Notary Public Malpractice Insurance

Notaries can be held liable for damages caused by signing mistakes. This page explains why a notary bond does not protect you, why errors & omissions (E&O) insurance does, and what coverage costs.

Notary Public Liability Insurance at a Glance

Do you need it?: Recommended: a state-required notary bond protects the public, not you — E&O protects the notary personally.
Who needs it: All active notaries, especially signing agents and remote online notarization (RON) practitioners.
Typical coverage limits: E&O limits you choose (e.g., $25k–$100k); business E&O up to $1M/$2M
Annual cost (estimated): ~$20–$100 / yr (notary E&O); ~$500 / yr for bundled business E&O
Policy form: Claims-made

* Figures above are estimated ranges, not exact quotes. Actual premiums vary by specialty, state, years in practice, and coverage limits. Always confirm with the carrier's live quote.

The “Get Quote” links below are affiliate links (rel="sponsored"). We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.

Compare Carriers

Carrier	Coverage limits	Policy form	License defense	Rating
Thimble Bundles general liability with E&O; small-business E&O averages ~$45/month or ~$500/year	$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate (adjustable)	occurrence	—	4.1	Get Quote

“Get Quote” links are affiliate links (rel="sponsored"). Ratings and coverage figures are aggregated information, not exact quotes.

Notary bond vs E&O insurance

The NNA is explicit: it is a common misunderstanding that a state-required notary bond protects notaries. It does not — the bond protects the public. If the surety pays a claim, it can seek reimbursement from you. Notary Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance is what protects your personal and professional assets, absorbing the costs of claims and lawsuits from unintentional errors up to your policy limit.

The NNA notes its E&O pays your claim and legal expenses up to your limit with no deductible.
Signing agents and RON practitioners carry higher exposure and may want higher limits.
For broader business risk, on-demand carriers like Thimble bundle general liability with E&O.

About policy form

Notary E&O is typically claims-made and inexpensive. If you stop practicing, a long tail is usually unnecessary for low limits; for higher limits or bundled business coverage, confirm reporting terms with the carrier.

Associations & Licensing Requirements

NNA — National Notary Association
States that a notary bond protects the public, not the notary; recommends notaries carry Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance, which pays claims and legal expenses up to your limit with no deductible.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a notary bond — do I still need E&O? +

Yes. Per the NNA, the bond protects the public, not you, and the surety can seek reimbursement from you. E&O insurance protects the notary personally, covering claims and legal expenses up to your limit.

Is notary E&O expensive? +

No. The NNA states it is not expensive; basic notary E&O commonly runs around $20–$100/yr depending on limits. Broader small-business E&O (bundled with general liability) averages closer to $500/yr per Thimble.

How do I choose a coverage limit? +

Match it to your exposure: signing agents and RON practitioners handling high-value documents typically choose higher limits ($25k–$100k+).

Related guides

Notary E&O Insurance: What It Covers and How Much You Need
A no-fluff guide for notaries and signing agents: why a bond isn't enough, what E&O covers, how much coverage you need, and what it costs.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-07