A notary bond is a three-part agreement between the public notary, the bonding company, and the state of Florida. It protects the general public from financial loss due to improper conduct by a Florida Notary. Essentially, the bonding company makes an agreement with the state to pay for any losses suffered by the public that occurred during the notary’s commission. In the state of Florida, a $7,500 notary bond is required to be a notary. Should a notary be negligent in his/her duties, the injured party can collect up to $7,500 in compensation from the surety company providing the bond. The surety company would then seek compensation from the notary for damages.
Who Needs a Notary Bond?
All notaries in the state of Florida are required to have a four-year notary bond during their commission. Notary bonds can be renewed after the four years have passed. This ensures that the public notary will perform his/her duties faithfully and responsibly to avoid causing damages.
Why Are Notary Bonds Important?
Should you, the notary, make a mistake on a document, a notary bond will reimburse the state or party for their financial losses. Once the affected party has received their funds from the bonding company, the notary may have to reimburse the company for those funds—especially if they don’t have errors and omission insurance (E&O insurance).
With E&O insurance, the notary may not have to reimburse the bonding company for damages, depending on their policy. For example, if you have E&O insurance for $5,000 and you incur damages of $2,000, the insurance company will cover those damages completely. However, let’s say you incur damages of $6,500. Your E&O insurance policy will cover $5,000, leaving you to pay the remaining $1,500.
If I have a Notary Bond, Do I Need E&O Insurance as well?
Yes. The notary bond is designed to protect the public while E&O insurance is designed to protect the notary. Should you make a mistake, it could cost you thousands of dollars to repay the bonding company and a small fortune in legal fees. Your E&O policy will cover expenses like legal fees and court costs up to the designated amount on your policy.
How Do I Get a Notary Bond?
After you’ve completed the required education courses, you’ll need to contact an approved Florida bonding agency, like the Florida Notary Association, and complete an application.
How Much Does a Notary Bond from the Florida Notary Association cost?
The cost of notary bonds will vary across companies. To learn how much a notary bond from the Florida Notary Association costs, contact us. We’re happy to provide you with additional information.
In addition to notary bonds, we also offer the following:
- Municipal license and permit bonds
- State license and permit bonds
- Probate bonds
- Fidelity bonds
- Public official bonds
- Employee dishonesty bonds
- Janitorial service bonds
- Contract bonds–bid/performance/payment
How do I Renew my Notary Bond from the Florida Notary Association?
Most Florida notary bonds are good for four years. After this, you’ll need to complete our renewal application and submit the designated forms back to our office for processing. Your new form is usually renewed in 10 business days or less.
For any additional notary kit needs, be sure to check out The Dotted Line.