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Connecticut notary rules: jurats, oaths and affirmations

What the Connecticut Notary Public Manual says about jurats, oaths and affirmations, as 22 exam-style questions with the answer and the exact rule.

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According to Section 1-23, what specific phrase replaces "so help you God" when administering a solemn affirmation instead of an oath?"upon the pains and penalties of perjury or false statement". The statute mandates the use of the phrase "upon the pains and penalties of perjury or false statement" as the closing phrase for affirmations.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 29: “instead of the words “so help you God” the words “upon the pains and penalties of perjury or false statement” shall be used”
What is the required physical action for the person taking the oath during the ceremony?The person must raise their right hand. The handbook specifies that holding up the right hand is the required gesture for the person taking the oath.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 15: “The person taking the oath holds up his right hand and the notary administers the applicable oath.”
In which of the following situations are sworn law enforcement officers appointed under section 26-5 within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection authorized to perform notarial acts?In all affidavits, statements, depositions, complaints or reports made to or by any such sworn law enforcement officer. Item (23) defines the scope of authority for these specific law enforcement officers as covering affidavits, statements, depositions, complaints, or reports made to or by them.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 30: “(23) sworn law enforcement officers, appointed under section 26-5, within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in all affidavits, statements, depositions, complaints or reports made to or by any such sworn law enforcement officer;”
Who is authorized to administer the oath of office to a newly appointed notary?Any person authorized to administer an oath under section 1-24 of the General Statutes. The handbook clarifies that while town clerks are common, any person authorized under section 1-24 can administer the oath.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 7: “While most notaries swear this oath before a town clerk, the oath may be administered by any person authorized to administer an oath under section 1-24 of the General Statutes.”
Where must a non-resident notary record their appointment and oath?With the town clerk of the town in which the notary's principal place of business is located. For non-resident notaries, the law requires recording with the town clerk of their principal place of business.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 7: “If the notary is a non-resident, the recording must be made with the town clerk of the town in which the notary's principal place of business is located.”
Which of the following officials is listed in Section 1-24 as authorized to administer oaths?Justices of the peace. Section 1-24 lists justices of the peace among the officers authorized to administer oaths, whereas the other options are not listed in this specific context.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 29: “state officers, as defined in subsection (t) of section 9-1, judges and clerks of any court, family support magistrates, judge trial referees, justices of the peace, commissioners of the Superior Court, notaries public, town clerks and assistant town clerks, in all cases where an oath may be administered”
If a person objects to the standard oath ceremony due to scruples or conscience, what specific wording changes must the notary make to the oath?Replace 'solemnly swear' with 'solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare' and replace 'so help me God' with 'upon the pains and penalties of perjury or false statement'. The handbook provides exact instructions on substituting specific phrases when a signer objects to the traditional religious elements of the oath.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 15: “If the person so objects, the oath shall still be administered except the words "solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare" should be used as a replacement for of the word "swear," and instead of the words "so help me God" the words "upon the pains and penalties of perjury or false statement" should be used.”
What is the fixed fee required for recording a notary's commission and oath with the town clerk?Twenty dollars ($20.00). The handbook specifies that the filing fee for recording the commission and oath is exactly twenty dollars.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 7: “The filing fee for recording the notary's commission and oath is twenty dollars ($20.00), set by Section 7-34a of the Connecticut General Statutes.”
If a specific statute prescribes a particular oath form for a specific office or activity, what must the notary do?Use the oath prescribed by statute. The rule mandates that when a specific statutory oath exists for an office or activity, the notary must use that specific form rather than a general one.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 14: “If a more particular oath is applicable, the notary shall use the oath prescribed by statute.”
Within what timeframe must a newly appointed notary public record their certificate of appointment and oath of office with the appropriate town clerk?Within thirty days after receiving the certificate. The statute mandates that the recording must occur within thirty days of receiving the certificate.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 38: “Within thirty days after receiving a certificate of appointment from the Secretary, a notary public shall record, with the town clerk of the municipality in the state in which the notary resides, or, if the notary is not a resident of the state, with the town clerk of the municipality in the state in which the notary's principal place of business is located, such certificate and such notary's oath of office taken and subscribed to by the notary before some proper authority.”
What is the fee required to renew a notary public appointment?$60.00. The handbook specifies that the fee for renewing the appointment is sixty dollars.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 7: “If the applicant wishes to continue to be a notary, the notary must use the log-in information contained in the renewal correspondence, swear that they have not been convicted of a crime since the last appointment, and pay a fee of sixty dollars ($60.00).”
What is the primary responsibility of a notary regarding the content of a document they notarize?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.”
According to Section 1-22, what is the default ceremony to be used when administering an oath?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”
According to the definitions in Section 3-94a, which of the following best describes a 'Jurat'?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.”
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?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.”
How is 'Satisfactory evidence of identity' defined for a notary public verifying a signer?Identification based on at least two current documents, one government-issued with photo/signature and another with signature, or the oath of a credible witness. The definition requires either two specific types of documents or the credible witness method, rejecting single-ID reliance or undocumented personal knowledge as sufficient on their own.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 37: ““Satisfactory evidence of identity” means identification of an individual based on (A) at least two current documents, one issued by a federal or state government and containing the individual's signature and either a photograph or physical description, and the other by an institution, business entity or state government or the federal government and containing at least the individual's signature, or (B) the oath or affirmation of a credible person who is personally known to the notary public and who personally knows the individual.”
If a notary's commission expires before a new certificate is issued, when is the notary permitted to resume performing notarial acts?After receiving the new Certificate of Appointment and taking the oath of office. The rules require the notary to wait until they have both received the new certificate and taken the oath of office before performing acts.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 8: “If a notary's commission expires prior to a new certificate having been issued and received, the notary must cease performing notarial acts until he/she has received the new Certificate of Appointment and has taken an oath of office for the new term.”
Under Section 1-23, what phrase replaces "swear" when administering a solemn affirmation?"solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare". The handbook specifies the exact wording required to replace "swear" in a solemn affirmation.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 29: “instead of the word “swear” the words “solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare” shall be used”
What is the required response from the person to whom an oath is administered during the ceremony?Answer "I do.". The handbook specifies that the person taking the oath is expected to respond with the phrase "I do" during the administration of the oath.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 15: “The person to whom an oath is administered should answer "I do."”
Within what timeframe must a newly appointed notary record their appointment and oath of office with the town clerk?Within thirty (30) days of receiving the Certificate of Appointment. The handbook mandates that the recording process be completed within 30 days of receiving the certificate.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 7: “The appointment and oath of office must be recorded within thirty (30) days of having received the Certificate of Appointment with the town clerk in the town in which the notary resides.”
Under section 1-24 of the General Statutes, in which of the following scenarios is a notary authorized to administer an oath?When the signer must swear to the truth of a document or other writing. The handbook lists swearing to the truth of a document as one of the two specific circumstances for administering an oath.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 14: “Typically, a notary is called to administer an oath under two circumstances: (1) when the signer must swear to the truth of a document or other writing or (2) when a person is assuming a public office that requires an oath.”
Which group is listed in Section 1-24(15) as authorized to administer oaths in the performance of their assigned duties?Investigators, deputy investigators, investigative aides, secretaries, clerical assistants, social workers, social worker trainees, paralegals and certified legal interns employed by or assigned to the Public Defender Services Commission. Section 1-24(15) lists specific roles within the Public Defender Services Commission as authorized oath administrators.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 29: “Investigators, deputy investigators, investigative aides, secretaries, clerical assistants, social workers, social worker trainees, paralegals and certified legal interns employed by or assigned to the Public Defender Services Commission in the performance of their assigned duties”

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