What statute governs Colorado acknowledgment forms?

C.R.S. 24-21-516 sets the short-form certificates under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, adopted by Colorado in 2018.

Can a Colorado notary use an embosser?

No. Colorado requires the official stamp to be rubber-stamped so it photocopies, not an embossed raised seal, which is unusual among states.

Does the signer sign in front of the Colorado notary?

Not for an acknowledgment. The record may be pre-signed, but the signer must appear before the notary and prove identity to acknowledge it.

Colorado Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form & 2026 Wording

This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects Colorado Revised Statutes 24-21-516 under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the Colorado Secretary of State before relying on it.

Quick answer: A Colorado acknowledgment certifies that a named person appeared before the notary and acknowledged signing a record. Under RULONA, the short-form certificate in C.R.S. 24-21-516 reads "This record was acknowledged before me on (date) by (name)." The venue names the state and county, and Colorado is strict that the seal be a rubber stamp, never embossed. Fill the certificate below and copy or print it.

Open the free fillable certificate ↓

Fillable Colorado acknowledgment certificate

Enter the details and the certificate updates live with the current Colorado RULONA wording. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity; this tool simply prepares the correct form.

What is the exact Colorado acknowledgment wording?

Colorado's individual acknowledgment wording under C.R.S. 24-21-516 is the RULONA short form, using "record" rather than "instrument," since the state adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts in 2018.

State of Colorado
County of ______

This record was acknowledged before me on ______ (date) by ______ (name of individual).

___________________________________
(Signature of notarial officer)

(Stamp)
Title of office: ______
My commission expires: ______

What must a Colorado acknowledgment include?

A Colorado acknowledgment must identify the county and state where the act was performed, the date, the signer, and the notary's signature, official stamp, title of office, and commission expiration. The notary signs exactly as on file with the Secretary of State and signs at the same time the act is performed, never before. The stamp must be rubber-stamped so it photocopies, which is where Colorado differs sharply from states that allow embossers.

Element	What goes there
Venue	County and State of Colorado where the act occurs
Date	The date the record was acknowledged
Signer	Name of the individual acknowledging
Notary	Signature, rubber-stamp seal, title of office, commission expiration

Who commissions notaries in Colorado?

The Secretary of State commissions notaries in Colorado for a four-year term. Under RULONA a notary may take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, certify copies, and witness or attest signatures. Remote notarization is allowed once the notary notifies the Secretary of State and completes any required training. Colorado notaries must keep a journal and retain it for ten years, and they cannot certify a copy of a record available from a Colorado clerk and recorder, the Secretary of State, State Archives, or vital records.

When do you use an acknowledgment instead of a jurat in Colorado?

You use an acknowledgment when the signer confirms they signed a record willingly, and a verification on oath or affirmation when they must swear the statement is true. RULONA separates taking an acknowledgment, where the person has already signed and is acknowledging the signature, from witnessing a signature, which has its own short-form certificate. For an acknowledgment the document may be pre-signed; the signer just appears, proves identity, and acknowledges it. Deeds and powers of attorney usually take an acknowledgment.

What common mistakes void a Colorado acknowledgment?

The common mistakes are using an embosser instead of a rubber stamp, notarizing where the notary has a disqualifying interest, and signing the certificate before the act. Colorado's RULONA expanded disqualifying interest to family: a notary cannot act if the notary, their spouse, or civil union partner, ancestor, descendant, or sibling is a party to or named in the record, or would gain a benefit beyond the notary fee. Omitting the commission expiration or the county also invalidates the certificate. The seal must photocopy cleanly.

Colorado acknowledgment: frequently asked questions

What statute governs Colorado acknowledgment forms?: C.R.S. 24-21-516 sets the short-form certificates under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, adopted by Colorado in 2018.
Can a Colorado notary use an embosser?: No. Colorado requires the official stamp to be rubber-stamped so it photocopies, not an embossed raised seal, which is unusual among states.
Does the signer sign in front of the Colorado notary?: Not for an acknowledgment. The record may be pre-signed, but the signer must appear before the notary and prove identity to acknowledge it.
When can't a Colorado notary act?: When the notary or a close family member is a party to or named in the record, or would gain a benefit beyond the notary fee, which is a disqualifying interest.
Can a Colorado notary certify a copy?: Not for records available from a Colorado clerk and recorder, the Secretary of State, State Archives, or vital records, such as a Colorado birth certificate.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Colorado Revised Statutes 24-21-505, 24-21-515 and 24-21-516; the Colorado Secretary of State Notary Handbook. Confirm current wording before relying on it.