25 questions from the Connecticut Notary Public Manual. Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1. What type of signature is required on the document when conducting a remote notarization in Connecticut?
Answer: The document must be signed by hand (wet-ink signature). The guidelines specify that documents should be executed on paper with a wet-ink signature, not electronically.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 27: “All remote notarizations should be done on paper and that the notary sign and certify the document by hand (wet-ink signature).”
2. If a Connecticut notary public changes their residence address to a different municipality, what action must they take within thirty days after the Secretary issues a replacement certificate of appointment?
Answer: Record the replacement certificate with the town clerk of the municipality where the new address is located. The handbook mandates recording the replacement certificate with the town clerk of the new municipality within thirty days of issuance.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 40: “If the change of address is to a different municipality, the notary shall, within thirty days after issuance of a replacement certificate of appointment by the Secretary, record such certificate with the town clerk of the municipality in which the new address is located.”
3. In the sample form for a signature by mark, who is responsible for writing the name of the signer by or near the mark?
Answer: One of the witnesses. The sample form states that one of the witnesses writes the signer's name near the mark.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 14: “one of whom, (name of witness), also wrote the name of the signer by or near the mark.”
4. Under Connecticut law, what is the primary requirement for a notary public to maintain their commission eligibility?
Answer: The notary must reside or have a principal place of business within the state. The handbook states that maintaining a residence or principal place of business in Connecticut is required to continue as a notary.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 9: “All notaries must maintain either a residence or a principal place of business in this state to continue as a Connecticut notary public.”
5. According to Section 4.2.1 of the Connecticut Notary Public Manual, under which circumstance is a notary permitted to reasonably refuse to perform a notarial act?
Answer: When the notary exclusively provides notarial services to their employer rather than the general public. The handbook lists providing services exclusively to an employer as a valid reason for reasonable refusal, distinguishing it from discriminatory refusals.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 12: “There are other areas where a notary may reasonably refuse service, such as when the notary exclusively provides notarial services to the notary's employer (and not the general public) or when the notary has been advised that notarizing certain documents exposes the employer to unreasonable legal liability.”
6. What is the minimum age requirement for an individual to apply for appointment as a notary public in Connecticut?
Answer: Eighteen years old. The handbook specifies that applicants must be eighteen years of age or older.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 6: “Any eighteen-year-old or older person who is a resident of Connecticut or who has his/her principal place of business in Connecticut, may apply to become a notary public in the state of Connecticut.”
7. What action should a notary take if they are uncertain how to perform a notarial act in connection with a will?
Answer: Seek the advice of an attorney or refuse to perform the act. The handbook instructs notaries to consult an attorney or decline the task if they lack certainty about the specific requirements for wills.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 21: “If a notary is uncertain as to how to perform a notarial act in connection with a will, the notary should seek the advice of an attorney or refuse to perform the notarial act.”
8. In the 'Sample Certified Copy Statement (Short Form)', how does the method of creating the copy differ from the Long Form regarding who performs the copying?
Answer: The Short Form allows the copy to be made by the notary or under their supervision. The Short Form permits the copy to be made either directly by the notary or under their supervision, whereas the Long Form implies the notary makes it.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 17: “made by me or under my supervision”
9. When completing an acknowledgment certificate for a corporation, what specific information must be included regarding the entity's organization?
Answer: The state or place of incorporation. The template for corporate acknowledgments requires the inclusion of the state or place of incorporation within the certificate wording.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 35: “by (name of officer or agent, title of officer or agent) of (name of corporation acknowledging) a (state or place of incorporation) corporation, on behalf of the corporation.”
10. According to the Uniform Acknowledgement Act, which of the following individuals is authorized to take an acknowledgment of an instrument within the state?
Answer: A notary public. The handbook lists specific officials authorized to take acknowledgments within the state, including a notary public among them.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 30: “The acknowledgment of any instrument may be made in this state before: (1) A judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate; (2) a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal; (3) a town clerk; (4) a notary public; (5) a justice of the peace; or (6) an attorney admitted to the bar of this state.”
11. How must the date be recorded in the notarial certificate when performing a remote notarization?
Answer: It must be the date the document was signed by the signer while connected with the notary. The rule specifies that the certificate date corresponds to the time of the remote meeting/signing, not the later date when the notary physically executes the certificate.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 22: “The notarial certificate shall state that the date the document was signed was the date the notary and the signer met by communication technology.”
12. What is the primary responsibility of a notary regarding the content of a document they notarize?
Answer: Verify the identity of the signer. The handbook clarifies that the notary's duty is limited to verifying identity, not the truth or legality of the document's content.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 26: “Notaries verify the identity of signers. For attestations (affidavits/jurats), the signer affirms that the contents of the document are true, but the notary is not responsible for verifying the truth of the document.”
13. According to Section 1-22, what is the default ceremony to be used when administering an oath?
Answer: The holding up of the right hand. The statute defines the standard oath ceremony as holding up the right hand, unless specific exceptions apply.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 29: “The ceremony to be used, by persons to whom an oath is administered, shall be the holding up of the right hand”
14. What is the required timeframe for a Connecticut notary public to file a written notice of a change in residence address with the Secretary?
Answer: Within thirty days. The handbook mandates that a resident notary must file the address change notice within thirty days of the change.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 40: “Within thirty days after a change of residence address, a notary public who is a resident of the state shall file with the Secretary a signed, written notice which shall include both the old and new addresses.”
15. What is the required approach for a notary public when interacting with persons requesting notarial acts?
Answer: Serve the public without unreasonable refusal while exercising care not to exceed authority by offering opinions or advice. The handbook mandates serving the public without unreasonable refusal while simultaneously limiting the notary's role to avoid giving legal advice or opinions.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 5: “It is the duty of all notaries to serve the public and they shall not unreasonably refuse to perform a notarial act for any member of the public who tenders the statutory fee and meets all requirements prescribed by statute. However, the notary must exercise equal care not to exceed the authority of the commission by offering opinions or advice to persons requesting performance of notarial acts.”
16. What specific characteristic must 'communication technology' possess when used for remote notarization?
Answer: It must function simultaneously and by sight and sound. The definition provided requires the interaction to be simultaneous and include both visual and auditory components.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 21: “Instead, the notary and signer meet via communication technology, which means simultaneously and by sight and sound unless some other means is necessary to accommodate a disability.”
17. Under Section 1-34(5), what distinction must be made when identifying a Limited Liability Company in the acknowledgment certificate?
Answer: Whether the LLC is member managed or manager managed. The form specifically requires the notary to specify if the LLC is member managed or manager managed.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 31: “who acknowledged himself to be the .... of ...., a (member managed or manager managed) limited liability company”
18. What is the recommended action for a notary to take regarding the signer's identification during a remote notarization session?
Answer: Take and retain a screen capture of the signer holding the identification to the camera. The handbook specifically recommends taking and retaining a screen capture of the signer holding the ID to the camera during the video session.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 21: “Since the ID will be shown over video camera, it is recommended that the notary take and retain a screen capture of the signer holding the identification to the camera.”
19. Where must a Connecticut notary be physically located when performing a remote notarization?
Answer: The notary must be located within the state of Connecticut. The handbook clarifies that if a Connecticut notary is physically outside the state, the laws of the location where they are situated govern the act, implying the notary should generally be within Connecticut to apply Connecticut law directly.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 27: “Yes, under section 1-57 of the General Statutes a notarial act performed outside of this state will be granted the same effect as a notarial act performed within the state only if notarized by “[a] notary public authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed.” Further, an out of state acknowledgement will only be recognized if “the certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the acknowledgment is taken.” Section 1-60 of the General Statutes. If a Connecticut notary is physically located outside of the state, the laws of that state govern, not Connecticut.”
20. According to Section 1-36(2), who may authenticate an acknowledgment taken by a notary public outside Connecticut but within the United States?
Answer: A clerk of a court of record of the county, parish or district, or the clerk of the town. The law specifies that a clerk of a court of record or the clerk of the town is responsible for authenticating the notary's official character in this scenario.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 32: “if the acknowledgment is taken by a notary public, or any other person authorized to take acknowledgments, by a clerk of a court of record of the county, parish or district, or the clerk of the town, in which the acknowledgment is taken.”
21. What is the specific cost associated with the reinstatement process for a notary commission that has become inactive?
Answer: $120. The handbook specifies that the fee for reinstating an inactive commission is exactly $120.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 8: “The reinstatement process mirrors the requirements of a new application, and the cost is $120.”
22. According to the definitions in Section 3-94a, which of the following best describes a 'Jurat'?
Answer: A notarial act where the notary certifies that a signatory has made a voluntary signature and taken an oath or affirmation vouching for the truthfulness of the signed document. The handbook defines a Jurat as requiring both a voluntary signature and an oath or affirmation regarding the truthfulness of the document.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 36: ““Jurat” means a notarial act in which a notary public certifies that a signatory, whose identity is personally known to the notary public or proven on the basis of satisfactory evidence, has made, in the notary public's presence, a voluntary signature and taken an oath or affirmation vouching for the truthfulness of the signed document.”
23. What action is required if a notary has relocated to a new town of residence or principal place of business and receives a replacement certificate due to a name change?
Answer: The replacement certificate must be recorded with the town clerk of the new town. While a new oath is not needed for a replacement certificate, the handbook specifies that the certificate must be recorded with the town clerk if the notary has moved to a new town.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 8: “It is not necessary for the notary to take an oath of office upon receiving a replacement certificate, but if the notary has relocated to a new town of residence or principal place of business, the replacement certificate must be recorded with the town clerk of that new town.”
24. According to Section 1-30, which of the following is authorized to take an acknowledgment of an instrument made outside the state but within the United States?
Answer: A commissioner of deeds. Section 1-30 lists a commissioner of deeds as an authorized person for acknowledgments made within the United States but outside the state, whereas the other options refer to authorities for acknowledgments made outside the United States (Section 1-31).
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 30: “The acknowledgment of any instrument may be made without the state but within the United States or a territory or insular possession of the United States and within the jurisdiction of the officer, before: (1) A clerk or deputy clerk of any federal court; (2) a clerk or deputy clerk of any court of record of any state or other jurisdiction; (3) a notary public; (4) a commissioner of deeds; (5) any person authorized by the laws of such other jurisdiction to take acknowledgments; (6) any attorney admitted to the bar in this state as provided in section 1-31a.”
25. Can a Connecticut notary refuse to perform remote notarizations?
Answer: Yes, the notary may choose to conduct only in-person notarizations. The handbook confirms that notaries are not forced to perform remote notarizations and may limit their practice to in-person acts if they wish.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 27: “No, if the notary wishes to conduct only in-person notarizations, the notary may do so.”