Illinois Notary Bond Requirements

Is a notary bond required in Illinois?

Yes. The Illinois Secretary of State requires notary applicants to obtain a surety bond before being commissioned. A standard (regular) notary needs a $5,000 bond, while a notary who will perform remote notarization by audio-video communication needs a $30,000 bond. The bond must come from a bonding or surety company.

The bond protects the public — it provides a source of recovery for people harmed by a notary’s improper acts, and the surety may seek reimbursement from the notary after paying a claim. It is submitted to the Secretary of State together with the notary application. Once the office approves the commission and the notary has an official seal, the notary may begin notarizing.

Notary appointments in Illinois are governed by the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312). The Act was substantially updated in recent years to add electronic and remote notarization, but the underlying bond-and-commission structure administered by the Secretary of State remains.

How to become a notary in Illinois

1. Confirm eligibility: be at least 18, be proficient in English, have no felony conviction, have no prior application or commission revoked by the Secretary of State, and be a resident of Illinois for at least 30 days (or qualify as a non-resident).
2. Obtain the required surety bond — $5,000 for a regular notary or $30,000 to perform remote audio-video notarizations.
3. Complete the notary application (and, if applicable, the electronic/remote notary application).
4. Submit the application and bond to the Secretary of State.
5. Once the commission is approved and you have your official notary seal, you may begin notarizing documents.

An individual may apply for a notary commission and an electronic notary commission at the same time; both share the same 4-year term.

Bond vs. E&O insurance in Illinois

The surety bond ($5,000 standard or $30,000 for remote audio-video acts) is mandatory and exists to protect the public, not the notary. Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is optional and covers the notary personally — paying defense costs and liability for unintentional mistakes. Because a bond claim can be recovered from the notary, many Illinois notaries add optional E&O coverage, but the state requires only the bond.

Renewing your Illinois commission

Illinois commissions run for four years. The Secretary of State typically sends a renewal notice about 60 days before a commission expires, and notaries can renew online. A new bond that covers the new term is part of the reappointment, so plan to have current bond coverage in place. If you move out of the county where you are registered — or if a non-resident notary’s employment county changes — you must resign and, where applicable, reapply.

Remote online notarization in Illinois

Illinois authorizes electronic and remote notarization. A commissioned notary may apply for an electronic notary public commission, and notaries performing remote notarization by audio-video communication must carry the higher $30,000 bond in addition to meeting the technology and identity-verification standards set by the Secretary of State. An electronic notary commission shares the same term as the underlying notary commission and is suspended by operation of law if the underlying commission ends.

Non-resident notaries in Illinois

Illinois allows a resident of a state bordering Illinois to be commissioned if that person’s place of work or business is within an Illinois county — but only if the bordering state authorizes Illinois residents to be commissioned there. Non-resident commissions carry a one-year term rather than the standard four years.