{"id":264,"date":"2014-02-10T20:19:17","date_gmt":"2014-02-11T03:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/abclegaldocs.com\/blog-Colorado-Notary\/?p=264"},"modified":"2025-12-03T18:40:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T01:40:33","slug":"rulona-revised-uniform-law-on-notarial-acts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abclegaldocs.com\/blog-Colorado-Notary\/rulona-revised-uniform-law-on-notarial-acts\/","title":{"rendered":"RULONA Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RULONA<\/a>RULONA Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts<\/h1>\n

Note: In 2017 Colorado Senate Bill SB 17-132<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0was passed, to replace the Colorado Notaries Public Act with the\u00a0Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA)<\/strong>, to be effective July 1, 2018<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Colorado notaries must follow Colorado notary laws<\/strong> listed in the Colorado Notaries Public Act<\/strong>.\u00a0 Notary laws vary from state to state, but there are fundamentals of notary procedures that remain the same.<\/p>\n

If a notary encounters a situation where Colorado law does not prescribe what to do, then the law is silent<\/strong>.\u00a0 In addition to statutes, there may be rules, regulations, state handbooks, training classes, legal opinions or court cases that may apply.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Reasonable Care<\/span><\/h2>\n

Beyond that, a notary is also required to use prudent<\/strong> and reasonable care<\/strong> and follow notary best practices<\/strong>.\u00a0 There are several notary organizations<\/strong> that offer educational publications, newsletters, bulletins, forums, tips, webinars, training classes and conferences that can help notaries with continuing education<\/strong>.\u00a0 Most require annual membership<\/strong> dues.<\/p>\n

<\/span>RULONA<\/span><\/h2>\n

One reference guide for notaries is the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA)<\/strong><\/a><\/span> of 2010.\u00a0 It is published by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws<\/strong> (NCCUSL), also known as the Uniform Law Commission<\/strong> (ULC<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

All or portions of RULONA<\/strong> have been adopted into law in eleven states, on the effective dates shown: Colorado 7\/1\/2018, Idaho 7\/1\/2017, Iowa 7\/1\/2014, Minnesota 1\/1\/2019, Montana 10\/1\/2015, North Dakota 8\/1\/2011, Oregon 9\/1\/2013, Pennsylvania 10\/9\/2013, Vermont 7\/1\/2019, Washington 7\/1\/2018 and West Virginia 7\/1\/2014.\u00a0 It includes model language<\/strong> that may be used by states when they are adding new notary laws, although many states choose to write their own laws, rather than use the model language.<\/p>\n

In 2016, an amendment was made, RULONA 2016<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, to allow remote notarization<\/strong> by audio\/video communications technology between a notary in the United States and an individual located outside of the United States.<\/p>\n

RULONA is pending legislative approval in District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and South Dakota.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Model Notary Act<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Colorado Secretary of State<\/strong> (SOS<\/strong>) refers to the Model Notary Act<\/strong> of 2010 and RULONA<\/strong>\u00a0as guides for situations when Colorado notary law is silent.\u00a0 The Model Notary Act was also used as a guidebook for notary best practices in the landmark Vancura case<\/strong> in Illinois, where a notary was found liable for negligence<\/strong> by failing to use reasonable care<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Notaries are ministerial officers<\/strong> that follow rules and industry best practices.\u00a0 Notaries do not have the discretion<\/strong> to invent new procedures<\/strong> that may conflict with the established law and best practices. If a situation arises where the notary law and best practices are silent, the notary should seek guidance from the SOS or\u00a0legal advice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of topics where Colorado notary law is silent, but a model law or commentary is included in RULONA:<\/p>\n