Who requires it
Arkansas Secretary of State — Notary Public
License & permit · Arkansas
Arkansas Notary Public Bond
Arkansas notary applicants must arrange a $7,500 surety bond before the Secretary of State commissions them. Ark. Code § 21-14-101 requires either a surety bond from an insurer authorized in Arkansas or a qualifying Arkansas corporate surety contract limited to $7,500 aggregate. The 2025 Notary Handbook makes obtaining that bond the first application step and ties it to a ten-year traditional commission.
Common bond amount
$7,500
Fixed face under § 21-14-101; ten-year traditional commission per SOS handbook.
How you file
Secretary of State bond form, then record with the county recorder
Renewal
Align with the ten-year commission; record in the county of commission
Who requires it
Individuals seeking appointment or renewal as an Arkansas notary public through the Secretary of State Business and Commercial Services process, including eligible nonresident applicants who meet statutory residency or employment tests.
How much is required
Section 21-14-101 fixes seven thousand five hundred dollars as the bond or surety-contract amount. The obligation runs to the State of Arkansas, and the issuer’s aggregate liability cannot exceed that sum.
How to get and file it
Purchase the $7,500 bond listing your name exactly as it will appear on the seal and SOS application, upload a PDF copy with the online application and exam certificate, then record the original bond with the recorder of deeds in your county of commission after approval. The traditional commission runs ten years. Maintain bonding coverage for the commission period and follow SOS instructions when renewing, including placing the commission number on renewal filings when required.
Cost note
Seven thousand five hundred dollars is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $7,500
- Authority
- Ark. Code § 21-14-101
- Application upload
- PDF copy of the bond with the online SOS filing
- Recording
- Original bond to the recorder of deeds in the county of commission
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Is errors-and-omissions insurance the same as the Arkansas notary bond?
No. The $7,500 surety or qualifying surety contract is the statutory commission requirement. E&O insurance, if purchased, is separate personal coverage and does not replace the bond.
Where do I file the original bond?
After the Secretary of State approves the commission, take the original bond and certificates to the recorder of deeds in your county of commission for recording, as directed in SOS notary materials.
Related Arkansas bond guides
Credit Repair Services Organization Bond
$10,000
Arkansas credit repair services organizations that charge or receive payment before fully performing agreed services must obtain a $10,000 surety bond and maintain a federally insured trust account at a bank or savings and loan in this state. Ark. Code § 4-91-202 also requires written buyer disclosures naming the surety or trust account. The bond is a consumer-protection condition on early fee collection, not a Securities Department mortgage-style license bond.
Collection Agency Bond
$10,000 / $20,000 / $25,000
Arkansas collection agencies must post a surety bond payable to the State Board of Collection Agencies before licensure. Ark. Code § 17-24-306 authorizes a face of not less than $10,000 and not more than $50,000 for each location. Board rules and licensing forms currently set $10,000 for agencies with up to five collectors, $20,000 for six to twelve collectors, and $25,000 for thirteen or more, with a separate bond at every office.
Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
$25,000 / $50,000 / $100,000
Arkansas dealer bonding depends on which license you hold. The Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission requires a $50,000 bond for new auto, truck, or RV dealers and a $25,000 bond for new motorcycle, ATV, scooter, or motor vehicle lessor licenses, each on the Commission’s approved form. Used motor vehicle dealers, wholesalers, and auto auctions licensed under Ark. Code § 23-112-607 post at least $25,000, or one $100,000 bond covering every licensed location.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Arkansas application
Arkansas 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.
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