Missouri notary renewal follows almost the same path as your first commission: complete approved training and pass the state exam, buy a new $10,000 surety bond, submit a new application with a $25 fee, and take the oath at your county clerk’s office within 60 days of the commission being issued.1Missouri Secretary of State. Notary Reappointments Commissions run four years, and every deadline in the process is firm.
When to Start
The renewal window opens six weeks before your current commission expires. That is the earliest you can take the training and begin the application, and the Secretary of State’s office will not accept training completed outside that window.1Missouri Secretary of State. Notary Reappointments
Do not let the commission lapse before you file, either. Under Missouri law, a current or former notary applying for a new commission must submit a brand-new application and satisfy every requirement from scratch, just like a first-time applicant.2Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 486.625 – Application, Procedure There is no grace period for a lapsed commission.
You also need to still meet the basic eligibility rules: at least 18 years old and either living or working in Missouri on a regular basis.3Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 486.605 – Notary Commission Issued, Qualifications Nonresident notaries who work in Missouri must keep the Secretary of State authorized as their agent for accepting legal service.
Training and Exam
Every renewal applicant has to show current knowledge of Missouri notary law. The statute requires two things: you must either read the Missouri Notary Handbook or complete a training course approved by the Secretary of State, and you must score 80 percent or better on an examination the Secretary of State administers.4Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 486.630 – Application, Contents, Declaration, Application Fee Both pieces are mandatory. Long experience notarizing does not exempt you.
In practice, the Secretary of State offers an online training course that covers the required material and includes the exam. A written version is also available for those who prefer paper.1Missouri Secretary of State. Notary Reappointments The exam covers notarial laws, procedures, and ethics.
Buying the New Surety Bond
Before you file, you need a $10,000 surety bond from an insurance company licensed in Missouri, written for a four-year term matching your new commission dates.5Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 486.615 – Commission Effective, When, Bond Amount You can buy it through an insurance agent, a bank, or a bonding company. It is a new bond, not a continuation. Your prior bond does not carry over.
Keep the bond number and the bonding company name close by when you fill out the application. You will not file the bond itself with the Secretary of State. You present it later at the county clerk’s office when you take your oath.6Missouri Secretary of State. Qualifying
Filing the Application
The application is available through the Secretary of State’s website as either an online form or a printable paper version you can mail in.7Missouri Secretary of State. Forms for New Notary A $25 fee accompanies it.8Missouri Secretary of State. Missouri Notary Handbook
Two details on the form matter more than most. First, the name you enter becomes the name on your official seal and signature and must stay consistent on every document you notarize; if your name has changed since your last commission, update it here. Second, you designate the county where you live or work. That is where you will take your oath, but it does not limit where you can act. Missouri notaries can perform notarial acts anywhere in the state.9Missouri Secretary of State. Resident Application Form Instructions
Have your training certificate, bond details, and personal contact information in front of you before you start the online form. The session can time out.
Qualifying at the County Clerk’s Office
Approval from the Secretary of State is not the finish line. Once your commission is issued, you have 60 days to appear in person at your county clerk’s office. Miss that deadline and the county clerk will mark you as not qualified and return your commission to the Secretary of State, and at that point you may have to reapply entirely.10Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 486.620 – Secretary to Prepare Notary Commission, Duties, Register of Notaries
Three things happen during the visit. You present your $10,000 surety bond. The clerk or a deputy administers the oath of office. You provide a handwritten specimen of your official signature.6Missouri Secretary of State. Qualifying The clerk then hands you the commission certificate that authorizes you to notarize for your new four-year term. County clerks charge a separate recording fee, and the amount varies by county. Call ahead so you know what to bring.
Order a New Seal
Your old seal is no longer valid once the new term begins. Missouri law requires notaries to use a stamp showing their commission expiration date, so you need to order a new seal with your updated commission dates before you notarize anything under the new commission.
What Renewal Costs
Budget for several separate expenses beyond the $25 application fee: the surety bond (prices vary by bonding company but commonly run between $30 and $80 for four years), a county clerk recording fee, and a new seal stamp. In total, expect to spend roughly $100 to $150, depending on your bond premium and county fees.
Remote Online Notarization Does Not Renew With It
If you are authorized to perform remote online notarizations, renewing your traditional commission does not renew that credential. Electronic notaries must hold an active traditional commission and then complete a separate online registration and training course through the Secretary of State’s office, along with choosing from a list of approved software vendors.11Missouri Secretary of State. Electronic Notary Info Plan the electronic registration as its own step.