Montana notary surety bond

A Montana 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.

Montana notary bond at a glance

Bond amount

$25,000

Commission term

Four years

Commissioned by

Montana Secretary of State

What Montana requires

1. Complete the required notary education and pass the Montana notary exam.
2. Obtain a $25,000 surety bond or its functional equivalent.
3. Submit the application, bond, and fee to the Secretary of State within 30 days before or after the bond's effective date.

Montana requires a notary bond — some other sources describe Montana as a no-bond state, but the current Montana Code is explicit about the $25,000 requirement.

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 Montana commissioning authority for the current requirements before you apply. Details on this page were last checked on 2026-08-13.

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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 Montana notaries add an E&O policy next to the bond.