Indiana Notary Renewal: Bond, INBiz Filing, and New Seal

Indiana notary renewal runs through the state’s INBiz portal, and you can start up to 90 days before your current commission expires. You will need a new $25,000 surety bond covering the full eight-year term, a completed education course and exam, an executed oath of office, and a $75 application fee.¹ If your commission lapses before the Secretary of State approves your renewal, Indiana will not renew you at all. You have to apply as a brand-new notary from scratch.²

When to Start and Why the Deadline Matters

Indiana’s administrative rules open the renewal window 90 days before your expiration date.¹ Use the full window. Buying a new bond, finishing the course, passing the exam, and waiting on state processing all take time, and the three pieces do not move in parallel as smoothly as you might hope.

If the commission expires first, you cannot renew. You start over as a new applicant.² Any notarizations you perform after the lapse carry no legal authority, which creates problems for you and for everyone relying on those documents. Put the expiration date on your calendar, and set a reminder at least three months out.

The eligibility rules at renewal are the same as for a first-time application: you must be at least 18 and either a legal Indiana resident or primarily employed in the state.³ If anything has changed since your last commission, like a name change or a move out of state, resolve it before you file.

What to Have Ready Before You Open the Application

Trying to assemble the pieces inside the application leads to mistakes. Gather everything first.

A New $25,000 Surety Bond

Indiana requires a $25,000 surety bond covering the full eight-year commission term.³ Buy it from a company authorized to do business in Indiana. The bond protects the public, not you: if a claim is paid, the bonding company can come after you for reimbursement. Keep the bond document in front of you when you fill out the application, because the surety’s name and bond number need to be transcribed exactly as they appear.

The Education Course and Exam

You have to complete a notary education course covering current Indiana law and best practices, then pass an exam. Both are accessed through the INBiz portal after you start your application.⁴ Passing produces a certificate of completion that attaches to your application file. The content is manageable for anyone actively notarizing, but it still takes time, so do not leave it for the final week.

Oath of Office and Signature Sample

The application includes an oath of office in which you affirm that you will obey the laws of the United States and the State of Indiana.³ You also submit an electronic signature sample. Have your current commission number and expiration date in front of you so what you enter matches the Secretary of State’s records.

Submitting Through INBiz

All renewals go through inbiz.in.gov. Open the notary services section and choose the renewal option. The system walks you through uploading the bond and the education certificate and entering your personal and commission details.¹

Match every detail against the source document. The bonding company’s name, bond number, and effective dates on your application have to line up with the bond itself. Small discrepancies get applications flagged or returned.

The fee is $75, paid by credit or debit card in the portal.¹ After submission, the Secretary of State’s office reviews your documents. Processing usually takes a few business days and can run longer in busy periods. Once approved, you receive a new commission certificate electronically, good for another eight years.

Order a New Seal Right Away

Your old seal becomes unusable the moment your new commission takes effect, because Indiana law requires the seal to show current information. The seal must include:⁵

Your name exactly as it appears on your commission certificate
The words “Notary Public”
The words “State of Indiana”
Your commission number
Your new expiration date

The seal also has to be capable of being copied along with the document it is attached to, which rules out embossers that leave only a raised impression without ink. Most notaries use ink stamps. Order the new seal as soon as your commission is approved, because a stamp showing an old expiration date or the wrong commission number cannot legally be used.

Continuing Education Deadlines That Can End Your Commission Early

Renewal is not the only date you need to watch. During each eight-year commission, Indiana requires three continuing education courses: one at year two, one at year four, and one at year six. Each costs $50, for $150 across the full term.¹ Each course is due by the end of the anniversary month in which you were commissioned.⁶

Missing one of those deadlines permanently expires your commission. You cannot cure it. You have to apply as a new notary.¹ The penalty is harsher than most people assume for a skipped training course, so set calendar reminders for years two, four, and six as soon as your renewed commission is issued.

Renewing Does Not Reauthorize Remote Online Notarization

If you perform remote online notarizations, your standard renewal does not carry that authority forward on its own. Remote notarization is a separate registration under Indiana Code Chapter 33-42-17. You must hold an active standard commission, then register with the Secretary of State and select an approved audiovisual communication technology platform.⁷ If remote work is part of your practice, plan to handle the remote registration alongside your standard renewal so there is no gap in either authority.

1
INBIZ. INBIZ Notaries
2
Cornell Law Institute. 75 IAC 7-2-4 – Notary Public Renewal
3
Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 33-42-12-1 – Notary Public Commission
4
INBiz. Initial Notary Application Education Exam Instructions
5
Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 33-42-10-2 – Official Seal
6
Indiana General Assembly. Title 75, Article 7 – Notary Public Governance
7
Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 33-42-17-3 – Remote Notary Public Functions