A Colorado notary stamp must be a rectangle with a visible border, showing notary public, state of Colorado, your name as your commission prints it, your expiration date and your notary ID number. Colorado sets no size and no ink color. Embossers are prohibited outright, as a replacement or an extra. This page covers wording, shape, the embosser ban, term, notices and ordering.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against C.R.S. § 24-21-517(1)(a) and The Colorado Secretary of State. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Name | As it is printed on your certificate of commission. | C.R.S. § 24-21-517(1)(a) |
| ID number and expiration | The date your commission ends, plus your notary ID number. | C.R.S. § 24-21-517(1)(a) |
| Fixed phrases | state of Colorado, and notary public. | C.R.S. § 24-21-517(1)(a) |
| Shape and border | A rectangle with an outline or border you can see. | Colorado Secretary of State |
| Size | No dimensions are set. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Ink color | No color is set, and the absence is stated outright. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Embosser | Prohibited. | Colorado Secretary of State |
| Term and renewal | Four years; renewal can start up to 90 days early. | Colorado Secretary of State |
| Lost stamp | Written notice no later than 30 days after you learn of the loss; a lost journal follows the same timeline. | Colorado Secretary of State |
| Name or address change | Notice within 30 days for a new name, business address or residential address. | Colorado Secretary of State |
Colorado is one row in our notary seal requirements by state table, which sets each jurisdiction's rule side by side.
What five items go on a Colorado notary stamp?
C.R.S. § 24-21-517(1)(a) calls for two fixed phrases, notary public and state of Colorado, plus three personal lines: your name as your certificate of commission shows it, the date your commission expires, and your notary ID number.
Copy the name, the ID number and the date from your certificate of commission, since a single wrong digit means a remake. For a buyer's checklist built on the same list, see our tips on Colorado notary stamp requirements.
Can a Colorado notary use an embosser?
No. Colorado prohibits embossers outright, so a raised seal is neither an alternative to the stamp nor an optional extra beside it. Of all the Colorado stamp rules, it is the one most worth knowing before you order.
Leave any embosser out of your Colorado order entirely. The official device is the bordered rectangular stamp carrying the five required items, and nothing about an embossed impression can substitute for it. Our overview of Colorado notary stamp law sets this rule beside the others.
What shape does the stamp take, and how big can it be?
A rectangle with a visible outline or border around it. Colorado sets no size at all, so there is neither a minimum nor a maximum for the rectangle, only the requirement that its edge be clearly visible.
With no size rule, legibility decides the dimensions. Five items have to fit inside the border, and the ID number and date should stay readable at actual size. Our Colorado notary stamp format samples show how the layout can look.
Which ink color should a Colorado notary choose?
Any color you like, as far as the rules go. Colorado sets no ink color, and unusually the rules state that absence in plain terms rather than simply leaving the subject out. The choice is practical, not legal.
Pick a dense ink that holds its edges on a scan or photocopy, since notarized papers are often copied. A self-inking stamp ships ready to use, which keeps the impression even from one certificate to the next.
How long does a Colorado commission last, and when can you renew?
Commissions run four years, and you may start the renewal up to 90 days before the current term ends. That early window gives you time to line up a new stamp before the old expiration date passes.
Your expiration date is one of the five required items, so the date on the stamp has to match your current commission. Take the new date from the renewed commission itself. Our article on Colorado notary stamp renewal requirements covers the reorder.
What do you report after losing your stamp?
Send written notice to the Secretary of State no later than 30 days after you learn the stamp is lost. The clock starts when you find out, not on the date the stamp actually went missing.
Keep a record of when you found the loss and when you sent notice. Replace the stamp before your next notarization, built to the same five items and bordered rectangle.
Which record changes carry a 30-day reporting deadline?
Three: a new name, a new residential address or a new business address. Each one must be reported to the Colorado Secretary of State no later than 30 days after it happens.
Only the name change affects the stamp, because the name line has to match your certificate of commission. Neither address appears on a Colorado stamp.
Who commissions Colorado notaries?
The Colorado Secretary of State. That office issues the commission whose name, ID number and expiration date appear on your stamp, and it receives your 30-day notices about a lost stamp or a change to your record.
Any question about your commission record goes to that office. For more on its guidance, see our notes on the Colorado notary handbook.
What should you gather before ordering a Colorado stamp?
Your certificate of commission, which gives you the name as commissioned, the notary ID number and the expiration date. The phrases state of Colorado and notary public, the rectangle and the border are fixed, so you supply nothing for them.
Choose an ink color and a size that keeps the text readable. Our quick guide to Colorado notary supplies rounds out the rest of the kit.
How should you inspect a new Colorado stamp?
Stamp a blank sheet and read it against your certificate of commission. Check the name, the ID number and the expiration date character by character, confirm both phrases appear, and make sure the border is complete and visible.
Photocopy the sheet too. If the border breaks up or the digits blur on the copy, sort it out before the first certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep an embosser just for decoration?
No. The prohibition is outright, so an embosser has no supporting or decorative role on Colorado notarial certificates.
Does a rectangular stamp still need a border?
Yes. The rectangle has to show a visible outline or border. A borderless impression, even a rectangular one, does not match the rule.
Does the 30-day notice cover a lost journal too?
Yes. A lost journal is on the same footing as a lost stamp: written notice to the Secretary of State no later than 30 days after you learn it is missing.
Can I use a stamp from my commission in another state?
No. A Colorado stamp has to read state of Colorado and carry your Colorado notary ID number and expiration date, so a stamp made for another commission cannot meet the rule.
Is a round Colorado notary stamp acceptable if it has a border?
No. The border requirement sits on top of the shape requirement, and the shape has to be a rectangle.
With your certificate of commission in hand, order a bordered rectangular stamp from our Colorado stamps and seals collection.
