At Gillespie Insurance Services, we believe that simple things should be simple. While bonds themselves are not always simple, buying one should be. Our mission is to help you get the bond you need without friction.
If you’re familiar with notary bonds, know what you need, and are ready to buy, just click below to get bonded in about five minutes.
For those that would like to know more before looking into buying a notary bond – those of you who are working on your notary commission for the first time or maybe renewing your commission – we’re here to help! Please see our Frequently Asked Questions below to learn more.
Wherever you’re at, we’re here to answer all your questions and get you bonded – quickly and without friction.
Like most bonds, a notary bond is a form of financial protection from the public against you, the notary. Bonds are a guarantee that you – the notary and bond holder – are who you say you are, will do what you say you will do, will fulfill your obligation, and conduct business honestly and ethically. The bond allows someone to seek compensation – that is, file a claim against you – if you cause them financial harm.
No, it is not.
Although they are often handled by insurance agencies (like us), bonds are a different kind of financial product.
The main difference between bonds and insurance is that insurance protects you, the policy holder, if an unforeseen accident or event should occur, like your building burns, your car is stolen, your employee is injured, or you cause someone at your office to slip and fall.
Bonds protect others from financial harm if you fail to act ethically or fulfill your obligations as described above.
Perhaps the biggest difference is how claims are handled. With insurance, as most people are aware, when an insurance company pays a claim, you don’t have to pay your insurance company back. When a surety company pays a claim, you are expected and required to pay the surety back.
Plain and simple, because the state of California requires it in order for you to get your notary commission. California is not alone. Currently there are 30 other states that require a notary bond in order to become a notary.
Â
$15,000 in California
The best part of notary bonds is that they will not disrupt your cashflow. Here is an example of a typical 1-year notary bond.
| Bond Limit | $15,000 |
| Term | 1 Year |
| Total Annual Cost | $50 |
Rates can vary, as is always the case with bonds and insurance. Here are the primary factors sureties use to underwrite, that is, to determine your rate:
Every surety is a little different, but these factors are typically the most common and the most important.
Unlike some bonds where the surety files electronically with the state, notary bonds are filed manually, the old-fashioned way. You will be responsible for providing proof to the state. After you’ve purchased your bond, the sequence of events will look like this:
If this answers your questions and you’re ready to buy a bond, thank you and congratulations! It is quick and easy to buy a notary bond. Here’s how in three steps:
It is super simple to renew your bond, too. Your bond will automatically renew every year, as long as you need it. You’ll get an invoice by email and be provided with a link to pay online. Fortunately, you will not need to present your bond to the county clerk every year. You will, however, need to do the process as described above (taking the bond to the county clerk, doing the oath, etc.) in order to renew your notary commissions when it expires in four years.
It’s really that simple! Just click here to get started:
Gillespie Insurance Services helps people and businesses in California, Arizona and Nevada.