Connecticut Notary Requirements and E&O Insurance

Is a notary bond required in Connecticut?

No. Connecticut does not require notaries public to post a surety bond. Notaries are appointed and licensed by the Secretary of the State through the Business Services Division, which handles all new and renewal applications.

Because there is no bond, Connecticut does not tie a financial guarantee to the appointment. Instead, the public relies on the notary’s qualifications and on the Secretary of the State’s authority to discipline notaries and revoke appointments for misconduct. A notary remains personally responsible for their own acts and any resulting liability.

Connecticut uses the term “appointment” for a notary’s commission. Each notary is appointed for a five-year term that begins on the date of appointment and runs through the anniversary month five years later; the appointment is evidenced by a certificate bearing the notary’s information and commission expiration date.

How to become a notary in Connecticut

1. Confirm eligibility and complete the application with the Office of the Secretary of the State, Business Services Division. All applicants must provide a residential address.
2. Non-resident applicants must additionally provide the address of their principal place of business or employment in Connecticut.
3. Pay the statutory application fee of $120 for a new commission. Active Connecticut state employees (including state police) applying for official-duty use may qualify for a fee waiver via the online process.
4. Take the notary oath as required and receive your certificate of appointment.
5. Obtain your notary supplies and note your commission expiration date, which must appear on your certificates.

Bond vs. E&O insurance in Connecticut

Connecticut requires no bond, so the only financial-protection product a Connecticut notary would consider is errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, and it is optional. A bond would protect the public and be recoverable from the notary; E&O insurance instead protects the notary by helping cover legal defense and losses from unintentional mistakes. Because there is no bond backstop in Connecticut, some notaries choose E&O for their own protection, but the state does not require it.

Renewing your Connecticut commission

Connecticut appointments last five years and expire at midnight on the commission expiration date shown on the certificate. To renew, apply through the Secretary of the State; the renewal fee is $60. The manual describes procedures for late renewal and reinstatement if an appointment has expired, so review those rules if you miss the expiration date. Because Connecticut requires no bond, there is nothing to re-post at renewal.

Remote online notarization in Connecticut

Connecticut authorizes remote notarial acts. Public Act 23-28, “An Act Concerning Remote Notarial Acts,” was signed on June 12, 2023, and became effective October 1, 2023; the Notary Public Manual was updated to reflect it. Traditional in-person notarization remains available, and notaries are not required to offer remote notarization — but those who do must comply with the Act’s requirements. Review the manual’s remote-notarization sections before offering the service.

Non-resident notaries in Connecticut

Connecticut addresses non-resident applicants. A non-resident may be appointed but must provide the address of their principal place of business or employment in Connecticut and keep it current, because that address affects the notary’s status under statutory requirements.