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Commercial bond

Maryland Notary Bond

Maryland does not require a notary bond. Notaries are commissioned for four-year terms through the Secretary of State. A 2011 bill (HB 894) that would have added a $1,000 notary bond did not become law.

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Bond at a glance
Maryland Notary BondCommercial bond
Not used in this state
Bond requiredNo
Term4 years
Commissioning agencyMaryland Secretary of State, on behalf of the Governor
LawMd. Code, State Government Title 18
Required byNo bond requirement; commissions are handled by the Maryland 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 Maryland

Maryland does not require a notary bond. Notaries are commissioned for four-year terms through the Secretary of State. A 2011 bill (HB 894) that would have added a $1,000 notary bond did not become law.

  • New and renewing applicants must complete a course on notarial laws and ethics (since October 1, 2021).

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 Maryland 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 bondKentucky notary bondLouisiana notary bondMaine 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. Maryland Secretary of State: Notary FAQ
  2. Maryland DLS fiscal note, HB 894 (2011), proposed $1,000 notary bond
  3. National Notary Association: Maryland (secondary)

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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