Alabama notary surety bond

A Alabama notary surety bond is a promise, backed by a surety company, that helps pay a person who is harmed by a mistake or by misconduct of a notary. The bond is for the public. It is not for the notary. If the surety pays a claim, the notary usually has to pay the surety back.

Alabama notary bond at a glance

Bond amount

$50,000

Commission term

Four years

Commissioned by

Judge of Probate, in the applicant's county of residence

Bond payable to

The State of Alabama

Where the bond goes

Filed and recorded with the county Probate Judge before the notary takes office

What Alabama requires

1. Complete the training program prepared by the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Law Institute.
2. Buy a $50,000 surety bond from an Alabama-licensed insurance producer.
3. File and record the bond with the Probate Judge in your county before you begin notarizing.

Alabama commissions notaries at the county level, through the Probate Judge, not through the Secretary of State.

The bond amount doubled from $25,000 to $50,000 under a 2023 law. Older guidance may still show $25,000.

Alabama now requires a training program before commissioning, on top of the bond — a step most states do not have.

A notary bond does not replace notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. The bond pays the public. E&O protects you.

State rules change. Always check with the Alabama commissioning authority for the current requirements before you apply. Details on this page were last checked on 2026-08-12.

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A notary bond protects the public. E&O insurance is intended to protect you, the notary, against a claim that comes from an error, a mistake or alleged misconduct in your notarial work. Many Alabama notaries add an E&O policy next to the bond.