CO NOTARY Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CO NOTARY facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Under Colorado's RON law, which of the following documents CANNOT be notarized remotely? → Wills governed by Colorado law that require witnesses present with the testator
2. Does Colorado allow electronic notary journals? → Yes, Colorado authorizes tamper-evident electronic journals
3. May a Colorado notary notarize a signature if they cannot communicate with the signer due to a language barrier? → No, without adequate communication the notary should refuse
4. After completing a notarial act in Colorado, where must the notary affix their seal? → Near their signature on the notarial certificate
5. What is the purpose of requiring a notary to keep a journal? → To create an official record that can be used to verify or dispute notarizations
6. Can a Colorado notary certify a copy of a vital record such as a birth certificate? → No, vital records can only be certified by the issuing agency
7. Must a Colorado notary record the signer's signature in the journal? → Yes, the signer must sign or mark the journal for each notarial act
8. What is the penalty for a Colorado notary who charges fees above the legal maximum? → Civil fine and possible commission revocation
9. What must a Colorado notary do if they change their name? → Notify the Secretary of State within 30 days
10. In Colorado, which notarial act requires BOTH a seal and a signature? → All notarial acts
11. Under Colorado law, can a Colorado RON notary notarize for a signer located in a foreign country? → Yes, Colorado RON law permits notarizing for signers located anywhere in the world
12. Which of the following may a Colorado notary NOT do with their seal? → Lend it to another person for use
13. What happens if a Colorado notary performs a notarial act knowing the signer is making a false statement? → The notary may face criminal liability for aiding a false document
14. What should a notary do when their commission certificate is received? → Keep it in a safe place and begin notarizing
15. What happens to a Colorado notary's journal when the commission expires? → The notary retains it for the required retention period
16. May a Colorado notary's seal include a decorative border or design beyond what is required? → Yes, as long as all required information is clearly included
17. Which action could result in revocation of a Colorado notary commission? → Notarizing a document with known blanks
18. A Colorado notary who moves out of state permanently should do which of the following? → Resign the commission with the Secretary of State
19. After a Colorado notary commission expires, what must the notary do to continue performing notarial acts? → Apply for a new commission
20. What must a Colorado notary include in every notarial certificate? → Their commission expiration date
21. A Colorado notary may refuse to perform a notarial act if: → The notary is not satisfied the signer is competent or willing
22. What is a copy certification by a document custodian in Colorado? → The notary notarizes the custodian's statement that the copy is accurate
23. Is a Colorado notary required to keep an official journal of notarial acts? → Yes, it is required by Colorado law
24. What civil liability can a Colorado notary face for a negligent notarization? → Liability for damages caused to parties who relied on the improper notarization
25. Can a Colorado notary rely on personal knowledge to identify a signer? → Yes, if the notary personally knows the signer
26. A Colorado notary who is also authorized to perform RON uses a paper journal for in-person acts. For RON sessions, the notary must: → Use a separate, tamper-evident electronic journal for RON acts
27. A Colorado notary who is also a licensed attorney may provide legal advice: → In their capacity as an attorney, but must clearly separate the two roles
28. Who owns the Colorado notary's seal? → The notary personally
29. May a Colorado notary notarize their own signature on a document? → No, a notary cannot notarize their own signature
30. When multiple documents are notarized for the same signer in a single session, how should the notary handle journal entries? → A separate journal entry is required for each document notarized