Who requires it
Pennsylvania Department of State — Notaries
License & permit · Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Notary Public Bond
Every Pennsylvania notary public must keep a Department of State–form surety bond in force for the four-year commission. Current regulation sets the amount at $25,000 for applicants appointed or reappointed under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts final rule, with a limited transition for commissions already held on March 28, 2026.
Common bond amount
$25,000
Regulatory amount under 4 Pa. Code § 167.16. Commissions held on March 28, 2026 may keep the prior bond until that term ends.
How you file
Record the Department of State bond with the county recorder of deeds
Renewal
Four-year commission; reappointment needs a current-amount bond and new recording
Who requires it
Individuals appointed or reappointed as Pennsylvania notaries public under 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3. You may perform notarial acts only while a valid bond is on file as the statute and Department of State materials require.
How much is required
57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d) establishes a surety bond of $10,000 or the amount the department sets by regulation. 4 Pa. Code § 167.16 implements a $25,000 applicant bond amount. Department of State bonding guidance matches the $25,000 figure. Notaries who held a commission on March 28, 2026 may continue using their existing bond until that commission expires; new appointments and reappointments on or after that date need the $25,000 amount.
How to get and file it
After the Department of State appoints you, obtain the bond form materials provided with the appointment notice from an insurer authorized by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. The surety—not the notary—completes the company portion of the form. Then record the bond, oath of office, and commission with the recorder of deeds in the county where you maintain an office within forty-five days of appointment, and register your official signature as § 321 requires. Missing the forty-five-day recording window makes the commission null and void and requires a new appointment and a new bond. The surety must give the department at least thirty days’ notice before canceling. Commissions last four years; reappointment starts the bond and recording process again under the amount then in force.
Cost note
$25,000 is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Current applicant amount
- $25,000 surety under 4 Pa. Code § 167.16
- Recording
- Bond, oath, and commission with county recorder of deeds within 45 days of appointment
- Surety
- Insurance company authorized to do business in Pennsylvania; DOS-prescribed form
- Cancellation notice
- Surety gives the department at least 30 days’ notice before canceling
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Is the notary bond still $10,000?
The statute still names $10,000 or the amount set by regulation. The department’s regulation and current bonding page set the applicant amount at $25,000. Only commissions already held on March 28, 2026 may keep an older bond until that commission expires.
Does the bond protect me if I make a mistake?
No. The bond protects members of the public. Department materials note that you must repay the surety for amounts it pays on your behalf. Errors-and-omissions insurance is optional and separate.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Pennsylvania 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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