Notary Surety Bond FAQs

What is a notary surety bond? How does a surety bond work?

A notary bond is a guarantee, purchased by a notary from a surety or bonding company. The notary bond guarantees that the bond company will pay on the notary’s behalf for damages incurred as a result of the notary making a mistake. The bond company will then demand reimbursement from the notary for the amount paid to the injured party. Most states require notaries to have a notary bond before they can perform any notarial acts.

 

What does a notary bond do?

Notary bonds protect the public from any mistake you might make while acting as a notary. If your actions result in causing harm to the public, a claim can be made on your bond. If a valid claim is made on the bond, the surety company will pay the claim and you will be required to reimburse the surety company. In California, for example, the bond limit is $15,000. You will have to pay for this out of pocket unless you have a notary E&O policy.

If there is a claim on your bond, a notary E&O policy will step in to defend you. The notary E&O policy will reimburse the surety company on your behalf.

 

Which states require a notary bond?

31 states require notaries to have a notary bond:

• Alabama (amount: $25,000) (term: 4 years)
• Alaska ($2,500) (4 years)
• Arizona ($5,000) (4 years)
• Arkansas ($7,500) (10 years)
• California ($15,000) (4 years)
• Florida ($7,500) (4 years)
• Hawaii ($1,000) (4 years)
• Idaho ($10,000) (6 years)
• Illinois ($5,000) (4 years)
• Indiana ($25,000) (8 years)
• Kansas ($12,000) (4 years)
• Kentucky ($1,000) (4 years)
• Louisiana ($10,000)
• Michigan ($10,000) (6 years)
• Mississippi ($5,000) (4 years)
• Missouri ($10,000) (4 years)
• Montana ($25,000) (4 years)
• Nebraska ($15,000) (4 years)
• Nevada ($10,000) (4 years)
• New Mexico ($10,000) (4 years)
• North Dakota ($7,500) (4 years)
• Oklahoma ($1,000) (4 years)
• Pennsylvania ($10,000) (4 years)
• South Dakota ($5,000) (6 years)
• Tennessee ($10,000) (4 years)
• Texas ($10,000) (4 years)
• Utah ($5,000) (4 years)
• Washington ($10,000) (4 years)
• Washington, D.C. ($2,000) (5 years)
• Wisconsin ($500) (4 years)
• Wyoming ($500) (4 years)

 

Where do I buy a notary bond? How do I get a notary bond?

You can purchase a notary bond from Notary.net. To order your bond, select your state, then select the category “Bonds and Insurance.” You can choose to purchase the bond by itself, or as part of a notary supplies package.

 

Can my bond be emailed to me?

Most likely, the answer is yes. We can email your bond to you if you do NOT live in California, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, or Washington, DC. These states require “wet signed” bonds, which means that the bond must be an original, paper document signed with a “wet” ink pen.

 

Can you send my bond ahead of my supplies?

Yes. Please send us an email at sales@notary.net and inform us that you would like your bond sent ahead of your supplies package. Unless we receive notice from you, we will send your bond together with your supplies.

 

I placed an order for a notary bond through Notary.net. When can I expect to receive my bond?

Bonds are sent out by the end of the business day. Your bond will either be sent you by mail or email, depending on your state laws and which shipping option you selected. As long as you order before 5 pm, we will send you your bond the same day we receive your order.

 

What notary bond amount do I need?

The amount of the notary bond depends on your state. For example, Wisconsin requires a $500 bond; California requires a $15,000 bond.

 

How much does a notary bond cost?

The cost of a notary bond depends on your state. As a reference point, a $500 Wisconsin notary bond costs $20; a $10,000 Texas notary bond costs $50.

 

How do I file my notary bond?

The process to file your bond differs from state to state. In general, you have to file your bond either with your Secretary of State or your county clerk. Depending on your state, the bond must be filed with your notary commission application, or after your commission has been issued, within 30 or 45 days from the date you were appointed or commissioned as a notary public.

 

How do I get a copy of my notary bond?

To get a copy of your bond, you will want to reach out to your bonding agency. If you purchased your bond with Notary.net, you can send us an email at sales@notary.net, and we can send you a copy of your bond.

 

What is a bond rider?

A bond rider is an amendment or correction made to your notary bond. For instance, if the dates on your notary bond are incorrect, you may need a bond rider to correct the mistake.

 

Someone has made a claim on my bond. What do I do?

Report the claim to your surety bond company immediately. If your notary bond is with Travelers, you can report a claim here.