Who requires it
Missouri Secretary of State / county clerk
License & permit · Missouri
Missouri Notary Public Bond
A Missouri notary commission does not become effective until the applicant presents an oath of office and a ten-thousand-dollar surety bond to the county clerk of the commissioning county. The bond must come from a licensed Missouri surety and run for the same four-year dates as the commission.
Common bond amount
$10,000
Fixed statutory amount; four-year term matching the commission dates.
How you file
Licensed Missouri surety; presented to the county clerk with the oath
Renewal
New four-year bond at each commission term
Who requires it
Every person commissioned as a Missouri notary public. The Secretary of State approves the application; the county clerk awards the commission only after receiving the bond and oath.
How much is required
Section 486.615 establishes a fixed ten-thousand-dollar bond conditioned on payment to any person for the notary’s official misconduct. The Secretary of State notary bond page matches that face and the four-year term.
How to get and file it
After the Secretary of State approves your application, have a licensed Missouri surety execute a $10,000 bond for the exact commission start and end dates—generally within sixty days of approval. Take the bond and oath to the county clerk in the county of commission to receive the commission. Notify the Secretary of State of bond changes or increases. If claims exhaust the bond, the secretary suspends the commission until you obtain a new bond and the secretary determines fitness to finish the term. Reappointment starts a new four-year bond cycle.
Cost note
Ten 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
- $10,000
- Term
- Four years commencing on the commission issue date
- Filing
- Present bond and oath to the county clerk before the commission is effective
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Does errors-and-omissions insurance replace the notary bond?
No. The Secretary of State states that an errors-and-omissions policy does not replace the statutory bond. E&O is optional coverage for the notary; the bond protects the public.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Missouri application
Missouri 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 →