April 20, 2021
Remote Notarization Extended in Connecticut

On April 19, 2021, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued Executive Order 11, in part clarifying that remote notarization provisions previously set forth in Executive Order 7Q and Executive Order 7ZZ remain in effect for the duration of the public health and civil preparedness emergency. The emergency is now set to expire on May 20, 2021. It is unclear at this time whether the emergency will be further extended beyond this date.

As a reminder, Executive Order 7Q permits the use of communication technology to conduct a notarization under certain conditions, including:

  1. The communication technology must allow the signer and the notary to communicate simultaneously by sight and sound;
  2. The signer must present satisfactory evidence of identity;
  3.  The signer must affirm that he or she is in Connecticut at the time of execution;
  4. The notary must record the notarial act and retain a copy of the recording for ten (10) years; and
  5. The signer must send the notary the signed documents either by fax or electronic means on the same day the documents were signed.

If the above conditions are met, the notary may notarize the documents and transmit them back to the signer for use. The notary may also notarize the original document as of the date of execution if the notary receives the original document along with the executed electronic version within thirty (30) days of initial execution.

Executive Order 7Q also suspends witness requirements for the execution of documents, other than a Last Will and Testament. Documents notarized pursuant to Executive Order 7Q that are submitted for recording in the land records must be accompanied by a one-page certification confirming the use of remote notarization procedures to execute the document. CATIC has created a sample certification for this purpose.

Should you have any questions about this Order, please contact a CATIC Connecticut Underwriter. To learn more about remote notarization processes authorized during this emergency, please check out CATIC’s Remote Notarization webpage. We look forward to continuing to serve you and your clients throughout this crisis and beyond.
Please continue to check out our dedicated webpage for COVID-19 information and guidance, on a regular basis. We will be updating the material as we learn of new developments.