Florida Notary Bond Requirements

Is a notary bond required in Florida?

Yes. Section 117.01(7), Florida Statutes, requires every notary public to give bond in the amount of $7,500 before executing the duties of office and to maintain it throughout the term. The bond must be approved and filed with the Department of State and executed by a surety company for hire duly authorized to transact business in Florida.

The bond is payable to any individual harmed as a result of a breach of duty by the notary acting in an official capacity. In other words, it protects members of the public who suffer loss from a notary’s error or misconduct, not the notary. If the surety pays a claim, it must notify the Governor of the payment and the circumstances that led to it, and the surety can pursue the notary for reimbursement.

Failure to maintain the required bond is grounds for suspension. Florida law lists loss of the bond among the reasons the Governor may act against a notary, so keeping continuous coverage on file with the Department of State is essential.

How to become a notary in Florida

1. Confirm eligibility: be at least 18 and a legal resident of Florida (permanent resident aliens may apply after filing a recorded Declaration of Domicile), and be able to read, write, and understand English.
2. Complete the state-required notary education.
3. Obtain the $7,500 surety bond from an authorized surety.
4. Submit the application, signed and sworn, along with the $25 application fee, the $10 commission fee required by s. 113.01, and a $4 surcharge that funds notary education.
5. Take the oath swearing you have read Chapter 117 and know the duties, powers, and limitations of the office.
6. The Governor appoints you for a 4-year term, and the Department of State issues the commission.

Bond vs. E&O insurance in Florida

The $7,500 surety bond is mandatory and exists solely to reimburse the public. Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is optional and covers the notary — paying legal defense costs and settlements for unintentional mistakes so the notary is not personally out of pocket when a bond claim is paid or a lawsuit is filed. Florida does not require E&O, but because the bond does not protect the notary, many Florida notaries purchase E&O alongside their required bond.

Renewing your Florida commission

Florida commissions last 4 years, and reappointment is not automatic — Section 117.01(6) requires the full application process for a first commission, a renewal, or any subsequent commission. That means a fresh $7,500 bond must be in place for each new term. Notaries typically begin the process before the current commission expires to avoid any interruption in authority.

Remote online notarization in Florida

Florida authorizes remote online notarization (RON). Under the Department of State’s process, you must already be an active notary public (or a civil-law notary or commissioner of deeds), complete a state-approved online notary education course, and contract with approved technology providers before applying. Registration is submitted to the Department of State’s Division of Corporations with an initial fee, and online notaries must meet additional identity-proofing, audio-video, and recordkeeping requirements set by statute and rule.

Non-resident notaries in Florida

Florida requires a notary to be a legal resident of the state, and that residency must be maintained throughout the term. A notary who stops being a Florida resident during the term must resign. Because of this residency rule, Florida generally does not commission out-of-state residents as notaries public.