You can buy a notary surety bond from a licensed surety bond company, a national insurance carrier through a local agent, or an online bonding platform, and most applications are approved in minutes. Premiums typically run $35 to $55 for the full commission term, which makes the bond one of the cheaper pieces of becoming a notary. Before you shop, confirm your state actually requires one: roughly 21 jurisdictions either don’t require a bond or make it optional.
Three Places That Sell Notary Bonds
Large national insurance carriers sell notary bonds through their local agents, which is convenient if you already have a policy with them and want to keep paperwork in one place. Dedicated surety bond companies sell bonding products only, and they tend to know your state’s exact requirements without you having to walk them through anything. Online bonding platforms let you compare quotes, complete the application in a browser, and get the bond document emailed back, often the same day.
Whichever route you take, confirm the company is authorized to issue surety bonds in the state where you’ll hold your commission. A bond from an unauthorized company won’t satisfy the state’s filing requirements, and you’ll be buying the same product twice. Because the bond itself is a standardized document, what you’re actually paying for is a smooth application and quick turnaround. Customer reviews and responsiveness matter more here than brand recognition.
Check Whether Your State Requires a Bond at All
Not every state mandates a notary surety bond. Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Virginia, and others — roughly 21 jurisdictions in total — either have no bond requirement or make bonding optional. If you commission in one of these states, you can still buy a bond voluntarily, but it isn’t a condition of being appointed.
The states that do require a bond set the face value anywhere from $500 to $50,000. Your state’s secretary of state or equivalent commissioning authority publishes the exact number. Get it right before you apply. The surety needs the correct face value to write the bond, and filing one in the wrong amount will hold up your commission.
What the Bond Does, and What It Doesn’t
A notary surety bond is a three-party financial guarantee, not an insurance policy that protects you. The three parties are you (the principal), the state and public (the obligee), and the bonding company (the surety). The surety guarantees that you’ll perform your notary duties according to law. If you don’t, and someone suffers a financial loss because of your misconduct or negligence, that person can file a claim against your bond for compensation up to its face value.
Here’s what surprises most new notaries. When the surety pays out on a claim, you owe the surety that money back. The application you sign includes an indemnity agreement that makes you personally liable for any amount the surety pays, plus investigation and defense costs. The premium you paid up front isn’t a pool of money that covers losses; it’s the fee for the guarantee itself. The surety is a co-signer, not an insurer.
Because of that, many notaries also carry errors and omissions insurance as a separate purchase. E&O is actual professional liability coverage, and it pays your legal defense, settlements, and judgments if someone sues you over a notarization mistake. Most states don’t require it, but if you notarize regularly it’s worth pricing alongside the bond.
What a Notary Bond Costs
Notary bonds are among the cheapest surety bonds on the market. Premiums usually fall between $35 and $55 for the full term, which runs three to five years depending on the length of your commission. Most surety companies charge a flat rate without pulling your credit, because the underwriting risk is low. You pay once and you’re covered until the commission expires.
The bond premium is separate from your state’s commission application fee, which generally runs from around $10 to $60. Budget for both when you add up the cost of becoming a notary.
Applying for the Bond
The application is short. You’ll give your full legal name, current address, contact information, and the state where you’re seeking the commission. Some providers also ask whether you’ve held a prior commission or had a claim filed against a previous bond. Have your state’s required bond amount in hand so the provider can generate the correct document.
Most companies approve notary bond applications online within minutes. After approval, you get a bond document listing the amount, the term, and the three parties. Many providers email a digital copy right away and mail the original. A few states still require a wet-signature original on file, so check your state’s filing rules before you assume a digital copy will do.
Filing the Bond With the State
Buying the bond is only half the job. You still have to file it with the correct office, and that varies by state. Some states take the bond at the secretary of state’s office along with your commission application. Others require filing with the county clerk in the county where you live or keep your principal place of business. Some states require the filing after your commission is issued and give you a defined window to do it, often around 30 days, though the exact deadline depends on the jurisdiction.
Missing the filing deadline has real consequences. In many states you can’t perform any notarial acts until a valid bond is on file, and if the deadline passes, some states make you start the application process over. The bond is typically filed with your oath of office, and both documents go in together in whatever format the state accepts: online, by mail, or in person.
Higher Bonds for Remote Online Notarization
If you plan to perform remote online notarizations, a handful of states require a separate or higher bond on top of the standard one. Florida requires remote online notaries to carry a $25,000 bond in addition to the $7,500 bond required for in-person notaries. Utah requires an additional $5,000 bond for remote work. Most states that permit remote notarization don’t impose a separate bond requirement, but the rules are still shifting as more states adopt RON legislation. Check your state’s current statute before assuming your standard bond is enough. A larger bond costs somewhat more in premium, but it’s still modest compared to commercial surety products.
Renewing When Your Commission Expires
Notary bonds don’t renew automatically. When your commission term ends and you apply for reappointment, you buy a new bond for the new term. Commission lengths vary — four, five, seven, and even eight or ten-year terms exist depending on the state. Your surety may send a reminder, but don’t rely on it. Track your own expiration date and start the bonding process a few weeks before your renewal is due. Performing notarial acts with an expired bond, or during a gap between commissions, exposes you to liability and, in some states, counts as a violation of notary law.