Connecticut (CT)
Remote Online Notaries Professional Liability Insurance in Connecticut
Connecticut authorized Remote Online Notarization through Public Act 23-28 (codified at CT Gen Stat § 3-95b), allowing notaries to perform acts for signers across the globe using secure communication technology. The state requires a two-step identification process—credential analysis and KBA—and mandates that the notary retain a secure audiovisual recording of the session for ten years. Given these stringent digital requirements, CT notaries typically seek Errors and Omissions insurance that specifically includes coverage for remote acts and potential data-related liabilities.
Remote Online Notaries in Connecticut at a glance
- Statutory Citation
- CT Gen Stat § 3-95b
- Identity Proofing
- Two-Part Verification
- Recording Retention
- 10 years
- Authority
- Connecticut Secretary of the State
Also referred to as Public Act 23-28.
Usually involves credential analysis and KBA questions.
Audiovisual recordings must be securely stored for a decade.
Oversees notary commissioning and RON implementation.
CT RON Statutes and Identification Procedures
Effective October 1, 2023, Connecticut notaries can perform remote acts provided they use technology that allows for real-time audio-visual communication. The notary must verify the signer's identity using two different types of identity proofing, which usually means a combination of an automated ID check and knowledge-based questions.
The law also allows for identity verification via personal knowledge or the oath of a credible witness who is also appearing via communication technology, though the two-part digital verification is the standard for most remote transactions involving unknown signers.
Recording Retention and Platform Security
Connecticut law is clear that the notary (or a person acting on their behalf) must create and store an audiovisual recording of the performance of the notarial act. This recording must be kept for at least ten years, creating a long-term storage obligation that notaries must manage carefully.
Choosing a RON platform that meets Connecticut's security standards is vital. If a platform loses a recording or suffers a data breach, the notary may be held liable for failing to maintain the records as required by the Secretary of the State's regulations.
Insurance for Connecticut Remote Notaries
Because the risks of RON differ from traditional mobile notary work—specifically regarding cybersecurity and long-term digital storage—Connecticut notaries are encouraged to review their E&O coverage. A standard policy might not cover the costs of a data breach or the legal fees associated with a lost recording.
Adding a RON rider to a professional liability policy provides a safety net against the unique errors that can occur during a digital signing, such as technical glitches that result in an incomplete recording or an improperly executed digital certificate.
Remote Online Notaries FAQs for Connecticut
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the Connecticut Insurance Department or talk with a licensed US Professional Insure agent.