Who requires it
County judge of probate (county of residence)
License & permit · Alabama
Alabama Notary Public Bond
Alabama statewide notaries must give a $50,000 surety bond from an Alabama-licensed producer. After the probate judge issues the letter of appointment, the bond must be approved, filed, and recorded in that county’s probate office before the notary begins official duties, generally within forty days of the appointment letter.
Common bond amount
$50,000
Fixed $50,000 effective Sept. 1, 2023; prior commissions may finish on their existing bond until that term ends.
How you file
File with the county probate judge after the appointment letter
Renewal
Four-year commission; re-file bond at reappointment
Who requires it
Individuals appointed as Alabama notaries public for the state at large. Notaries already functioning on September 1, 2023, may finish their then-current commission on the bond they already held; new appointments and later renewals use the $50,000 amount.
How much is required
Ala. Code § 36-20-71 establishes a fixed $50,000 bond payable to the State of Alabama and conditioned on faithful discharge of notary duties. The Alabama Probate Judges Association pamphlet matches that amount for appointments on or after September 1, 2023.
How to get and file it
After you receive the appointment letter, purchase the $50,000 bond from an Alabama-licensed producer and take it to the probate office in your county of residence for approval, filing, and recording together with any other items the probate judge requires. The commission is mailed only after the bond is recorded. Commissions run four years. Begin renewal with your county probate office before the term ends; a new or continuing bond at the amount then required must be on file for the next commission. You may not notarize after the commission expires or before the new commission arrives.
Cost note
Fifty thousand dollars is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $50,000 payable to the State of Alabama
- Deadline
- Generally within 40 days of the appointment letter
- Filing office
- Judge of probate in the county of residence
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Can I notarize as soon as I get the appointment letter?
No. The pamphlet states you receive the commission by mail only after the probate office records the bond, and you may not perform notarial acts until that commission arrives.
Is the notary bond the same as E&O insurance?
No. The statutory bond protects the public and runs to the State of Alabama. Errors-and-omissions insurance, if you buy it, is a separate professional-liability product.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Alabama application
Alabama will be preselected. Choose your bond type in the application—we confirm the correct product against your agency form before anything is issued.
Last verified 2026-08-11. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
Agents Ready to Help
Share your agency checklist or bond form and we will confirm the agency, amount, and filing steps before issuing.
Talk to the pro →