Notary bond in Florida: amount and cost
Florida requires a $7,500 bond for each four-year notary commission, filed through a bonding agency; it usually costs $23 to $75.
Notary bond premium in Florida
$23 to $75
once, for the whole 4-year commission
| Bond the law requires | $7,500 |
| Rule | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(7) |
| 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
A Florida notary public must give a bond of $7,500, under section 117.01(7) of the Florida Statutes. The statute makes the bond payable to any individual harmed by a breach of duty by the notary acting in an official capacity, which means a claimant does not need to go through the state: the bond answers directly to the injured person. Florida is one of the few states where the application itself goes through a bonding agency, which files the bond, the oath and the fee with the Department of State. The commission lasts four years, and every new commission needs a new bond. Florida's amount is below the $10,000 most states use, and the bond is sold at a flat price for the whole term, usually $23 to $75 on published offers, without a credit check. Applicants must also complete three hours of notary education. Rule read on October 22, 2026.
The statute and its wording
Section 117.01(7) asks each notary to "give bond, payable to any individual harmed as a result of a breach of duty by the notary public acting in his or her official capacity, in the amount of $7,500". The phrase "payable to any individual harmed" matters: a person who lost money through a forged or careless notarization claims directly on the bond, up to $7,500 in total for the whole commission. The surety then seeks repayment from the notary.
The bond must be approved by the Department of State, and it is filed with the oath of office. Florida also expects new applicants to complete a three-hour course before applying; bonding agencies usually offer it free or bundled.
Applying through a bonding agency
In Florida, the Department of State receives notary applications from bonding agencies rather than from individuals. The agency collects the application, the oath, the course certificate and the state fee, issues the bond and sends the whole file. Agencies compete on package price, and many quote the bond, the state fee, the seal and optional insurance together. To compare, ask for the bond premium on its own line: it is a small share of most packages.
Florida next to other states
Notary bond premium in California
$45 to $150
| Bond the law requires | $15,000 |
| Rule | Cal. Gov. Code § 8212 |
| How it is priced | flat, not rated on credit |
Insurance and remote notaries
Errors and omissions insurance is optional in Florida. It protects the notary, pays defense costs and covers honest mistakes, while the bond protects the public. Florida remote online notaries register separately with the Department of State and carry their own requirements, including a larger bond and insurance; the $7,500 amount on this page is for the traditional commission. A notary who moves out of Florida or lets the commission lapse cannot keep notarizing on the old bond. For other states, see the notary bond overview or the Texas page.
Keep the bond certificate the agency sends; it carries the bond number you will need if you ever change your name or address with the Department of State.
The Florida rule as read
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bond amount | $7,500 |
| Term | 4 years |
| Rule | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(7) |
| Line read | “give bond, payable to any individual harmed as a result of a breach of duty by the notary public acting in his or her official capacity, in the amount of $7,500” |
| Page | www.leg.state.fl.us |
| Read on | October 22, 2026 |