Washington Notary Bond Requirements

Is a notary bond required in Washington?

Yes. Washington law requires a surety bond before the Department of Licensing will issue a notary public commission. Under RCW 42.45.200, an applicant must submit “an assurance in the form of a surety bond in the amount established by the director in rule.” The Department of Licensing confirms that amount is $10,000, and a prospective notary “need only submit a complete application, proof of a $10,000 surety bond, and appropriate fees” to begin the process.

The bond protects the public rather than the notary. If a notary violates Washington notary law, the surety that issued the bond is liable under the assurance, and the surety must notify the Department within 30 days after paying any claim. A notary who has to repay the surety remains personally responsible. The statute also stresses that a notary may perform notarial acts only during the period a valid assurance is on file—so lapses in the bond effectively suspend a notary’s authority.

The bond must be issued by a surety or other entity licensed or authorized to write surety bonds in Washington, must be in the form the director prescribes, and the surety must give at least 30 days’ notice to the Department before cancelling it.

How to become a notary in Washington

1. Confirm eligibility. Under RCW 42.45.200 an applicant must be at least 18, be a resident of Washington or have a place of employment or practice in the state, be able to read and write English, and not be disqualified under RCW 42.45.210.
2. Obtain the $10,000 surety bond from a surety licensed in Washington.
3. Execute the oath of office in the format the director prescribes.
4. Complete the application and gather your documents—the signed oath of office, an electronic copy of your signed $10,000 surety bond, and the application fee.
5. Submit to the Department of Licensing online (faster) or by mail. Once eligibility and all requirements are met, the Department mails the certificate of commission.
6. Order your stamp or seal after the commission is issued.

Bond vs. E&O insurance in Washington

Washington requires the surety bond; it does not require errors and omissions insurance. These two products serve different parties. The $10,000 bond backs the public: it gives someone harmed by a notary’s improper act a source of recovery, and the notary must reimburse the surety for any valid claim paid.

E&O insurance, by contrast, is optional coverage a Washington notary can buy to help pay legal defense costs and claims that result from an honest mistake in a notarization. Because only the bond is mandatory, purchasing E&O is a personal decision about how much of your own liability exposure you want to insure.

Renewing your Washington commission

A Washington commission is issued for four years, or for a term that expires on the date the assurance (bond) expires, whichever comes first. Because the commission cannot outlast the bond on file, a renewing notary needs bond coverage that remains valid through the new term. Renew through the Department of Licensing—online through SecureAccess Washington or by mail—before the current commission lapses, since a notary may act only while a valid assurance is on file.

Remote online notarization in Washington

Washington authorizes electronic and remote notarization through endorsements added to a standard commission. A notary first applies for an electronic records notary endorsement (available when applying for a new commission, at renewal, or separately) and must give the Department the name of the electronic notary software within 30 days of receiving the endorsement. A notary who already holds the electronic endorsement may then request a remote notary endorsement by contacting the Department and identifying the remote notarization software. The notary must wait for approval before notarizing remotely.

Non-resident notaries in Washington

Washington does not require residency. RCW 42.45.200 allows an applicant who “has a place of employment or practice in this state” to qualify, so a person who works or practices in Washington but lives elsewhere may be commissioned, subject to the same bond, oath, and eligibility rules as a resident.