checklist and statutory compliance items for Connecticut in a single document if you want to skip building the checklist yourself. You can find it at /start.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for remote online notarization in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut does not issue a separate RON license. You need an active Connecticut notary public commission from the Secretary of the State, and you must use a platform that meets the state's audio-visual, identity-proofing, and recording requirements under CGS Sections 3-94n through 3-94s. No additional state permit or registration is required before your first RON session.
How much does remote online notarization cost in Connecticut?
The notary commission application costs $120. The statutory fee cap for a notarial act is $5 per signature. RON platform subscriptions typically run $20 to $100 per month. A digital certificate for your electronic seal costs roughly $50 to $100 one time. Consumers using a RON notary typically pay $25 to $50 per session, covering both the notarial act and the platform technology fee.
How long does remote online notarization take in Connecticut?
Getting commissioned takes roughly four to six weeks from application to oath. After that, you can start RON within days once your platform is set up. A single RON session runs 10 to 20 minutes for a straightforward document, including identity verification. Complex multi-document closings take longer. If a signer fails identity proofing, the session does not complete.
Is there a Connecticut RON exam or training requirement?
No. Connecticut does not require a notary training course or exam before you apply for a commission or begin performing RON. The only mandatory step beyond the application is taking your oath of office before a town clerk within 30 days of commission approval. Some platform providers offer optional training, which is worth doing before your first live session.
How long is a Connecticut notary commission valid?
Five years from the date the Secretary of the State grants it. Renewal requires a new $120 application fee and a new oath of office before a town clerk. There is no grace period to continue notarizing after expiration, so calendar your renewal well before the commission end date. RON authority ends when the commission expires.
Does Connecticut have an approved RON vendor list?
No. Unlike some states, Connecticut does not publish a list of pre-approved RON platforms. The notary is responsible for confirming that any platform they use meets the statutory requirements in CGS 3-94n through 3-94s, covering real-time audio-visual communication, identity proofing, tamper-evident document technology, and audio-visual recording retention of at least ten years.
Can a Connecticut notary perform RON for signers in other states?
Yes, generally. A Connecticut-commissioned notary can serve signers located in other states or countries during a RON session, because notarial authority follows where the notary is commissioned. However, the receiving state or country must accept the resulting notarization. Confirm acceptance requirements with the recipient jurisdiction before completing any cross-border RON session.
Can a non-Connecticut notary perform RON for Connecticut signers?
Yes, if the notary holds a commission in a state with RON laws substantially equivalent to Connecticut's, and the document type permits it. This is common in real estate transactions. The notarization is governed by the laws of the state where the notary is commissioned, not Connecticut's laws, though Connecticut must accept the result.
How long must Connecticut RON recordings be kept?
The audio-visual recording of each RON session must be retained for a minimum of ten years under Connecticut's RON statute. The recording functions as a notarial journal entry. Many RON platforms store recordings on your behalf, but platform default retention settings may be shorter than ten years. Verify and configure your platform's retention settings before your first session.
What is the fee cap for a notarial act in Connecticut?
Connecticut law caps the fee for a notarial act at $5 per signature under CGS Section 3-94a. That cap applies to the notarial act itself. RON notaries may charge a separate technology or service fee on top of the $5 for the platform and their time, but the notarial act component cannot exceed $5. Be transparent about fee breakdowns if clients ask.
Does Connecticut require a separate electronic notary registration?
No separate electronic notary registration is required in Connecticut beyond holding an active notary commission. Some states require notaries to file a separate application or notify the state before performing electronic or remote notarizations. Connecticut does not. Once commissioned and equipped with a compliant platform and digital certificate, you may perform RON.
What identity proofing methods does Connecticut RON law require?
Connecticut requires identity proofing that meets standards set by the Secretary of the State. In practice, this means credential analysis of a government-issued photo ID, knowledge-based authentication using public records questions, or a combination of both. The specific methods must satisfy the statutory standard in CGS 3-94n. Your RON platform should perform this step automatically as part of the session workflow.
What happens if a signer fails identity verification during a Connecticut RON session?
The session must stop. Connecticut's RON statute requires satisfactory identity proofing as a precondition of a valid remote notarial act. The notary cannot waive or override a failed verification. The signer would need to retry (some platforms allow a second attempt) or complete the notarization in person instead.
How do I renew a Connecticut notary commission for RON purposes?
You apply for renewal through the Secretary of the State's eLicense portal before your current commission expires. The renewal fee is $120. You must take a new oath of office before a town clerk after the renewal is approved. Your RON authority continues without interruption through the renewed commission, with no additional RON-specific renewal step required.
Sources
- Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes (Title 3, Notaries Public): Connecticut RON authority, platform requirements, identity proofing standards, and ten-year recording retention requirement
- Connecticut Secretary of the State, Notary Public Information: Eligibility requirements, commission application process, and oath of office before town clerk within 30 days
- Connecticut Secretary of the State, Notary Public: Connecticut notary commission application and renewal fee of $120
- Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes (Title 3, Notary Fees, Sec. 3-94a et seq.): Connecticut statutory cap of $5 per signature for notarial acts
- New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Notary Public): New York notary fee cap of $2 per notarial act and absence of a permanent general RON statute as of mid-2025
- Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 222 (Notaries Public): Massachusetts notary fee cap of $1.25 per notarial act
- Connecticut General Assembly, Public Act 19-136: Enactment of Connecticut's RON framework, codified in CGS 3-94n through 3-94s
- National Notary Association, Remote Online Notarization: Comparison of state RON frameworks, fee caps, and pre-registration requirements across Northeast states