Notary bond requirements by state
Every U.S. state, the District of Columbia and the territories we serve, grouped by whether a notary public bond is required. Amounts are the statutory penalty; the cost is our total price for the full commission term, premium and processing fee included. Updated for the 2026 changes in Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.
Surety and fidelity underwriter, attorney and author of The Contractor's Guide to Surety Bonds. Updated September 2026.
States and jurisdictions that require a notary bond
| Jurisdiction | Bond amount | Term | Total cost | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,000 | 4 years | $95 | Ala. Code § 36-20-70 et seq.; Act 2023-548 |
| Alaska | $2,500 | 4 years | $95 | Alaska Stat. § 44.50.034 |
| Arizona | $5,000 | 4 years | $95 | A.R.S. § 41-315 |
| Arkansas | $7,500 | 10 years | $95 | Ark. Code Ann. § 21-14-101 |
| California | $15,000 | 4 years | $78 | Cal. Gov. Code § 8212 |
| Cherokee Nation | Per form | 4 years | $100 | Cherokee Nation Code, Title 49 (Notaries Public) |
| Florida | $7,500 | 4 years | Quote | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(7); § 117.225(6) (online notaries) |
| Hawaii | $1,000 | 4 years | $95 | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 456-5 |
| Idaho | $10,000 | 6 years | $95 | Idaho Code § 51-121 (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts) |
| Illinois | $5,000 | 4 years | $75 | 5 ILCS 312/2-105 (traditional and remote bonds) |
| Indiana | $25,000 | 8 years | $115 | Ind. Code § 33-42-12 |
| Kansas | $12,000 | 4 years | $95 | K.S.A. 53-102 |
| Kentucky | $1,000 | 4 years | $95 | KRS 423.395 |
| Louisiana | $50,000 | Lifetime commission; bond renewed every 5 years | $150 | La. R.S. 35:71 as amended by Acts 2025, No. 258 |
| Michigan | $10,000 | 6 to 7 years (expires on the notary's birthday) | $80 | MCL 55.273 |
| Mississippi | $5,000 | 4 years | $95 | Miss. Code Ann. § 25-34-1 et seq. (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts) |
| Missouri | $10,000 | 4 years | $95 | RSMo § 486.640 |
| Montana | $25,000 | 4 years | $105 | Mont. Code Ann. Title 1, ch. 5, part 6 (Montana Notary Act) |
| Nebraska | $15,000 | 4 years | $95 | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 64-102 |
| Nevada | $10,000 | 4 years | $95 | NRS 240.030 |
| New Mexico | $10,000 | 4 years | $80 | NMSA 1978, Chapter 14, Article 14A (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts) |
| North Dakota | $7,500 | 4 years | $95 | N.D.C.C. § 44-06.1-20 |
| Oklahoma | $10,000 | 4 years | $80 | 49 O.S. § 2, as amended by SB 1028 (2025) |
| Pennsylvania | $25,000 | 4 years | $115 | 57 Pa.C.S. § 321 (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts) |
| Tennessee | $10,000 | 4 years | $75 | Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-104 |
| Texas | $10,000 | 4 years | $95 | Tex. Gov't Code § 406.010 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Per form | 4 years | $425 | 3 V.I.C. § 771 et seq. |
| Utah | $5,000 | 4 years | $95 Remote: $110 | Utah Code § 46-1-4 |
| Washington | $10,000 | 4 years | $95 | RCW 42.45.020 |
| Washington, D.C. | $2,000 | 5 years | $95 | D.C. Code § 1-1231.20 |
| Wisconsin | $500 | 4 years | $80 | Wis. Stat. § 140.02 |
Florida bonds are placed through authorized bonding agencies and quoted individually. Remote online notary bonds with enlarged penalties (Arizona $25,000, Illinois $30,000, Florida $25,000, California) are individually quoted; see online notary bonds.
Standard notary bonds issue the same business day. Apply online in about four minutes, or download the paper application.
Apply for your notary bond Paper application (PDF)States that repealed the bond requirement (voluntary bond available)
These states once required a bond and no longer do. Notaries there remain personally liable for their errors. Employers, signing services and some clients still ask for a bond, so we continue to write one at the former statutory amount.
| Jurisdiction | Bond amount | Term | Total cost | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $5,000 | 6 years | $95 | SDCL 18-1-2, as amended by HB 1133 (2025) |
| West Virginia | $1,000 | 5 years | $115 | W. Va. Code § 39-4-20 |
| Wyoming | $500 | Commission term | $95 | Wyo. Stat. § 32-3-101 et seq. (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, 2021) |
States that do not require a notary bond
No bond is filed with the commission application in these states. Because the notary carries full personal liability for notarial errors, Notary E&O insurance is the relevant protection. Each page explains the commissioning authority, the term and the remote notarization rules.
- Colorado4 years
- Connecticut5 years
- Delaware2 years
- Georgia4 years
- Iowa3 years
- Maine7 years
- Maryland4 years
- Massachusetts7 years
- Minnesota5 years
- New Hampshire5 years
- New Jersey5 years
- New York4 years
- North Carolina5 years
- Ohio5 years
- Oregon4 years
- Rhode Island4 years
- South Carolina10 years
- Vermont2 years
- Virginia4 years
Recent changes to notary bond law
- Louisiana, February 1, 2026. Bond raised from $10,000 to $50,000 (Acts 2025, No. 258); the E&O policy alternative was eliminated. Bond renews every five years for a lifetime commission.
- Pennsylvania, March 28, 2026. Bond raised from $10,000 to $25,000 under 57 Pa.C.S. § 321 for all new and renewing notaries.
- Oklahoma, January 1, 2026. Bond raised from $1,000 to $10,000 (SB 1028).
- South Dakota, July 1, 2025. The $5,000 bond requirement was repealed (HB 1133).
- Alabama, September 1, 2023. Bond doubled from $25,000 to $50,000 (Act 2023-548), with mandatory training and background checks.
- Wyoming, 2021. The $500 bond requirement was repealed on adoption of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts.
- West Virginia, 2018. The $1,000 bond requirement was repealed.
Requirements change through legislation and rulemaking. Our underwriters verify the penalty and form at issuance; confirm current requirements with your commissioning authority before filing.