You can become a Notary Public in Colorado, but it’s not exactly the same as becoming a loan signing agent in Colorado. When you take the training course to become a Notary Public, you won’t learn everything you need to be a successful loan signing agent.
The course required by the state has more to do with the laws and performing a proper notary than how to become a loan signing agent in Colorado. You won’t learn how to get new customers and how to maximize your income with this training.
Many documents require a notarization, which means you can do very well as a loan signing agent. Let’s look at some of the job duties, who you might work for, and how to become a loan signing agent in Colorado.
Job Duties of a Loan Signing Agent in Colorado
As a loan signing agent, you will be in charge of notarizing documents. This will be your main job duty. There are many different types of companies and people in need of your services including:
- Lenders
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Government Agencies
- Law Officers
- Employers
- And more!
Some of these types of organizations will even need documents notarized on a daily basis.
Most loan signing agents will work for themselves and take on clients. They might have regular clients from the list above. In other cases, you can become a loan signing agent as a lender.
How To Become a Loan Signing Agent in Colorado in 5 Steps
Step #1 – Meet the Basic Requirements
In the state of Colorado, you have to be at least 18 years of age with the ability to read, write, and speak English. It’s also necessary to be a legal resident of the United States and a resident of the state or employed in Colorado.
If you want to become a loan signing agent in Colorado, you will also have to pass a background check. You cannot have any convictions or misdemeanors in the past five years.
Step #2 – Complete a Notary Training Course
Colorado requires you to complete specialized training to become a Notary Public, which is necessary when trying to become a loan signing agent. You will need to complete a state-approved training course to become a Notary Public. You can take this course online or in person and it’s about two hours long.
However, this won’t be all the training you need to become a loan signing agent. If you want to become a loan signing agent, you will need additional training. While this training isn’t required by the state, it will save you years of time trying to figure it all out on your own.
Getting the right training can help you earn more money per appointment. It can also help you to find more appointments and become a successful loan signing agent in Colorado.
With the right type of training course, you can become an expert in loan signing marketing. You will also be able to get your Notary Signing Agent Certification, which helps give you credibility with clients. Some training courses will even show you how to get loan signing jobs very fast.
Without the right loan signing agent training, you might struggle to find work. This might not be the case if you’re already a lender, but if you simply want to work as a loan signing agent, getting the right training will help.
Step #3 – Pass the Colorado State Exam
Once you complete the required training to become a Notary Public, you will need to pass the Colorado Notary Public exam. This is an online and open-book exam, so it isn’t that difficult to pass. It will only take about 25 to 30 minutes to complete, as well.
After you pass the exam, you will get a certificate, which you can print out. This certificate shows that you passed the state exam.
While it’s an open book exam, you should still consider doing some studying. You want to make sure you know the information well enough that you can pass the test without it taking too much time. Take some time to study the material and organize your notes before you take the Notary Public exam.
Step #4 – Take Your Oath
You will need to take an oath by signing what is called an Affirmation for Appointment and Commission as a Notary Public. This oath is necessary if you want to become a Notary Public, which is necessary to become a loan signing agent in Colorado.
Step #5 – Apply through the Secretary of State’s Website
The final step is to apply through the Secretary of States website to become a Notary Public. While this is the final step, you will now have a business to run, which means there are many new steps to take on. The fee will be $10 to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Loan Signing Agents in Colorado
How much can I make as a loan signing agent in Colorado?
You can make a full-time or part-time income as a loan signing agent in Colorado. Without the proper training, it might be hard to maximize your income, however. If you become a loan signing agent, you can charge between $75 and $200 per appointment.
The amount you make will depend on the type of documents you work with. It will also depend on how much you work. Of course, the more appointments you take on the more money you can make. Some loan signing agents in Colorado do earn six-figure incomes.
How long is my Notary Public good for in Colorado?
In Colorado, you will have a four-year term as a Notary Public.
What is the cost to become a loan signing agent in Colorado?
The only fee you have to pay to the state to become a loan signing agent is the $10 fee to become a Notary Public. However, you will also need to pay for training courses.
The cost of the Notary Public training course may vary, depending on the vendor you choose. You will likely want to take a loan signing agent course, too. This type of course will cost between $197 and $497, depending on the type of training you choose.
What type of supplies are necessary for a loan signing agent in Colorado?
As a Notary Public in Colorado, you are required to use a rubber stamp ink seal. You are also required to keep a journal for any paper-based notarizations you perform.
Your notary stamp should have the words “Notary Public” and “State of Colorado” inside the borders. It will also need to have your name the way it appears on your commission certificate, your Notary ID, and the expiration date of your commission. All of this information must be in between the borders of your notary stamp.
You will also need to keep a journal of all your official notarial acts. This can be a hard copy with numbered pages or it can be a tamper-evident digital journal. You cannot simply use a notebook or a glue-bound journal.
Your journal has to use tamper-proof sewn construction. this allows it to be easy to identify missing pages. You must keep both your seal and journal in a secure place under only your control, as well.
Will I need to get a surety bond or insurance as a loan signing agent in Colorado?
Not, it’s not required to have a surety bond or insurance in Colorado. However, getting errors and omissions insurance can be a good idea. It can cover your legal fees and damages if you were to get sued due to an unintentional mistake or a false claim.
How do I renew my Notary Public commission in Colorado?
You will be able to renew your Colorado Notary up to 90 days before the expiration date. It can be done online and it’s pretty simple.
Can I do electronic notary or e-notary in Colorado?
With this new trend coming up quite often, you should know whether you can do a remote online notarization in Colorado. The best thing you can do to find out if Colorado accepts remote online notarization is to contact the Secretary of State or the Notary Division. This is a fast-moving space in the loan signing agent industry and it can change rather quickly.
What is the difference between a Notary Public and a loan signing agent?
When you become a Notary Public, you can notarize documents and witness the signing. However, you won’t walk borrowers through the loan documents or explain much of anything to them.
When you become a loan signing agent, you will do more than just notarize documents. You will help borrowers go through the loan documents, showing them where to sign, date, and initial. In many cases, you will handle the closing of a mortgage or other type of loan for a bank, lender, or title company.
If you want to become a loan signing agent in Colorado, use the steps above. This can be a great full-time career or even a way to earn extra cash as a part-time loan signing agent.
Jordan Fabel
Covering different 'paths' that people's lives can take. Creative, foster parent, ticket dismissal, you get the idea. Exploring the requirements, certifications, exams, and obviously, approved courses along each path. I, personally, am the high school dropout son of two teacher parents. So how did I get here? That story is coming soon!