Colorado Notary Exam Notary Seal and Certificate Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which seal shapes are permitted for a Colorado notary public?
- Only circular
- Only rectangular
- Both circular and rectangular (Correct answer)
- Any shape the notary chooses
Correct answer: Both circular and rectangular
Colorado law permits notary seals in either circular or rectangular shape.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT required to appear on a Colorado notary's official seal?
- Notary's name
- Commission number (Correct answer)
- Words 'State of Colorado'
- Commission expiration date
Correct answer: Commission number
Colorado's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts requires the notary's name, 'Notary Public,' 'State of Colorado,' and expiration date — but NOT the commission number.
Question 3: What must a Colorado notary do if their official seal is lost or stolen?
- Purchase a replacement seal and resume notarizing immediately
- Notify the Colorado Secretary of State within 10 days (Correct answer)
- Apply for an entirely new notary commission
- Quarantine all documents notarized with that seal
Correct answer: Notify the Colorado Secretary of State within 10 days
Colorado requires notaries to notify the Secretary of State within 10 days of discovering a seal has been lost, stolen, or damaged.
Question 4: When a Colorado notary's commission expires and they receive a new commission, what must they do with their old seal?
- Store it securely for seven years
- Return it to the Secretary of State
- Destroy it so it cannot be misused (Correct answer)
- Keep it as an authorized backup
Correct answer: Destroy it so it cannot be misused
Upon receiving a new commission — or when a commission ends — the notary must destroy the old seal to prevent unauthorized use.
Question 5: What is the consequence of affixing a notary seal impression that is too faint to be photocopied?
- The notarization is automatically void by statute
- The document must be re-notarized with a clear impression (Correct answer)
- The notary must note the defect in their journal only
- The signer must initial the area near the seal
Correct answer: The document must be re-notarized with a clear impression
Because the seal must be capable of being photocopied and reproduced, an illegible impression renders the notarization defective and requires a new, clear impression.
Question 6: A Colorado notary uses an embossed (raised) seal in addition to their ink stamp. Is this permitted?
- No; only the ink stamp is permitted in any circumstance
- Yes; an embossed seal may supplement but not replace the ink stamp (Correct answer)
- Yes; the embossed seal may replace the ink stamp on original documents
- Only if the Secretary of State has pre-approved dual seals
Correct answer: Yes; an embossed seal may supplement but not replace the ink stamp
An embossed seal may be used as a supplement alongside the required ink stamp, but it cannot serve as the sole official seal because it cannot be photocopied.
Question 7: Where on a document must a Colorado notary place their official seal?
- Only in the upper-left corner of the signature page
- Near the notary's signature on the certificate (Correct answer)
- At the very top of the first page of the document
- On a separate cover sheet attached to the document
Correct answer: Near the notary's signature on the certificate
The notary seal is placed near the notary's signature on the notarial certificate to confirm the notarization.
Colorado Notary Exam Notary Seal and Certificate Requirements 2
Which seal shapes are permitted for a Colorado notary public?