Minnesota Notary Requirements and E&O Insurance

Is a notary bond required in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota does not require notaries public to post a surety bond. A Minnesota notary is a public official appointed by the Governor to serve as an impartial witness, and the appointment and county-recording process — not a bond — is how the state administers the office. Oversight of notary misconduct rests with the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce.

The commission is administered by the Secretary of State but issued in the Governor’s name. After the Secretary of State approves a new commission, reappointment, renewal, or name change, the commission certificate is mailed to the notary, who must then register (record) the commission with the county of residence. The county recording fee is $20, and failure to register can result in a civil penalty imposed by the Commissioner of Commerce that is typically larger than the recording fee.

Because there is no bond, the public-protection function a bond serves in other states is handled through the appointment process, county recording, and the Department of Commerce’s enforcement authority.

How to become a notary in Minnesota

1. Confirm eligibility. You must be at least 18 and either a Minnesota resident or a resident of a county in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin.
2. Complete the Notary Application and mail it to the Secretary of State with the $120 non-refundable fee (check or money order payable to the Office of the Secretary of State).
3. Non-residents from the four bordering states must designate the Secretary of State as their agent for service of process and list the Minnesota county where they will file.
4. After approval, the commission certificate is mailed to you. Record your commission with your county of residence and pay the $20 county recording fee.

Bond vs. E&O insurance in Minnesota

Minnesota requires no bond, so the only optional financial-protection product is errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. E&O is not required by the state; it protects the notary’s own finances against claims and legal-defense costs arising from honest mistakes made while notarizing. A Minnesota notary who wants that protection can carry E&O coverage, but neither a bond nor E&O insurance is a condition of appointment. Note that no purchasable notary product is currently listed for Minnesota on this site.

Renewing your Minnesota commission

A Minnesota commission runs until January 31 of the fifth year following the year it was issued. Under §359.02, a notary may renew six months before the commission expires for a new term beginning the day after the current one ends. A notary whose commission has already expired applies for reappointment after the expiration date. After any renewal or reappointment, the commission must again be recorded with the county of residence.

Remote online notarization in Minnesota

Minnesota authorizes remote online notarization. A notary must obtain a Remote Online Notarization Authorization from the Secretary of State before performing remote online notarial acts, and the Secretary of State publishes the current application, verification, and termination procedures. Confirm the technology and registration requirements with the Secretary of State before notarizing remotely.

Non-resident notaries in Minnesota

Minnesota allows certain non-residents to serve. In addition to Minnesota residents, a resident of a county in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin may qualify. Non-resident applicants must designate the Secretary of State as their agent for service of process and list the Minnesota county in which they will file their commission.