Key Takeaways
- Oath of office must be taken within 30 days of receiving Certificate of Appointment
- Commission must be recorded with your town clerk (residents) or business town clerk (non-residents)
- Recording fee is $20 paid to the town clerk
- You CANNOT notarize until oath and recording are completed
- Commission term is 5 years from date of appointment
Post-Appointment Requirements
Critical 30-Day Deadline
After receiving your Certificate of Appointment, you have 30 days to complete two mandatory steps:
- Take the Oath of Office
- Record your commission with the Town Clerk
WARNING: You CANNOT perform any notarial acts until BOTH steps are completed. Notarizing before completing these requirements is a violation of Connecticut law.
Taking the Oath of Office
The oath of office may be administered by any official authorized to administer oaths in Connecticut, including:
- Town clerks (most convenient option)
- Other notaries public
- Judges
- Justices of the peace
- Commissioners of the Superior Court
Your Certificate of Appointment contains a panel specifically for recording the administration of your oath.
Recording with the Town Clerk
For Connecticut Residents:
Record your oath and certificate with the town clerk in your town of residence.
For Non-Residents (with CT Business):
Record your oath and certificate with the town clerk of the town where your principal place of business is located.
| Recording Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Within 30 days of receiving certificate |
| Fee | $20 (set by CGS Section 7-34a) |
| Location | Your town of residence (residents) or business town (non-residents) |
| Required Documents | Certificate of Appointment with completed oath |
Optional Secondary Recording
After completing the mandatory recording, you may also record your certificate with town clerks in other Connecticut towns. This is optional and may be useful if you frequently notarize documents in multiple municipalities.
Commission Term
| Term Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 years |
| Start Date | Date of appointment |
| Renewal | Submit new application before expiration |
| Renewal Exam | Yes, same 100% passing requirement |
Renewal Process
When renewing your commission:
- Apply before your current commission expires
- Complete the online application with embedded exam
- Pass with 100% score (same as new applicants)
- Pay $60 renewal fee
- Take oath and record with town clerk again
Within how many days of receiving your Certificate of Appointment must you take your oath of office and record your commission?
What is the fee to record your notary commission with the town clerk?