Bond only
Notary Surety Bonds
Most states require a surety bond before commissioning a notary public. The bond guarantees the public will be compensated if your notarial act causes a covered loss — and each state sets its own bond amount, term, and filing process.
Start with your state
What a notary bond does
A notary bond is a three-party agreement between you, the surety, and your state. It is protection for the public, not insurance for you: if the bond pays a claim caused by your notarial act, you must repay the surety. Many notaries add optional E&O insurance for their own protection, or choose a bond + E&O package where one is available.
Requirements vary widely — bond amounts, terms, and filing steps are set by each state. Start from your state's page for the details that actually apply to you, with official sources and review dates.
Buy a bond-only product online
These states currently list a bond-only product with a direct online purchase path. Select yours to see the exact requirement first.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Don't see your state? Browse all states — every state page includes researched requirements, and packages or E&O options may still be available.