Kentucky Notary Bond$1,000 • No Exam Required

According to KRS §423.010, Kentucky requires a $1,000 surety bond. This one-time premium covers your entire 4-year commission period. Most applicants qualify for instant approval.

No, Kentucky does not require any examination for notary commissions. This makes Kentucky one of the easiest states to become a notary public, requiring only the $1,000 bond, $10 application fee, and basic eligibility criteria.

No, Kentucky does not require any formal education or training courses for notary commissions. However, the Kentucky Secretary of State provides resources and guidelines that new notaries are encouraged to review before performing notarial acts.

Kentucky notary commissions are valid for 4 years from the date of appointment. When renewing, you must submit a new application, pay the $10 fee, and obtain a new $1,000 surety bond for the next 4-year term.

After receiving your appointment letter from the Kentucky Secretary of State, you have 60 days to visit your county clerk's office to (1) take the oath of office, (2) post your $1,000 surety bond, and (3) file and record your appointment. Failure to complete this within 60 days voids your commission.

You must file your $1,000 surety bond with the county clerk in the county where you reside. Each of Kentucky's 120 counties has a clerk's office that handles notary filings. Contact your local county clerk for specific procedures and any additional county filing fees.

The Kentucky Secretary of State charges a $10 application fee for notary public commissions. Checks should be made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. This is one of the lowest application fees in the nation, combined with the lowest bond requirement.

No, you cannot perform notarial acts until after you file your bond and oath with your county clerk within the 60-day period. Only after the county clerk completes your filing can you legally notarize documents in Kentucky.

E&O insurance is not legally required in Kentucky, but it's strongly recommended. The $1,000 bond protects the public but does not protect you personally—if a claim is paid, you must reimburse the surety company. E&O insurance provides personal liability coverage for notary errors.

Yes, attorneys licensed to practice law in Kentucky can apply for permanent notary commissions rather than the standard 4-year commission. However, even attorneys with permanent commissions must maintain their surety bond requirements.

Notaries who register to perform electronic notarizations in Kentucky must maintain a surety bond of $1,000, which is the same amount as traditional notaries. The bond can cover both traditional and electronic notarizations.

If you fail to file your bond and oath with your county clerk within 60 days of receiving your appointment letter, your commission becomes void. You must restart the entire application process, including submitting a new application, paying the $10 fee again, and obtaining a new appointment from the Kentucky Secretary of State. To avoid this, contact your county clerk early in the 60-day period to understand their procedures and schedule your appointment.