Notary bond in California: amount and cost
California requires a $15,000 notary bond, filed with the oath at the county clerk within 30 days of the commission; it costs about $45 to $150.
Notary bond premium in California
$45 to $150
once, for the whole 4-year commission
| Bond the law requires | $15,000 |
| Rule | Cal. Gov. Code § 8212 |
| How it is priced | flat, not rated on credit |
Estimate: flat prices published for $5,000 to $10,000 bonds run from about $20 to $100 for a whole commission; scaled to this bond. Amount read on the official page, October 22, 2026.
Compiled by Radif Partners · Method and sources · rule read October 22, 2026
California sets its notary bond at $15,000, under section 8212 of the Government Code, among the higher amounts in the country. The deadline is what catches new notaries: the Secretary of State's handbook gives a person 30 calendar days from the beginning of the term on the commission to take and file the oath of office and file the $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk of the county where the principal place of business is. Missing that window voids the commission, and the applicant must apply again. The commission runs four years, and online notaries need a second, separate $15,000 bond. Like other notary bonds, it is sold at a flat price for the whole term, usually $45 to $150 on published offers. California notaries are personally liable for all damages they cause, beyond the bond amount. Rule read on October 22, 2026.
The 30-day window
After passing the exam and the background check, a California applicant receives a commission with a start date. From that date, the clock runs: 30 calendar days to file the oath and the $15,000 bond with the county clerk, in person or by mail in some counties. Buy the bond as soon as the commission is issued, or even before, so that it is ready on the day you visit the clerk. The bond must name you exactly as the commission does, and the clerk checks it.
The county clerk also records the oath, and the bond becomes part of the public record. A notary who moves the principal place of business to another county later files an address change with the Secretary of State; the bond stays valid for the term.
Liability beyond the bond
The bond covers claims up to $15,000 for the whole commission. California law makes the notary personally liable for all damages caused by misconduct or negligence, so a claim larger than the bond can reach the notary's own assets, and the surety will seek repayment of what it paid. That is the reason many California notaries add errors and omissions insurance, often for $15,000 to $100,000 of coverage. The insurance is optional; the bond is not.
California next to other states
Notary bond premium in Texas
$30 to $100
| Bond the law requires | $10,000 |
| Rule | Tex. Gov't Code § 406.010 |
| How it is priced | flat, not rated on credit |
Online notaries
California's online notarization program requires a separate registration and a second $15,000 bond, distinct from the traditional commission bond. A notary who performs both kinds of acts therefore carries two bonds. The traditional bond on this page is the one every California notary needs. The notary bond overview compares California with the other states read, from Wisconsin's $500 to Louisiana at $50,000.
Keep a copy of the filed bond and the clerk's receipt with your journal. If the Secretary of State or a claimant ever asks when the bond was filed, the receipt proves that the commission began on time.
The California rule as read
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bond amount | $15,000 |
| Term | 4 years |
| Rule | Cal. Gov. Code § 8212 |
| Line read | “a person has 30 calendar days from the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission to take, subscribe, and file an oath of office and file a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk's office” |
| Page | notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov |
| Read on | October 22, 2026 |