A notary bond is the state-required surety bond every commissioned notary must carry. We'll get you quoted in minutes.
Your bond protects the public. Notary Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance — also called professional liability insurance — is generally intended to protect you against allegations of error or omission in your notarial duties.
For notaries, "professional liability" and "E&O" refer to the same coverage. Most working notaries carry both a bond and E&O.
Cost depends on the bond amount your state requires (commonly $5,000–$25,000) and the bond term (often 4 years). For most states, premium runs $40–$100 for the full term.
The bond is intended to protect the public from financial harm caused by an improper notarization — but the bond requires the notary to repay the surety. Notary Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance — also called professional liability insurance — is intended to protect the notary against allegations of error or omission. Both serve different parties.
The bond is typically required by your state to be commissioned. E&O is optional but strongly recommended — without it, you personally pay defense costs and any settlement out of pocket.
Bond cancellation rules vary by state and by surety. Some refund unearned premium; others do not. Check your state's commissioning authority.