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Commercial bond

Kentucky Notary Bond

A Kentucky notary public must file a $1,000 surety bond under KRS 423.390. The commission term is four years and the Secretary of State appoints notaries.

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Bond at a glance
Kentucky Notary BondCommercial bond
Required by state law
LawKRS 423.390
Amount$1,000
TermFour years
Commissioning officeKentucky Secretary of State
Required byKentucky Secretary of State
How it works

Three steps to your bond.

  1. 01Apply onceTell us about your business and what the bond is for. One application covers most contractor bonds.
  2. 02The surety reviews itPropeller Bonds, our surety partner, reviews your application and sets the terms. We show you the terms before you commit.
  3. 03Sign and fileSign the bond and file it with whoever requires it: the project owner, agency or court. We help with the filing.
About this bond

What a notary bond is

Many states require a notary public to have a bond before they're commissioned. It protects the public if the notary makes a mistake or commits misconduct. It doesn't protect the notary: errors and omissions insurance does that.

In Kentucky

A Kentucky notary public must file a $1,000 surety bond under KRS 423.390. The commission term is four years and the Secretary of State appoints notaries.

  • Since January 1, 2020 only a bond from an approved insurance company is accepted.

You need this bond if you're

  • Someone applying to become a notary
  • A notary renewing a commission
  • An employer with staff who notarize documents

What the surety looks at

Basic personal details. Notary bonds usually don't need a detailed review.

FAQs

Common questions.

Does Kentucky require a notary bond?

See the facts above for the amount and term. The commissioning office lists the current rules.

Does the bond protect me as the notary?

No. It pays people harmed by a notary's error or misconduct, and the notary repays the surety. Errors and omissions insurance is what protects the notary.

What does it cost?

You pay a premium, not the bond amount. The surety sets the premium after it reviews your application, usually as a percentage of the bond amount. We show you the terms before you commit.

How do I get one through BLDAssure?

Apply once with us. We collect the details the surety needs, Propeller Bonds (our surety partner) reviews the application and issues the bond, and we help you file it with whoever requires it.

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By state

Notary bonds in other states.

Alabama notary bondAlaska notary bondArizona notary bondArkansas notary bondCalifornia notary bondColorado notary bondConnecticut notary bondDelaware notary bondDistrict of Columbia notary bondFlorida notary bondGeorgia notary bondHawaii notary bondIdaho notary bondIllinois notary bondIndiana notary bondIowa notary bondKansas notary bondLouisiana notary bondMaine notary bondMaryland notary bondMassachusetts notary bondMichigan notary bondMinnesota notary bondMississippi notary bondMissouri notary bondMontana notary bondNebraska notary bondNevada notary bondNew Hampshire notary bondNew Jersey notary bondNew Mexico notary bondNew York notary bondNorth Carolina notary bondNorth Dakota notary bondOhio notary bondOklahoma notary bondOregon notary bondPennsylvania notary bondRhode Island notary bondSouth Carolina notary bondSouth Dakota notary bondTennessee notary bondTexas notary bondUtah notary bondVermont notary bondVirginia notary bondWashington notary bondWest Virginia notary bondWisconsin notary bondWyoming notary bond

Sources

  1. Notary Public Appointment (KRS 423.390), Fayette County Clerk

General information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm the current requirement with the agency or owner that asks for the bond. Facts checked Oct 23, 2026.

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