To become a notary in Texas, you need a $10,000 Texas notary surety bond from a surety company authorized to do business in the state, and you upload that bond with your application through the Secretary of State’s online portal. The bond usually costs around $50 for the full four-year commission, and the whole purchase-and-file process can be finished in a single day.
What the Bond Is and What It Costs
Texas Government Code Section 406.010 requires every prospective notary to execute a $10,000 bond with an authorized surety company before taking office, and the bond must be approved by the Secretary of State.1State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.010 – Bond; Oath It is conditioned on you faithfully performing your notarial duties.
The bond protects the public, not you. If someone is financially harmed by your negligence or misconduct as a notary, they can file a claim against the bond. The surety company investigates, and if it pays out, you are generally responsible for reimbursing the surety. A single payout does not exhaust the bond either: multiple injured parties can make claims against the same $10,000 until it is fully recovered.1State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.010 – Bond; Oath
For a $10,000 bond over a four-year commission term, expect to pay roughly $50. Most providers do not run a credit check because the bond amount is small and the risk to the surety is low.
One narrow exception: if you work primarily as a state officer or employee, the bond requirement does not apply to notarial duties performed in that capacity.1State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.010 – Bond; Oath
Confirm You Qualify Before You Buy
Before you spend money on a bond, check that you meet the basic qualifications under Section 406.003. You must be at least 18, a Texas resident, and free of a felony conviction or a conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code Chapter 406 – Notary Public
If you have a qualifying criminal conviction, you can still apply, but the application must be submitted by mail instead of through the online portal, and the Secretary of State will review your case individually.3Texas Secretary of State. Single Application Submission – Checklist
Buying the Bond
You purchase the bond from a surety company or insurance provider that is licensed to issue bonds in Texas. Many providers handle everything online and can email you the executed bond document within minutes.
Two things matter when you shop. First, confirm the surety is authorized to do business in Texas; the Secretary of State will reject a bond from an unauthorized company. Second, get the bond as a document you can upload, because that is how you will file it with your application. Keep a copy for your records.
Filing the Bond With Your Application
Texas does not accept paper notary applications. Every application goes through the Secretary of State’s SOS Notary Portal.4Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Forms and Fees Create your portal account first, then start the application; the sequence trips people up if they do it in reverse.5Texas Secretary of State. Submit/Renew a Traditional Notary Application
The application is Form 2301, completed inside the portal. You will need to provide:6State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.005 – Appointment Procedure; Statement
- Your name exactly as you will use it when notarizing
- Your post office address
- Your county of residence
- Your date of birth
- Your driver’s license number or other state-issued ID number
- Your Social Security number
Upload the bond document, submit the application, and pay the $21 filing fee.4Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Forms and Fees Once the Secretary of State reviews and approves the application, your commission is issued. It lasts four years from the date you qualify.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code Chapter 406 – Notary Public
What You Still Have to Do After the Bond Is Filed
Receiving your commission does not by itself let you start notarizing. Texas requires you to take an official oath of office before performing any notarial duties.1State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.010 – Bond; Oath The Secretary of State sends the oath form with your commission. You sign and swear (or affirm) the oath in front of another notary or someone else authorized to administer oaths in Texas; you cannot administer your own. Keep the completed form as proof you were sworn in.
You will also need to order a notary seal that meets the specifications in Section 406.013 before authenticating any notarial acts.7State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.013 – Seal
What the Bond Does Not Cover
The surety bond only protects the public. It does not protect you. If a claim is paid, you owe the surety the money back, and the bond itself is capped at $10,000 across all claims.
This is why some notaries also buy errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, which is optional in Texas. An E&O policy typically covers the claim amount plus attorney fees and court costs up to the policy limit, and it can respond to situations the bond cannot help with, such as a lawsuit over a stolen seal or forged signature when you did nothing wrong. It does not cover dishonest or intentional acts. If you plan to do loan signings or handle high-value documents, E&O coverage is worth serious consideration; many signing services require it.
Renewing the Bond
Your bond and your commission expire together at the end of the four-year term. To keep notarizing, you buy a new bond and submit a renewal application through the SOS Notary Portal using the same process as the original filing.4Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Forms and Fees If you decide not to renew, destroy your seal to prevent misuse and turn your record book in to your local county clerk’s office.8Texas Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions for Notaries Public