Insurance for signing agencies

Notary signing agency insurance

Built for businesses that send out more than one notary, as employees or as independent contractors. Same-day quotes are available in almost all states.

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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 a notary signing agency is

A notary signing agency sends notaries out to handle loan signings, real estate closings and other documents — as its own employees, as independent contractors, or a mix of both. The insurance industry generally still classifies this as notary work, which is why "notary signing agency insurance" and "notary E&O" are often used to mean the same set of policies, just written for a business rather than one person.

The question that actually shapes your quote is whether the services your agency provides are usual, customary and reasonable for a notary — or whether your business takes on more than that. The more your agency does beyond the notarial act itself, the more it matters to an underwriter.

Mobile notaries

Does your business send out notaries who are employees or independent contractors? You need a policy that allows more than one notary, not an individual one written to just you.

Types of insurance

Think beyond professional liability insurance. Consider general liability, data breach and crime insurance. New contracts ask for more coverage than they used to.

Workers compensation

You may need workers compensation insurance even if you use only independent contractors. You could still be liable for an injury they suffer while working for you.

Types of coverage for a signing agency

Professional liability (E&O)

This is the most common request we get. It is intended to protect you if someone claims that you caused a financial loss to a third party.

General liability

Every business should consider this. It can protect you against a claim of accidental bodily injury or property damage to a third party.

Crime insurance

This is intended to protect you against a claim of theft by an employee, made against you or against a third party.

Data breach or cyber liability

This is for a data breach. It can include the cost of telling people that their information was exposed.

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What it costs to start

These are starting figures based on minimum premiums in some states, not a quote. Your actual premium can move a lot from here — gross receipts, number of signings, your state, claims history, the limit you choose and other underwriting factors specific to your application all play a part. The only way to get a number you can rely on is to request a quote.

Individual notary E&O (professional liability)

$250–$400 a year

The limit you pick moves this the most. $1,000,000 is the limit most contracts ask for.

Stand-alone general liability, individual notary

$200–$400 a year

Covers a different kind of claim than E&O — bodily injury or property damage, not a notarization mistake.

Notary signing agency (E&O)

$650–$1,000 to start

Moves a lot from there. Gross receipts and how many notaries you send out both push this number around.

Crime insurance

$1,000–$1,500 a year

Employee dishonesty and theft, not a notarization error.

Cyber liability, stand-alone

$1,000–$1,500 a year

A separate policy from E&O — for a data breach, not a notarization mistake.

Workers compensation

Priced on payroll

There isn't a starting figure that means anything here. It's rated on your actual payroll, so it has to be quoted, not estimated.

Insurance for the notary industry

The notary signing industry is changing. We see requests for more types of insurance, including crime insurance for notaries and notary cyber liability, which is also called data breach insurance. Do not limit your options by going without the policies a contract requires. If you want to work with title companies, escrow companies and banks, you may need these policies to meet a contract.

Think about the contracts you may not win without the right insurance. Then think about the risk to you and to your business.

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Common questions

What's the difference between a notary signing agency and an individual notary policy?

An individual policy is written to one person. A signing agency policy is written to a business that sends out more than one notary, whether they're W-2 employees or 1099 contractors, and it's priced against your gross receipts rather than a flat rate.

Is a notary signing agency different from other notary businesses, insurance-wise?

Not really. The insurance industry generally still classifies signing agency work as notary work, so the underlying policies — E&O, general liability, crime, cyber — are the same products a solo notary would buy, just written for a business with multiple notaries.

What does 'usual, customary and reasonable' mean for a signing agency?

It's the question underwriters ask before they price your risk: are the services you're providing what a notary normally does, or does your business take on extra duties beyond notarization? The more your agency does beyond the notarial act itself, the more that matters for your quote.

How much does notary signing agency insurance cost?

E&O for a signing agency starts from $650 to $1,000, but that moves a lot from there based on gross receipts and how many notaries you send out. See the full pricing breakdown below.

Do I need workers compensation if my notaries are independent contractors?

You may still need it. Contractor status doesn't automatically remove your liability for an injury a contracted notary suffers while working for you, depending on your state's rules and how the work relationship is actually structured.