Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Colorado caps the fee a notary can charge for a remote online notarization at $25 per notarial act. Getting set up costs more than that one-time: you'll pay a $10 state commission application fee, a four-year surety bond, plus platform and technology fees that run $50 to $200 per year depending on the vendor. No separate RON license is required beyond the standard notary commission.
Do you need a separate license for remote online notarization in Colorado?
No. Colorado does not issue a separate RON license or a distinct remote notary credential. If you already hold a current Colorado notary commission, you can perform remote online notarizations once you register with a state-approved RON platform. [1]
Colorado's RON authority sits in the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, codified at Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-21-501 and following. That framework authorizes commissioned notaries to perform electronic and remote notarizations after completing registration with the Secretary of State and selecting a technology provider from the approved vendor list. [1] The statute requires notaries to comply with the standards and rules adopted by the Secretary of State, which mostly means picking a compliant platform and following identity-proofing requirements.
If you don't have a Colorado notary commission at all, you need that first. The commission application is separate from RON registration. Think of it as two steps: get commissioned, then register for RON. Both run through the Colorado Secretary of State's office.
How much does the Colorado notary commission and RON registration cost?
Here's how the fees stack up from zero to your first RON session.
The Colorado notary commission application costs $10.00, paid to the Secretary of State. [2] Commissions last four years, so the annualized cost is $2.50. That's one of the lowest commission fees in the country.
The bond is where most new notaries spend a bit more. Colorado requires a $10,000 surety bond for the four-year term. [2] Bond cost varies by provider and your credit, but expect roughly $25 to $50 for a four-year bond at standard rates. Shop it. Prices move.
RON registration with the Secretary of State currently carries no additional state filing fee beyond what you paid for your commission. Confirm this directly with the Colorado Secretary of State before submitting, because fee schedules get updated. [2]
Then there's the platform. RON platforms are private vendors, not state agencies, so their fees are set by the market. Some charge nothing monthly and take a per-session fee. Others charge a flat annual rate. Typical ranges run from about $50 to $200 per year for a solo notary, with per-session fees on top where they apply. Ask every platform you evaluate for a full fee schedule before you commit.
| Cost Item | Typical Amount | Paid To |
|---|---|---|
| Notary commission application | $10.00 | CO Secretary of State |
| 4-year surety bond | $25, $50 | Private bond provider |
| RON platform subscription | $0, $200/yr | Private vendor |
| Per-session platform fee | $0, $10/session | Private vendor |
| State RON registration fee | Confirm with SOS | CO Secretary of State |
Total first-year cost for most solo notaries lands between $85 and $260, depending on bond and platform pricing. That's a low barrier compared to most states.
What is the maximum fee a Colorado notary can charge a signer for RON?
Colorado sets the maximum notarial act fee at $5 per act for in-person notarizations. [3] For remote online notarizations, the Colorado Secretary of State's rules raise the cap to $25 per notarial act. [3]
That $25 ceiling matters if you're a signer trying to figure out what you'll pay. A real estate closing with six signature notarizations could legally cost up to $150 in notary fees alone, before any title company or attorney fees.
Notaries can charge less than $25. Many do, especially on lower-volume documents. Travel fees and convenience fees are separate questions governed by what the market accepts, but the act fee itself is capped by statute.
If you're the notary, $25 per act is your ceiling too. Charging above it is a violation. Colorado's notary program has enforcement teeth: the Secretary of State can revoke a commission for fee violations. [1]
How long does remote online notarization take in Colorado?
The session itself, once everyone is connected, runs five to fifteen minutes for a straightforward single-signer document. A multi-signer real estate package with fifteen pages of notarization blocks can run thirty to forty-five minutes, sometimes longer if there are tech hiccups or identity verification delays.
Identity proofing is usually the longest variable. Colorado's rules require credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication (KBA) for signers who don't have an approved digital identity credential. KBA means answering questions drawn from your credit history, and some platforms give you only a few minutes to complete it. Signers who fail KBA can't proceed until they try again or the notary uses an alternative verification path.
Setup time before your first session is a different question. From commission application to your first live RON session, expect at least one to three weeks: processing time for the commission, plus platform onboarding and testing. The Secretary of State's processing time varies. Confirm the current estimate with their office before planning a deadline-sensitive notarization.
Once you're commissioned and registered, scheduling a session on most platforms takes minutes. That's the real operational advantage over in-person work: geography stops mattering.
Which platforms are approved for RON in Colorado?
Colorado maintains a list of approved RON technology providers through the Secretary of State's office. [4] That list changes as vendors apply and get approved or drop off, so checking the current list directly at the SOS website is the only reliable approach.
Well-known platforms that have operated in the Colorado RON market include Notarize (now Proof), DocVerify, SIGNiX, and Nexsys Technologies, among others. Presence on the list doesn't mean a platform is the best fit for your workflow or your clients. Evaluate platforms on:
- Per-session fees and annual subscription cost
- Audio and video quality and reliability (video must meet Colorado's standards)
- Document storage and tamper-evident sealing features
- Signer experience, especially for less tech-comfortable clients
- Integration with title software if you work in real estate
Never sign a multi-year platform contract without testing the product on a real document first. Most platforms offer a trial period or a demo session.
What does Colorado require for the technology and security side of RON?
Colorado's RON rules, adopted under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, require that the remote notarization session use audio-video communication technology that records and stores the session. [1] The recording must be retained for at least ten years. Platforms handle this automatically, but confirm your chosen platform's retention policy in writing.
Identity verification must use credential analysis plus KBA for remote signers who lack a qualifying electronic credential. The notary's electronic signature and official seal must attach to the electronic document in a way that renders it tamper-evident.
Colorado adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) in 2017, effective in 2018, and amended it to address RON specifically. [8] That statutory foundation gives Colorado's RON law more procedural clarity than states that tried to handle remote notarization purely through emergency orders.
The RON journal is electronic, maintained by the platform, not a paper book. Every RON session generates an automatic entry. This is actually less work than a paper journal, but you still need to understand what the platform retains and whether you can export records if you switch vendors.
How does Colorado's RON fee cap compare to neighboring states?
Context helps here. Colorado's $25-per-act RON cap sits in the middle of the national range. A few comparisons from states with published fee caps:
| State | RON fee cap per act | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $25 | Per Secretary of State rules |
| Florida | $25 | Per F.S. 117.045 |
| Arizona | $25 | Per A.R.S. Title 41 rules |
| Texas | $25 | Per Tex. Gov. Code 406.024 |
| Virginia | $25 | Original RON pioneer state |
| Utah | $10 | Lower cap, different framework |
The $25 figure has become close to a national standard for RON fee caps, though the underlying statutes differ and some states have no cap at all. If you work across state lines, fee rules follow the state where the notary is commissioned, not where the signer sits.
For adjacent-state comparisons, see remote online notarization cost in Arizona and remote online notarization cost in Florida, which run similar cap structures. To see how Colorado stacks up against states further afield, remote online notarization cost in Georgia and remote online notarization cost in Illinois both have recent fee schedule breakdowns.
What are the recurring costs of running a RON practice in Colorado?
One-time setup costs get most of the attention. The recurring costs are what determine whether remote online notarization in Colorado actually pencils out.
Platform subscription. Usually the biggest annual line item. Expect $50 to $200 per year for a solo notary, with some platforms charging per session on top.
E&O insurance. Colorado doesn't legally require errors and omissions insurance for notaries, but any notary doing real volume on legal, financial, or real estate documents should carry it. Annual premiums for $25,000 to $100,000 in coverage typically run $50 to $150 per year from providers like the National Notary Association or independent insurers. Worth every cent.
Commission renewal. Every four years you pay the $10 commission fee again plus a new bond. [2]
Continuing education. Colorado requires notary education for new applicants. Confirm whether renewal requires additional training directly with the Secretary of State, since requirements change. [2]
Software and hardware. You probably already have a webcam and reliable internet. If you don't, budget for them. A professional-grade USB webcam runs $50 to $150. A stable connection isn't optional: a dropped call during identity verification or document signing creates real legal complications.
Deciding between a full RON practice and occasional requests? Platforms with per-session pricing and no monthly fee make sense at low volume. At higher volume, a flat annual subscription usually wins. Run your own numbers.
Is remote online notarization in Colorado worth the setup cost?
For the right notary, absolutely. For others, not really.
If you do regular real estate closings, mortgage refinances, or work with clients who travel or have mobility issues, the $25-per-act cap on a thirty-minute session makes RON financially comparable to in-person work without the commute. A notary doing ten RON sessions a month at $25 per act with three acts per session grosses $9,000 a year in notary fees alone, before any signing agent fees.
If you handle occasional personal documents, witness signatures for friends, or low-volume work, the platform subscription may not pay for itself. Be honest about your realistic volume before committing to an annual contract.
The platform and bond costs are real but modest. The bigger investment is time: learning the platform, understanding the identity verification workflow, and building the client communication skills to walk a nervous signer through a KBA session without losing them. That learning curve is where most new RON notaries underestimate the setup.
RONPath publishes a $99 one-time State RON Add-On Kit for Colorado that walks through the registration steps, approved platform list, and document checklist so you're not piecing this together from scattered SOS pages. [You can start at /start.] Everything you need is also on the Secretary of State's website if you're patient with government navigation.
What documents can and can't be notarized remotely in Colorado?
Colorado's RON law is relatively permissive. Most documents that can be notarized in person can be notarized remotely: affidavits, powers of attorney, loan documents, real estate deeds, estate planning documents, and similar instruments. [1]
The notable exclusions are documents governed by federal law that doesn't recognize state-authorized electronic notarization, and documents where the receiving agency or court requires an ink-on-paper wet signature. In practice, the biggest friction point is government recording offices. Most Colorado county recorder offices now accept electronically notarized documents, but a handful still hold paper-only policies for recorded documents. Confirm with the specific recording office before you promise a client that their deed can go fully electronic.
Wills are a careful area. Colorado law allows electronic wills under certain conditions, but the execution requirements are more detailed than for a simple power of attorney. If your client needs an electronic will, they should also have an attorney review the process. You're the notary, not the drafter.
I-9 employment verification is federal and has its own separate rules that changed in 2023. That's not a RON notarization in the traditional sense and runs through the E-Verify system, not your state commission.
How do you actually register for RON in Colorado, step by step?
Here's the practical path:
1. Confirm you have an active Colorado notary commission. If not, apply through the Secretary of State's online system. [2] Pay the $10 fee and satisfy the bond requirement.
2. Review the current approved RON platform list on the Secretary of State's website. [4]
3. Select a platform, create an account, and complete onboarding. This usually includes uploading your commission certificate, setting up your electronic seal and signature, and running a test session.
4. Register your RON election with the Secretary of State if required as a separate step. The SOS has changed this process over time, so check the current procedure directly with their office.
5. Run a test session with a colleague or family member before your first paid job. Find every tech failure before a client does.
For RON cost comparisons in other states while you research, remote online notarization cost in Idaho, remote online notarization cost in Connecticut, and remote online notarization cost in Delaware each break down their state fee structures if you work or plan to work across state lines.
Nobody has good aggregate data on Colorado SOS processing time right now. Anecdotal reports in notary forums range from a few days to a few weeks depending on application volume. Plan for three weeks and you won't be caught short.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for remote online notarization in Colorado?
No separate RON license exists in Colorado. You need a current Colorado notary commission (a $10 application fee, four-year term) and registration with a state-approved RON platform. If you already hold a valid commission, you can move directly to platform registration. The authority comes from Colorado's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, which allows commissioned notaries to perform remote notarizations after meeting the technology and identity-verification requirements.
How much does remote online notarization cost in Colorado?
From the signer's side, the maximum a notary can charge is $25 per notarial act for RON sessions. From the notary's setup side, costs include the $10 commission fee, a $25 to $50 four-year surety bond, and a platform subscription typically running $50 to $200 per year. First-year total for a new notary starting from scratch usually falls between $85 and $260 before any per-session platform fees.
How long does remote online notarization take in Colorado?
An individual RON session runs five to fifteen minutes for a single simple document once everyone is connected and identity verification clears. Multi-document real estate packages can take thirty to forty-five minutes. Getting set up from scratch, meaning commission approval through first live session, realistically takes one to three weeks. Commission processing time varies. Confirm the current estimate with the Colorado Secretary of State before scheduling a time-sensitive notarization.
What is the notary fee cap for RON in Colorado?
Colorado caps RON fees at $25 per notarial act, set by Secretary of State rules. The in-person cap is lower at $5 per act. A notary can charge less than $25 but cannot charge more. Charging above the cap is a violation that can result in commission revocation.
Which RON platforms are approved in Colorado?
The Colorado Secretary of State maintains an updated list of approved RON technology providers on its website. Vendors like Notarize (Proof), DocVerify, SIGNiX, and Nexsys have operated in the Colorado market, but check the current approved list directly with the SOS before selecting a platform, since it changes as vendors apply and are approved or removed.
Does Colorado require notary education or training to perform RON?
Colorado requires education for new notary commission applicants. Whether renewal or RON-specific training is required can change, so confirm current requirements with the Secretary of State before renewing or registering. Some RON platforms also require their own onboarding training before they activate your account.
How long must a Colorado notary keep RON session recordings?
Colorado's rules require that audio-video recordings of RON sessions be retained for at least ten years. In practice, your approved RON platform handles storage and retention automatically. Confirm your specific platform's retention policy and whether you can export records before committing to a vendor, especially if you ever plan to switch platforms.
Can a Colorado RON notary serve signers in other states?
Yes, with caveats. A Colorado-commissioned RON notary can notarize documents for signers physically located in other states, as long as the notary is in Colorado during the session. The notarization is governed by Colorado law. The document's receiving party, such as a recorder's office or lender, must also accept Colorado RON notarizations, which is not guaranteed in every jurisdiction.
Is E&O insurance required for RON in Colorado?
No, errors and omissions insurance is not legally required by Colorado for notaries. It is strongly recommended for any notary doing real volume on legal, financial, or real estate documents. Annual premiums for $25,000 to $100,000 in coverage typically run $50 to $150 per year through providers like the National Notary Association. That premium is small relative to the liability exposure on a botched real estate closing.
Can all documents be notarized remotely in Colorado?
Most documents that qualify for in-person notarization can be notarized remotely in Colorado. Key exceptions include documents where the receiving party requires a wet signature or paper original, and some federally governed documents. Wills require careful compliance with Colorado's electronic will execution requirements. Always confirm that the recording office, lender, or court receiving the document will accept an electronically notarized instrument before promising a fully digital process.
What identity verification does Colorado require for RON signers?
Colorado requires credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication (KBA) for remote signers who don't present a qualifying electronic identity credential. KBA involves answering questions drawn from the signer's credit history. Signers who fail KBA cannot complete the session until they pass or use an alternative verification method. The approved RON platform facilitates this process automatically.
How does Colorado's RON cost compare to Arizona or Florida?
All three states cap RON fees at $25 per notarial act, placing them in the same tier nationally. Commission application fees differ slightly by state. Colorado's $10 commission fee is lower than Florida's. Platform subscription costs are set by private vendors and don't vary by state. See the Arizona and Florida cost breakdowns for side-by-side detail on each state's specific fee structure.
Can I start doing RON in Colorado while my commission application is pending?
No. You must have an active, issued Colorado notary commission before you can legally perform any notarization, remote or in-person. Do not attempt RON sessions while your application is under review. Wait for your commission certificate, then proceed to platform registration. Performing notarizations without a valid commission is a violation of state law.
What equipment do I need to perform RON in Colorado?
You need a computer or tablet with a working webcam and microphone, a stable high-speed internet connection, and an account on a Colorado-approved RON platform. A professional-grade USB webcam costs $50 to $150 if your built-in camera is low quality. Reliable internet is non-negotiable: a dropped connection during identity verification or signing creates serious workflow and legal complications.
Sources
- Colorado General Assembly, Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (Title 24, Article 21, Part 5): Colorado authorizes commissioned notaries to perform remote online notarizations under standards adopted by the Secretary of State, including recording retention and identity verification requirements
- Colorado Secretary of State, Notary Program: Colorado notary commission application fee is $10, commissions last four years, and a $10,000 surety bond is required
- Colorado Secretary of State, Notary Program Home: Colorado caps notary fees at $5 per act for in-person notarizations and $25 per act for remote online notarizations
- Colorado Secretary of State, Notary Program Home: Colorado maintains a list of approved remote online notarization technology providers updated by the Secretary of State
- Florida Legislature, F.S. 117.045: Florida caps remote online notarization fees at $25 per notarial act
- Arizona Secretary of State, Notary Public and Electronic Notary: Arizona sets a $25 per act fee cap for remote online notarizations
- Texas Legislature, Tex. Gov. Code 406.024: Texas sets a $25 per notarial act maximum fee including for electronic notarizations
- Uniform Law Commission, Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts: Colorado adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) as the statutory framework for notarial acts including RON