Not in the District of Columbia? Notary bonds in other states

District of Columbia notary bonds.
$50 flat.

Before the District of Columbia commissions you as a notary, you must file a $2,000 assurance — a surety bond — with the Office of the Secretary. Ours bundles $10,000 of E&O coverage and is $50 flat. The bond issues the moment you pay — no credit review of any kind, not even a soft pull.

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Required for your DC notary commission — new applicants and renewals through the Office of the Secretary
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Fixed $2,000 assurance + $10,000 E&O — the bond protects the public; the E&O protects you
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$50 flat, no credit fields — small fixed-amount bond, no underwriting queue
A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantunderwriting processE&O$10,000 included
Trusted by industry leaders
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG)
Capital Development Partners
McKinney Properties
Terra Capital
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
Triple Five Group
The Georgetown Company
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG)
Capital Development Partners
McKinney Properties
Terra Capital
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
Triple Five Group
The Georgetown Company
How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

Notary bonds are the simplest thing in surety. Here's the entire process:

NOW · ONLINE

Apply online

Your details and an effective date. That's the application — no financials, no credit fields, no follow-up scavenger hunt.

MINUTES, USUALLY

Pay & e-sign

Notary bonds are among the thousands of bond types that issue right after purchase.

SAME DAY

File with your commission

Your executed assurance arrives by email, ready to submit with your Office of the Secretary notary application or renewal. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the notary assurance actually guarantees

A notary bond is a public-protection assurance. Before the District commissions you, you post a $2,000 surety bond so that anyone harmed by a notarial error — a signature you didn't actually witness, an act of negligence or misconduct — has a financial backstop to recover against.

It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety, and the District of Columbia, with the public as the protected parties. The bond protects the public, not you — that's why ours bundles $10,000 of errors & omissions coverage, which does protect you against the cost of an honest mistake.

The surety must give the Mayor 30 days' notice before canceling the assurance, and must notify the Mayor within 30 days of paying a claim. We track your term and notify you 60 and 30 days before expiration so your commission never lapses over a missed renewal.

D.C. Code § 1-1231.19Under D.C. Code § 1-1231.19, before a notary commission is issued the applicant must submit to the Mayor an assurance in the form of a surety bond (or its functional equivalent) of $2,000, or another amount prescribed by rule, issued by a surety authorized to do business in the District. The surety must give the Mayor 30 days' notice before canceling and notify the Mayor within 30 days of paying a claim. A notary commissioned on behalf of the DC government is exempt. The $10,000 E&O coverage is a separate, optional protection we bundle with the bond.

You need this bond if you're

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Applying for a DC notary commission — the assurance is filed before the commission issues
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Renewing your notary commission and your prior bond term is ending
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Adding an electronic notary endorsement that still requires the underlying assurance
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A mobile or loan-signing notary who wants the E&O coverage as well as the required bond

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual issuing fields — the application collects no credit information, because this bond doesn't need any.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the DC notary bond?It is $50 flat — set by our carrier's rate book for the fixed $2,000 assurance, and that includes $10,000 of E&O coverage. Same number for every notary.
What is the difference between the bond and the E&O coverage?The $2,000 surety bond is required by the District and protects the public — if you mishandle a notarization and someone is harmed, they recover against it, and you repay the surety. The $10,000 E&O coverage is optional protection for you, covering the cost of an honest, unintentional mistake. Ours bundles both.
Is there a credit check?The application collects no credit information, and most notary bonds like this approve instantly with no credit review.
How fast will I have it?Notary bonds are among the thousands of bond types that issue right after purchase — many notaries finish the application and have the bond in the same sitting.
How long does the commission last?A DC notary commission runs a set term, and the assurance must stay active for it. We send renewal notices 60 and 30 days before expiration, with autopay available, so your commission never lapses over a missed email.
Which A-rated carriers underwrite these bonds?Typically Arch Insurance Company (A.M. Best A+) or Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (A.M. Best A). Which one writes your bond depends on the bond type and your state. The carrier's name and official signature are printed on the bond you receive.
How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.
Related bonds

Other District of Columbia bonds.

Get commissioned this week.

$50 flat, E&O included, no credit review, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.

Your price$50
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