Not in Tennessee? Notary bonds in other states

Tennessee notary bonds, with $10,000 E&O.
$50 flat.

Tennessee requires every notary public to file a $10,000 surety bond with the county clerk under Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-104. Ours is $50 flat — the price you see is the checkout price, and it covers the whole term. The bond issues the moment you pay — no credit check.

✓
Required for your TN notary commission — filed with the county clerk before you are commissioned
✓
Fixed price, fixed amount — $10,000 bond, $50, no quote process
✓
One 4-year term — your notary term runs four years; cover it once
A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantunderwriting process4-yr termset by the carrier
Trusted by industry leaders
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG)
Capital Development Partners
McKinney Properties
Terra Capital
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
Triple Five Group
The Georgetown Company
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG)
Capital Development Partners
McKinney Properties
Terra Capital
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
Triple Five Group
The Georgetown Company
Price

How much does a Tennessee notary bond cost?

$50 at the $10,000 amount, the same for every applicant.

How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

Notary bonds are the simplest thing in surety. Here's the entire process:

NOW · ONLINE

Apply online

Your name, the county where you reside, the county where you are seeking appointment, and an effective date that matches your notary term. That is the application. No credit check.

MINUTES, USUALLY

Pay & e-sign

Notary bonds like this are among the thousands of bond types that issue right after purchase.

SAME DAY

File with your county clerk

Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to present to the county clerk where you were elected. The clerk reviews and files it before you receive your commission. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the bond actually guarantees

A Tennessee notary bond is a public-protection guarantee conditioned on the faithful discharge of your notary duties. The state wants a financial backstop so the public can recover if a notary's mistake or misconduct causes someone a financial loss.

It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier, and the State of Tennessee (the obligee), payable to the state for the benefit of anyone harmed. If a notary notarizes a signature they didn't witness, or otherwise fails their duties and someone is harmed, the harmed party can recover against the bond — up to $10,000.

The bond protects the public; the $10,000 of errors-and-omissions coverage included with it protects you. If the surety pays a claim on the bond, you repay the surety. You present the executed bond to the county clerk where you were elected; the clerk reviews it for compliance and files it before issuing your commission.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-104Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-104 requires a notary public to file a $10,000 surety bond, payable to the State of Tennessee and conditioned on the faithful discharge of the notary's duties, with the county clerk in the county where elected. The clerk reviews the bond for compliance and files it. A Tennessee notary commission runs four years.

You need this bond if you're

✓
Becoming a notary public in Tennessee — the bond is filed before you are commissioned
✓
Renewing your notary commission for another four-year term
✓
Re-applying after a lapse and need a fresh bond on file with the county clerk
✓
An online notary who still needs the underlying $10,000 county-clerk bond
After you buy

Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.

If a claim is made

A claim comes from the party the bond protects, the obligee named on the form, when the duty the bond guarantees is not met.

The surety investigates and pays a valid claim, up to the $10,000 bond amount. You then repay the surety: a surety bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.

Renewal and term

The carrier issues this bond for a single 4-year term; the term cannot be changed at checkout.

Renew before the expiry date to keep the bond in force: the license, permit or contract it backs expects continuous coverage.

How to file it

File with your county clerk. Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to present to the county clerk where you were elected. The clerk reviews and files it before you receive your commission. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

What sets the price

The premium is fixed at $50 at the $10,000 amount for every applicant: the carrier’s rate book prices this bond by the form, not by your credit or your business profile.

No credit check.

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual issuing fields. No credit check.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the Tennessee notary bond?The premium is $50 flat, priced by our carrier — the same for every notary, and it covers the full term.
Do I pay the $10,000?No. You pay $50. The $10,000 is the surety's maximum liability if a valid claim is made against the bond — not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.
Where do I file the bond?With the county clerk in the county where you were elected. The clerk reviews the bond for compliance under Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-104 and files it before issuing your commission.
Is there a credit check?No credit check: the application collects no credit information. Small fixed-amount notary bonds like this one don't need it. Most applications approve instantly.
Does the bond cover my mistakes?The bond itself protects the public, not you: if a claim on the bond is paid, you repay the surety. Your own honest errors are covered by the $10,000 of errors-and-omissions (E&O) coverage included with this bond.
Which A-rated carriers underwrite these bonds?Typically Arch Insurance Company (A.M. Best A+) or Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (A.M. Best A). Which one writes your bond depends on the bond type and your state. The carrier's name and official signature are printed on the bond you receive.
How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.
Same family

Other Tennessee notary bonds.

Not sure this is the one your license calls for? These are the other notary bonds we write in Tennessee. Each has its own statute and bond amount.

Related bonds

Other Tennessee bonds.

Nearby states

The same bond in nearby states.

Been told you need a different amount?

Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .

Finish your notary checklist today.

$50 flat, no credit check, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.

Your price$50
Apply now →