Mississippi Notary Bond

Every Mississippi notary must carry a $5,000 surety bond for the full four-year commission term. The bond isn't insurance for you — it's a financial guarantee that protects the public if you make a mistake or commit misconduct. If someone successfully claims against your bond, the surety company pays them and then comes after you for reimbursement.

What the Bond Costs

The $5,000 figure is the bond's face value, not what you pay out of pocket. Your actual premium depends on your credit history and the surety provider, but most Mississippi notary bonds cost between $30 and $50 for the full four-year term. That works out to roughly $8 to $13 per year.

Applicants with poor credit may pay slightly more, but notary bonds are among the most affordable surety products on the market because the liability exposure is relatively low.

The Bond Filing Sequence

Mississippi's bond process is unusual because you can't buy the bond until the state tells you to. Here's why the order matters:

1. Submit your application (Form NP-001) with the $25 filing fee
2. Receive a pre-commission letter by email with your assigned commission dates
3. Purchase the bond — the effective date must match the commission start date on your pre-commission letter exactly
4. Execute the bond on Form NP-002 and sign the oath of office before a commissioned notary
5. Mail the original bond and notarized oath back to the Secretary of State

The surety company must be licensed by the Mississippi Department of Insurance. National providers like SuretyBonds.com and local specialists like Stegall Notary Service both offer Mississippi notary bonds.

The 60-Day Deadline

Once the Secretary of State grants preliminary approval and emails your pre-commission letter, a 60-calendar-day clock starts. Your completed bond and notarized oath must be received and filed within this window.

This deadline is absolute. If day 61 arrives and the Secretary of State hasn't received your documents, the state permanently rejects your application. You'll need to submit a brand-new Form NP-001, pay another $25 fee, and restart the entire commissioning process from scratch.

During this waiting period, your commission is legally dormant. You have no public authority and cannot perform any notarial acts, even if you've purchased supplies.

Bond Exhaustion and Commission Suspension

Under Administrative Rules effective September 29, 2025, if your $5,000 bond is exhausted by claims, the Secretary of State will immediately suspend your commission. You'll remain suspended until you secure a replacement bond and the state evaluates whether you're fit to continue serving.

This is a real risk for notaries handling high-volume work, particularly in real estate. A single error on a property transaction could generate a claim that drains the entire bond amount.

The Bond Does Not Protect You

This distinction catches many new notaries by surprise. The surety bond protects the public from your mistakes — it does not shield you from personal financial liability. If a claim is paid out, the surety company has the legal right to seek full reimbursement from you personally.

For personal protection, consider errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, which covers your own defense costs and potential settlements. E&O policies for Mississippi notaries typically run $50 to $65 per year and are available through most bond providers.

The Mississippi notary commission guide includes a bond and oath filing tracker that monitors your 60-day deadline and walks you through Form NP-002 step by step.

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