Insurance for notaries.
Errors & omissions protects the notary's personal liability; signing services and title companies routinely require E&O (often $25k–$100k) before assigning work.
Updated 2026-05-16 · Beaconcover editorialThe short answer: Notary / Notary Signing Agent insurance starts with Professional liability, which clients, general contractors, and licensing boards most often require before notaries can take a job.
Notary / Notary Signing Agent professional liability averages $495/year, per Insureon. Reported average, not a quote; actual premiums vary by state, payroll, and underwriting.
What can go wrong for notaries?
- Notarial errors. Improper acknowledgment causing client loss
- Failure to verify identity. Fraud-enabling mistakes
- Loan-document handling errors. Signing-agent mistakes on closings
What insurance do notaries need?
How much does notaries insurance cost?
- Professional liability: $495 avg / year[Q]Insureon
Figures are reported averages, not quotes. Actual premiums vary by state, revenue, payroll, and underwriting.
Compare these against typical premiums for every trade, or read what drives business insurance cost to see how payroll, vehicles, and limits move the number.
Where does notaries coverage trip people up?
A notary bond protects the public, not the notary — E&O protects the notary
Signing services often specify a minimum E&O amount
Background-screening (e.g., NNA) is a separate requirement, not insurance
Questions to ask any carrier for notaries.
- Does the quote include the lines listed above as typically required?
- What does a certificate of insurance cost and how fast can the carrier issue one?
- How is workers' compensation rated for this trade — by payroll or by class code?
- Is there a separate deductible for tools and equipment in transit between sites?
- If a client requires an additional-insured endorsement, is there a fee?
Notary / Notary Signing Agent insurance: frequently asked questions.
- What insurance do notaries need?
- Most notaries are expected to carry professional liability to sign client contracts or hold a business license. Coverage commonly added beyond that includes general liability. Requirements vary by state, contract, and payroll; confirm what a specific job or license demands.
- Is business insurance required for notaries?
- General liability is usually contract-required rather than legally mandated: a client, general contractor, landlord, or licensing board typically asks for proof of it before you can start work. Workers' compensation becomes legally required in most states once you hire an employee. Confirm the specific requirement with the requiring party or your state regulator.