Who requires it
Kentucky Secretary of State / county clerk
License & permit · Kentucky
Kentucky Notary Public Bond
Kentucky notary applicants must obtain a $1,000 surety bond—called an assurance in the statute—covering the four-year commission term. After the Secretary of State issues the commission, the applicant has thirty days to appear before the county clerk listed in the application, take the oath, file the commission, and submit the bond. Notarial acts may be performed only while a valid assurance remains on file with the county clerk.
Common bond amount
$1,000
Fixed four-year assurance under KRS 423.390; county clerk filing required.
How you file
File the Secretary of State’s notary bond form with the county clerk
Renewal
Align with the four-year commission; maintain continuous county filing
Who requires it
Individuals applying for or renewing a Kentucky notary public commission under KRS 423.390, including applicants who later register for electronic or remote notarial authority under the Secretary of State’s regulations.
How much is required
KRS 423.390 fixes one thousand dollars as the assurance amount for the commission term. The form must follow the Secretary of State’s prescription, and the issuer must be licensed or authorized in Kentucky.
How to get and file it
Purchase a $1,000 Kentucky notary bond naming you exactly as on the SOS application, submit proof with the online application as required, then take the original to the county clerk with your commission for filing and oath within thirty days of issuance. The commission runs four years. Keep a valid assurance on file with the county clerk for the entire term. The surety must give the Secretary of State thirty days’ notice before canceling or before an early expiration. Renew the commission and bond before the term ends if you intend to continue notarizing.
Cost note
One thousand dollars is the required bond amount for the four-year term, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $1,000
- Term
- Covers acts during the four-year commission
- Filing window
- Oath, commission, and bond with county clerk within 30 days of SOS issuance
- Cancellation notice
- Surety gives SOS 30 days’ notice before canceling
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file the Kentucky notary bond?
With the county clerk listed in your commission application, when you appear in person to take the oath and file the commission within thirty days after the Secretary of State issues it.
Is errors-and-omissions insurance the same as the $1,000 bond?
No. The $1,000 assurance is the statutory commission requirement. E&O insurance, if purchased, is separate personal coverage and does not replace the bond on file with the county clerk.
Related Kentucky bond guides
Debt Adjuster Bond
$25,000 / $75,000
Kentucky debt adjusters must register with the Attorney General and maintain a $25,000 surety bond—or an Attorney General–approved irrevocable letter of credit—under KRS 380.040. If the adjuster handles consumer debt secured by a residential mortgage or equivalent interest, the bond or letter of credit increases by $50,000. Coverage must remain in place during registration and for two years after the adjuster stops serving debtors.
Public Adjuster Bond
$50,000
Kentucky public adjusters must show $50,000 of financial responsibility before the Department of Insurance issues the license and must keep that security for the license term. KRS 304.9-430 accepts a surety bond from an authorized insurer or an irrevocable letter of credit from a qualified financial institution. If the security terminates or becomes impaired, the public adjuster license automatically ends and must be surrendered.
Motor Vehicle Dealer Bond
Conditional · up to $100,000+
Kentucky does not make every motor vehicle dealer post a fixed statewide surety. KRS 190.030(9) lets the Motor Vehicle Commission require a bond of up to $100,000 when it doubts an applicant’s financial responsibility or compliance. 605 KAR 1:030 adds a concrete asset path for new, used, motorcycle, automotive mobility, and leasing dealers: show at least $50,000 in unencumbered cash or inventory, and if assets sit between $50,000 and $100,000, obtain a commercial bond for the difference to $100,000. Auction dealers may face higher commission-set amounts.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Kentucky application
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Last verified 2026-08-11. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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