Can I still get notarization services while the state is under the emergency coronavirus order?

Executive Order No. 7Q, dated March 30, authorized remote notarization of documents under the following conditions:

• A Notary or a Commissioner of the Superior Court (a Connecticut-licensed attorney) may use an electronic device or remote Communication Technology to notarize the document if the notary or commissioner and the person seeking the notarization can communicate with each other simultaneously by sight and sound

• The person seeking the notarial act (“Signatory”) from a Notary Public or Commissioner, if not personally known to the Notary Public or Commissioner, shall present satisfactory evidence of identity, as defined by subsection 10 of section 3-94a of the General Statutes, while connected to the Communication Technology, not merely transmit it prior to or after the transaction;

• The Communication Technology must be capable of recording the complete notarial act and such recording shall be made and retained by the Notary Public for a period of not less than ten (10) years;

• The Signatory must affirmatively represent via the Communication Technology that he or she is physically situated in the State of Connecticut;

• The Signatory must transmit by fax or electronic means a legible copy of the signed document directly to the Notary Public or Commissioner on the same date it was executed;

• The Notary Public or Commissioner may notarize the transmitted copy of the document and transmit the same back to the Signatory by fax or electronic means;

• The Notary Public or Commissioner may repeat the notarization of the original signed document as of the date of execution provided the Notary Public or Commissioner receives such original signed document, together with the electronically notarized copy, within thirty days after the date of execution;

• Only an attorney admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut and in good standing may remotely administer a self-proving affidavit to a Last Will and Testament pursuant to section 45a-285 of the General Statues or conduct a real estate closing as required by Public Act 19-88. Any witnessing requirement for a Last Will and Testament may be done remotely through the use of Communication Technology if it is completed under the supervision of a Commissioner. The supervising Commissioner shall certify that he or she supervised the remote witnessing of the Last Will and Testament.

• All witness requirements on any document, other than a Last Will and Testament, requiring a notarial act are hereby suspended for the duration of this Executive Order.

• All Remotely Notarized documents pertaining to real property shall be accepted for recording on the land records by all Connecticut Town or City Clerks. A one-page certification confirming the use of Remote Notarization procedures shall be attached to each remotely notarized document submitted for recording on the land records in Connecticut.

Note: These provisions are an update from those contained in EO No. 7K. The main change is that now, witnesses are not required for anything that requires a notarial act, except for a Last Will and Testament. Last Wills and Testaments may now be notarized remotely under the supervision of an attorney.