CO Notary Notary Seal & Signature 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: May a Colorado notary use a rubber stamp seal?
- No, only embossed seals are allowed
- Yes, an inked rubber stamp seal is acceptable (Correct answer)
- Only for copies, not originals
- Only for jurats, not acknowledgments
Correct answer: Yes, an inked rubber stamp seal is acceptable
Colorado allows notaries to use an inked rubber stamp seal, which is actually more common than embossed seals for legibility.
Question 2: Can a Colorado notary use an electronic seal for electronic documents?
- No, only physical seals are permitted
- Yes, Colorado authorizes electronic seals for electronic notarizations (Correct answer)
- Only for remote online notarizations
- Only with prior Secretary of State approval
Correct answer: Yes, Colorado authorizes electronic seals for electronic notarizations
Colorado authorizes notaries to use electronic seals when performing electronic notarizations on electronic documents.
Question 3: What happens if a notary's seal impression is unclear or partially illegible on a document?
- The notarization is automatically void
- The notary may re-affix a clear impression nearby (Correct answer)
- The signer must re-sign the document
- A new document must be prepared
Correct answer: The notary may re-affix a clear impression nearby
If the seal impression is unclear, the notary may affix a second, clear impression near the first; the notarization is not automatically void.
Question 4: When performing an acknowledgment in Colorado, where does the notary sign?
- On any blank space in the document
- On the notarial certificate associated with the act (Correct answer)
- After the signer on the signature line
- On the back of the document only
Correct answer: On the notarial certificate associated with the act
The notary signs on the notarial certificate, which is the official section recording the notarial act.
Question 5: A Colorado notary's printed name must appear on the notarial certificate:
- Only if the signature is illegible
- Always, either printed or typed beneath the notary's signature (Correct answer)
- Only when required by the receiving agency
- Never — the seal is sufficient
Correct answer: Always, either printed or typed beneath the notary's signature
The notary's name must appear printed or typed beneath the signature on every notarial certificate for clear identification.
Question 6: If a Colorado notary changes their official signature, what must they do?
- Nothing additional is required
- Notify the Secretary of State of the signature change (Correct answer)
- Obtain a new commission
- Update their journal retroactively
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State of the signature change
A notary should notify the Secretary of State when they change their official signature to keep records current.
CO Notary Notary Seal & Signature 2
May a Colorado notary use a rubber stamp seal?