Iowa Notary Requirements and E&O Insurance

Is a notary bond required in Iowa?

No. Iowa does not require notaries public to post a surety bond. Iowa Code § 9B.21, part of the state’s version of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, sets out what an applicant must do to be commissioned: apply to the Secretary of State, meet the eligibility requirements, execute an oath of office, and pay the application fee. A surety bond is not among those requirements.

Instead of a bond, Iowa relies on eligibility screening, the notary’s oath, and statutory grounds for denial or revocation. Because there is no bond to reimburse the public, some Iowa notaries choose to carry optional errors and omissions insurance to protect themselves against liability for mistakes, but the state does not mandate it.

The Iowa Secretary of State administers the notary program, issues commissions, and publishes the notary handbook, forms, and fee schedule.

How to become a notary in Iowa

1. Confirm eligibility: be at least 18, be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, be a resident of Iowa or have a place of employment or practice in Iowa, be able to read and write English, and not be disqualified under Iowa Code § 9B.23.
2. Complete the notary application through the Secretary of State.
3. Pay the $30 application fee (certain government appointments are exempt).
4. Execute the oath of office and submit it to the Secretary of State.
5. Receive your commission for a 3-year term and begin performing notarial acts.

The Secretary of State may also appoint members of the General Assembly and certain state-agency employees as notaries under separate provisions, with terms tied to their office or employment.

Bond vs. E&O insurance in Iowa

Because Iowa requires no surety bond, the only relevant coverage is optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. E&O protects the notary personally by covering defense costs and liability for unintentional errors in a notarial act. Unlike a bond — which would pay the public and be recovered from the notary — E&O is purchased for the notary’s own benefit. In Iowa, carrying it is entirely a personal business decision.

Renewing your Iowa commission

Iowa commissions last three years. To keep serving, reapply to the Secretary of State before the current commission expires, meeting the same eligibility requirements, executing a new oath, and paying the fee. Since there is no bond, renewal focuses on the application and oath rather than obtaining new bond coverage.

Remote online notarization in Iowa

Iowa authorizes remote online notarization under Iowa Code § 9B.14A and the Secretary of State’s rules. A remote online notary must first meet all requirements to serve as a traditional Iowa notary, then register with the Secretary of State to perform notarial acts using communication technology. Remote acts require live audio-video communication, identity proofing (including using at least two types of identity proofing when the signer is not personally known), an audio-visual recording of the act, and a certificate indicating that communication technology was used.

Non-resident notaries in Iowa

Iowa allows the Secretary of State to appoint a resident of a state bordering Iowa if that person’s place of work or business is within Iowa. Such a non-resident commission carries a one-year term, and it expires if the notary stops working or maintaining a place of business in Iowa.