Pennsylvania notary bond: $25,000 since March 2026
Pennsylvania raised its notary bond from $10,000 to $25,000 on March 28, 2026; new and renewing notaries buy the larger bond.
Notary bond premium in Pennsylvania
$75 to $250
once, for the whole 4-year commission
| Bond the law requires | $25,000 |
| Rule | 57 Pa.C.S. § 321; 4 Pa. Code ch. 161 (effective March 28, 2026) |
| How it is priced | flat, not rated on credit |
| Before March 28, 2026 | $10,000 |
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
Pennsylvania's notary bond is now $25,000, up from $10,000. The increase took effect on March 28, 2026 with the new notary regulations of the Department of State, which state it in one line: "The bond amount is increased from $10,000 to $25,000." A notary commissioned before that date keeps the $10,000 bond until the commission expires; every commission issued from that date, new or renewed, needs the $25,000 bond. Many pages still print $10,000. The bond must be executed, together with the oath, and recorded with the county recorder of deeds within 45 days of commission approval, or the commission is void. It runs four years. The price rises with the amount but stays small: notary bonds sell at a flat price for the whole term, about $30 to $100 at the old amount and $75 to $250 at the new one on our estimate. Rule read on October 22, 2026.
The 2026 change
The Pennsylvania Department of State updated its notary regulations under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, and the change to the bond is the most visible one for notaries: $25,000 instead of $10,000. The new amount applies to commissions issued on or after March 28, 2026. A notary already commissioned before then does not need to buy a new bond mid-term; the $10,000 bond remains valid until the commission ends, and the larger bond comes with the renewal.
For a person harmed by a notary, the bond amount is the most the surety will pay on all claims during the commission. Notaries handle deeds and powers of attorney whose value often runs far above $10,000, so the larger bond leaves a harmed person more to recover from.
The 45-day steps
After the Department approves an application, the new notary has 45 days to take the oath, execute the bond, and record both with the recorder of deeds in the county of residence or business, along with registering the official signature. The recorder charges its own fees. If the 45 days pass without those steps, the commission is void and the application must be made again. Ordering the bond while the application is pending avoids that risk.
Pennsylvania next to other states
Notary bond premium in Indiana
$75 to $250
| Bond the law requires | $25,000 |
| Rule | IC 33-42-12-1 |
| How it is priced | flat, not rated on credit |
What it costs
A larger bond means a larger premium, but notary bonds remain inexpensive because claims are rare. On our estimate, a $25,000 bond for the four-year term costs about $75 to $250. Many agencies sell it together with the education course, the stamp and errors and omissions insurance; compare the bond line alone. Pennsylvania notaries must also complete approved education before each commission. For how other states moved their amounts, see Louisiana and the notary bond overview.
If a commission was approved just before March 28, 2026 but the bond was executed after it, check with the Department which amount it expects; the safer choice is the $25,000 bond.
The Pennsylvania rule as read
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bond amount | $25,000 |
| Amount before March 28, 2026 | $10,000 |
| Term | 4 years |
| Rule | 57 Pa.C.S. § 321; 4 Pa. Code ch. 161 (effective March 28, 2026) |
| Line read | “The bond amount is increased from $10,000 to $25,000.” |
| Page | www.pa.gov |
| Read on | October 22, 2026 |