Notary coverage
Do notaries need general liability insurance?
No state requires it. But if you are a mobile notary, you spend your working life in other people's homes and offices, and that is exactly the risk general liability is built for.
This content is for general information only. It is not insurance advice, a quote, or an offer of coverage. Policy wording controls in all cases. Read the full disclaimer.
What it actually covers
A client trips over your bag
You damage something in a client's home
A landlord or venue asks for proof
How it differs from E&O
The easiest way to keep them apart is to ask what went wrong. If the harm is financial and came from your work— a missed signature, a wrong date, a botched acknowledgment — that is professional liability, or E&O.
If the harm is physical— a person is injured, or something of theirs is broken — that is general liability. Your E&O policy will not respond to it, however good the policy is.
Most notaries who travel end up wanting both. That is why the quote form always includes professional liability and lets you add general liability with one click.
Common questions
Do notaries need general liability insurance?
No state requires it. It matters because of where you work rather than what you do. A mobile notary is in other people's homes and offices every week, and general liability is what responds if you injure someone or damage their property.
What is the difference between general liability and E&O?
E&O covers your professional mistakes, like missing a signature and costing someone money. General liability covers physical harm, like injuring a person or damaging property. They cover different things and one does not stand in for the other.
Can I get both on one policy?
Often yes. Some notary packages include general liability alongside professional liability on a single policy. On our quote form, professional liability is always quoted and general liability is a card you switch on.
What limit do I need?
If a landlord, venue or client is asking, use the limit in their contract. Common requests are $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $2,000,000 aggregate. If nobody is asking, pick the limit that matches what you could be held responsible for.