Mississippi Notary Bond— $5,000 • 4-Year Term • No Exam Required
Mississippi requires a $5,000 surety bond per MCA 25-33-1. Unlike most states, your commission is legally dormant until both the oath and bond are filed with the Secretary of State. You have a strict 60-day filing deadline from your application approval date. No exam. No education. $25 application fee. And note: RON is NOT authorized in Mississippi — only IPEN (in-person electronic) since July 2021. Learn what a surety bond is or see how to get one.
Correct-form guarantee: every Mississippi bond ships on SOS Form NP-002 so the Secretary of State accepts it the first time — no rejections, no wasted days from your 60-day deadline.
Get Your $5,000 Mississippi Bond
No exam required • Instant approval
How to Get Your Mississippi Notary Bond (Step-by-Step)
The Mississippi Secretary of State handles all notary applications. Here is the exact process, including the bond filing that activates your commission. See our surety bond requirements guide for broader context.
Submit Form NP-001 + $25 fee
Download Form NP-001 (Application for Commission as Notary Public) from sos.ms.gov. Complete the form, include your $25 application fee, and submit to the Secretary of State. You can apply by mail to P.O. Box 136, Jackson, MS 39205-0136.
Purchase your $5,000 surety bond
Get your bond from a surety company licensed by the Mississippi Department of Insurance. The bond must be on SOS Form NP-002 or substantially similar to MCA 25-1-15. When you purchase through BuySuretyBonds.com, we provide the bond on the correct form.
Take your oath of office
Your oath must be notarized before submission. This is a separate step from the application — you are swearing an oath to faithfully discharge your duties as a notary public. The oath goes on a separate document from the bond.
File bond + oath with the SOS within 60 days
Both documents must be filed with the Secretary of State within 60 days of your application approval date. This is a hard deadline — missing it means your application expires and you start over. Mail to: P.O. Box 136, Jackson, MS 39205-0136.
Commission activates upon filing
Once the SOS receives and processes your oath and bond, your commission is activated. Your 4-year term begins on the filing date. You will receive your commission certificate, which you need before purchasing your stamp.
Purchase ink stamp and journal
Mississippi requires an ink stamp (embosser alone is insufficient). You also need one active notary journal. Your stamp must include "Notary Public," "State of Mississippi," your commissioned name, county, and commission expiration date.
Renewal Process
Renewals follow the same steps: new application (NP-001), new $25 fee, new $5,000 bond (NP-002), new oath. Your old commission expires when the bond expires (max 4 years). Plan ahead — there is no grace period. See our notary bond requirements guide for general renewal tips.
Your Commission Is Legally Dormant Without the Bond
This is the most misunderstood part of becoming a Mississippi notary. Per MCA 25-33-1, your notary commission does NOT activate until both your oath of office and your $5,000 surety bond are on file with the Secretary of State. This is not a technicality — it is a hard legal requirement.
60-day deadline: You must file both the oath and bond within 60 days of your application approval date. Miss this deadline and your application expires — you restart from scratch, including paying the $25 fee again.
Official Mississippi Requirements
"Each person commissioned as a notary public shall execute an official bond in the sum of $5,000, conditioned for the faithful discharge of duties."Mississippi Secretary of State • MCA 25-33-1
What a $5,000 Mississippi Notary Bond Actually Costs
The $5,000 is the bond amount — the coverage, not what you pay. Your premium is a fraction of that. Use our notary bond calculator for a personalized estimate based on your credit profile. Read our surety bond cost guide for how premiums are calculated.
Bond premium depends on your credit profile. Most applicants with decent credit pay $30–$50 for the full 4-year term. Compare with Alabama's $50,000 bond and Louisiana's $50,000 bond. Learn the difference between a bond and insurance, or compare bond vs. cash deposit.
Activate Your Mississippi Commission
$5,000 bond on Form NP-002. No exam. File within 60 days. Instant approval, no credit check required.
Get Your Bond NowMississippi vs. Neighboring States
Mississippi's $5,000 bond is significantly lower than its neighbors. Here's how it compares for notary bond amount, term, exam requirements, and RON availability.
Mississippi has the lowest bond amount of any bordering state but is the only one without RON authorization. See all 50 states.
Eligibility, Stamp Specifications & Equipment
Eligibility Requirements
- Age 18 or older
- Mississippi resident for 30+ days
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- No exam or education required
- $25 application fee (Form NP-001)
- Oath must be notarized before submission
County Filing
Your commission is for a specific county, but Mississippi notaries may notarize statewide. Moving counties requires updating your seal but NOT a new bond — just an address change filing.
Stamp & Equipment
Ink stamp is required — an embosser alone does NOT meet Mississippi requirements. The stamp must produce a photographically reproducible impression.
- • “Notary Public”
- • “State of Mississippi”
- • Your commissioned name
- • County of commission
- • Commission expiration date
Mississippi requires a notary journal. Only one active journal at a time. Record each notarial act, including signer's name, date, document type, and ID used.
Disqualifying Crimes
- •Murder
- •Rape
- •Bribery
- •Theft
- •Arson
- •Obtaining money/goods under false pretenses
- •Perjury
- •Forgery
- •Embezzlement
- •Bigamy
Prior notary commission revocation or suspension is also disqualifying. These are specifically enumerated — Mississippi does not use a general “moral turpitude” standard.
Learn more about what a notary bond is, general notary requirements, or browse all surety bonds. Mississippi vehicle dealers must also carry a Mississippi auto dealer bond, and contractors licensed in the state need a Mississippi contractor license bond.
IPEN vs. RON: What Mississippi Actually Allows
Many applicants confuse IPEN with RON. They are fundamentally different, and getting this wrong could result in unauthorized notarizations. Mississippi allows one but not the other.
IPEN (In-Person Electronic)
- Authorized under MCA 25-34-3, 25-34-39 (HB 1156)
- Signer must be physically present
- Only the notarial act is electronic
- Same $5,000 bond — no additional bond
- Requires separate e-notary registration
- Register at sos.ms.gov
RON (Remote Online)
- ×Not authorized in Mississippi as of 2026
- ×Signer does NOT need to be present in RON
- ×Entire process is remote via audio-video
- ×Pending legislation introduced but not passed
- ×Performing RON in MS is unauthorized
If you need RON capability, consider commissioning in a neighboring state that authorizes it, like Alabama or Tennessee.
Key distinction: IPEN = electronic notarization with the signer physically in front of you. RON = fully remote notarization via video call, signer can be anywhere. Mississippi only allows the first.
Compare remote notarization rules: Texas RON | Florida RON | Nevada RON. See all notary bond states.
Form NP-002: The Official Bond Document
SOS Form NP-002 is Mississippi's prescribed notary bond form. The bond must be on this form or one “substantially similar” to the format prescribed in MCA 25-1-15 (the official bond statute). If your bond is submitted on a non-conforming form, the SOS will reject it, delaying your commission activation and eating into your 60-day deadline.
What the form contains:
- • Principal (you) and surety company names
- • Bond amount ($5,000)
- • Obligee (State of Mississippi)
- • Effective date and term (max 4 years)
- • Condition: faithful discharge of duties
- • Signatures of principal and surety
Filing instructions:
- • Submit with your oath of office
- • Both must be filed within 60 days
- • Mail to: SOS, P.O. Box 136, Jackson, MS 39205-0136
- • Download from sos.ms.gov
- • Surety must be licensed by MS Dept of Insurance
Not sure which type of surety bond you need? See our complete guide to surety bond types.
Prohibited Acts & When Bond Claims Happen
Your $5,000 surety bond protects the public — not you. If you commit a prohibited act and someone suffers a loss, they can file a bond claim against your bond. The surety pays the claim, then you repay the surety.
Prohibited Acts
- • Notarizing your own signature
- • Notarizing when you have a financial interest
- • Notarizing without the signer being present (no RON)
- • Using a name different from your commissioned name
- • Notarizing before your commission is active (bond unfiled)
- • Performing acts outside your commission period
- • Failing to maintain your notary journal
Name Change & Address Change
- • Name change: File Form NP-005, copy of legal document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order), $20 fee
- • Bond rider: Your surety company issues a rider to update the bond to your new name
- • County change: Requires a new seal but NOT a new bond — just an address change filing
- • New stamp: You must purchase a new stamp reflecting your updated name
Download Form NP-005 from sos.ms.gov
Notary Bond vs. E&O Insurance
Your surety bond protects the public — if you make an error, the surety pays the claim, then seeks reimbursement from you personally. Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance protects you. Most Mississippi notaries carry both. See our bond vs. insurance comparison. Need help choosing? Start at our homepage to find the right bond for your needs.
Mississippi Notary Bond — Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Mississippi notary commission active before I file the bond?
No. Per MCA 25-33-1, your commission does NOT become effective until both your oath of office AND your $5,000 surety bond are filed with the Secretary of State. The bond is not optional or something you can defer — your commission is legally dormant without it. Any notarial acts performed before the bond is filed are invalid and could expose you to personal liability.
Is Remote Online Notarization (RON) available in Mississippi?
No. As of 2026, Mississippi does NOT authorize Remote Online Notarization (RON). Only IPEN (In-Person Electronic Notarization) has been available since July 1, 2021, under HB 1156 (MCA Chapter 34). With IPEN, the signer must still be physically present — only the notarial act itself is performed electronically. Pending RON legislation has been introduced in the Mississippi Legislature but has not passed. Separate e-notary registration is required at sos.ms.gov.
What is SOS Form NP-002 and why does it matter?
Form NP-002 is the official Mississippi Secretary of State notary bond form. Your surety bond must be executed on this form or one substantially similar to the format prescribed in MCA 25-1-15. If your bond is on a non-conforming form, the SOS may reject it, which delays your commission activation. When you purchase through BuySuretyBonds.com, we provide the bond on the correct NP-002 format.
What happens if I miss the 60-day filing deadline?
You must file your oath and bond within 60 days of the date your notary application was approved. If you miss this deadline, your application expires and you must restart the entire process — including paying the $25 application fee again, obtaining a new bond, and resubmitting Form NP-001. There is no grace period or extension available.
What crimes disqualify you from becoming a Mississippi notary?
Mississippi law specifically lists the following disqualifying felonies: murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretenses, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, and bigamy. Prior notary commission revocation or suspension is also disqualifying. Unlike some states, Mississippi does not have a general "moral turpitude" catchall — the disqualifying offenses are specifically enumerated.
What did the 2021 Revised Notarial Acts law (HB 1156) change?
HB 1156, effective July 1, 2021, created MCA Chapter 34, which authorized IPEN (in-person electronic notarization — not RON), updated notarial certificate language to accommodate electronic signatures, and clarified that commission terms expire on bond expiration (maximum 4 years). It did NOT change the $5,000 bond amount, did NOT authorize RON, and did NOT add any exam or education requirements.
How do I get a notary bond in Mississippi?
Purchase your $5,000 bond online through BuySuretyBonds.com for instant approval. You pay nothing until your bond is issued. Your bond must be executed on SOS Form NP-002 or a substantially similar format. After purchasing, file your bond and oath of office with the Secretary of State within 60 days of application approval — your commission is legally dormant until both are filed per MCA 25-33-1.
How much does a Mississippi notary bond cost?
The $5,000 Mississippi notary bond typically costs $20-40 for the full 4-year commission term. This is a one-time premium, not annual. No credit check or exam is required. Total out-of-pocket is approximately $45-65 including the $25 SOS application fee. Mississippi has no education or exam requirements, making it one of the most straightforward states to become a notary. See our surety bond cost guide at /surety-bond-cost/.
Official Mississippi Sources
MS SOS — Notaries FAQs
Filing, fees, eligibility
MCA 25-33-1 (Bond Statute)
$5,000 bond, oath, commission activation
SOS Rules & Regulations (PDF)
Form NP-002, procedures, stamp rules
Fees & Forms
NP-001, NP-002, NP-005 downloads
E-Notary Registration
IPEN registration (not RON)
MCA Chapter 34 (2021 Law)
Revised Notarial Acts — HB 1156
SOS Contact: P.O. Box 136, Jackson, MS 39205-0136 • Phone: (601) 359-1615 • Toll-free: 1-800-256-3494
Related Guides & Resources
Other Mississippi Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in Mississippi
Don't Let Your Commission Stay Dormant
$5,000 Mississippi notary bond • Form NP-002 • No exam • File within 60 days • Instant approval