Montana Notary Bond— $25,000 • Standardized Form + Oath • 4-Year Term
HB 370 increased Montana's bond from $10,000 to $25,000 effective October 1, 2019 — but the NNA still shows $10,000 on their product page. Per MCA 1-5-619, all bonds must use the SOS standardized form with built-in oath. You sign twice, must complete a 4-hour education course and pass a 50-question exam (80% to pass), and file within a strict 30-day window. The same bond covers Remote Online Notarization since October 2019.
Our Guarantee
We issue the correct $25,000 bond on Montana's standardized form with the oath already built in. If the SOS rejects your bond for any form-related reason, we replace it at no charge. BuySuretyBonds.com verifies every state requirement before issuing.
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Montana Notary Bond Increase — HB 370
Bond Requirement Increase
Previous Requirement
$10,000
New Requirement
$25,000
Why This Change Matters
Before HB 370, Montana required only a $10,000 bond. The increase to $25,000 happened when Montana adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), which also introduced remote notarization, mandatory education, and the standardized bond form. No competitor we reviewed explains this legislative history or the RULONA connection. Learn the fundamentals in our what is a surety bond guide.
NNA's product page still shows $10,000 — this is incorrect per current statute. Any bond on the old form or showing $10,000 will be rejected by the SOS. If you purchased a $10,000 bond from another provider, you need to replace it before filing.
The Standardized Bond Form — You Sign Twice
Since October 2019, all surety companies must use the SOS-prescribed standardized bond form. This is unique to Montana — no other state requires the oath on the same document as the bond. This is one major difference between a bond and insurance: the bond form itself carries legal weight. Source: sosmt.gov.
Signature 1: Bond Principal
Sign as the “principal” of the surety bond — this establishes your financial obligation under the bond. The surety company also signs as the guarantor. This is the standard bond execution signature present in all states.
Signature 2: Oath Before Notary
Sign again before a separate notary public to swear the Statement of Qualifications and Oath of Office included on the same form. You cannot notarize your own oath — you must find another commissioned notary to administer it.
What the standardized form contains:
- • Principal (you) and surety company names
- • Bond amount ($25,000)
- • Obligee (State of Montana)
- • Effective date and 4-year term
- • Statement of Qualifications
- • Oath of Office language
- • Jurat for administering notary
- • Both signatures with dates
When you purchase through BuySuretyBonds.com, we provide the completed standardized form. Learn more about how notary bonds work or read our step-by-step guide to getting a surety bond.
Official Montana Requirements
"An applicant for a new or renewed commission shall obtain an assurance in the form of a surety bond or its functional equivalent in the amount of $25,000."Montana Secretary of State • MCA 1-5-619
What You Actually Pay
No competitor we found aggregates the real all-in cost for a Montana notary commission. Here's the breakdown — no hidden fees. Use our notary bond calculator for a personalized estimate, or see how surety bond pricing works in general.
Bond premium depends on your credit profile. Most applicants with decent credit pay $40–$70 for the full 4-year term. Compare with North Dakota's $7,500 bond and Idaho's $10,000 bond. Not sure if you need a bond or a cash deposit? We explain the difference.
Get Your $25,000 Montana Bond
Correct amount, standardized form, instant approval. No credit check required.
Get Your Bond NowEligibility, Stamp Specifications & Education
Who Can Apply
- Age 18 or older
- U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
- Montana resident OR employed/practicing in MT
- Read and write English
- Complete 4-hour education + pass 50-question exam
- Not disqualified under MCA 1-5-621
Residency Notes
Non-residents who are employed or practicing in Montana may apply. Idaho border-county residents employed in MT are common applicants. See Idaho notary bond for comparison.
Seal & Stamp Requirements
- • “Notary Public”
- • “State of Montana”
- • Your exact commissioned name
- • Commission expiration date
Ink stamps only — embossers alone do not meet Montana's requirement. The stamp impression must be photographically reproducible on the document.
Education & Exam
4-hour course from SOS-approved provider within 12 months before application (MCA 1-5-620).
50-question exam administered online by SOS. Minimum 80% (40/50) to pass.
Free training: Montana Notary Academy (sosmt.gov).
Renewal CE: 4 hours total in prior 12 months, or 2 hours/year for prior 3 years.
All applications filed online — paper rejected.
Filing fee: $25 (non-refundable).
Learn more about what a notary bond is, general notary requirements, or browse all surety bonds. Contractors working in Montana also need a Montana contractor license bond, and vehicle dealers operating in the state must carry a Montana auto dealer bond. Learn surety bond basics or understand surety bond requirements across all bond types.
How to Get Your Montana Notary Commission (Step-by-Step)
Montana processes all notary applications online through the SOS portal. Paper applications are not accepted. Here's the exact process with the 30-day filing window that no competitor explains. Our general surety bond guide covers the broader process.
Complete 4-hour education + pass exam
Complete the SOS-approved 4-hour education course within 12 months before your application. Then pass the 50-question online exam administered by the SOS (80% required to pass). Both are free through the Montana Notary Academy at sosmt.gov/notary/academy/.
Purchase your $25,000 surety bond
Get your bond from a licensed surety company (like us). We provide the completed standardized bond form with the Statement of Qualifications and Oath of Office built in. Important: the bond effective date must be within the 30-day filing window (ARM 44.15.101).
Sign the bond form twice
First, sign as the bond principal. Second, find a separate notary public to administer the Oath of Office printed on the same form — you sign again before them, and they complete the jurat.
Submit application + $25 fee online
Complete the online application at sosmt.gov. Pay the $25 non-refundable filing fee. Upload the signed standardized bond form. Remember: everything must be submitted within 30 days before or after the bond effective date.
Receive your commission
The SOS reviews your application, education verification, exam results, and bond. Once approved, your 4-year commission is issued. Your commission start date aligns with your bond effective date.
Purchase stamp and journal
Buy a circular ink stamp (max 2.5" diameter) and a notary journal. Montana mandates journal retention for 10 years after the last entry. You are now authorized to perform notarial acts in Montana.
The 30-Day Filing Window (ARM 44.15.101)
This is the rule no competitor explains. Your application, bond, and $25 fee must be submitted within 30 days before or after the effective date printed on your surety bond (or the expiration date of your previous commission if renewing). Miss this window and the SOS rejects your filing — you'll need to purchase a new bond with corrected dates, costing you another premium payment.
Renewal Process
Renewals follow the same steps: new $25,000 bond, new $25 fee, and new education (if your commission expired 30+ days ago). If renewing within 30 days of expiration, you need either 4 hours total CE in the prior 12 months or 2 hours/year for the prior 3 years. Your old stamp expires with your old commission. See the SOS renewal page or read our notary bond requirements guide.
Remote Notarization in Montana: RON and IPEN
Montana authorized permanent Remote Online Notarization via HB 370, effective October 1, 2019. The same $25,000 bond covers both traditional and remote acts. No competitor we reviewed covers the physical-presence requirement.
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
- Authorized under HB 370 / ARM 44.15.108
- Same $25,000 bond — no additional bond
- Notary must be physically in Montana
- Multi-factor identity verification required
- Two-way audio-video recording required
- Mandatory journal for all remote acts
- 10-year retention for recordings & journal
In-Person Electronic Notarization (IPEN)
- Signer is physically present with notary
- Documents signed electronically (digital signature)
- Same $25,000 bond covers IPEN acts
- Common in real estate closings
IPEN combines the in-person identity verification of traditional notarization with the efficiency of electronic documents. Increasingly used by title companies and lenders.
Compare remote notarization rules: Texas RON | Florida RON | Nevada RON. See all notary bond states.
State Employee Free Bond (RMTD Program)
This is a gap no competitor covers. Montana state employees who perform notarial acts in their official government capacity can get their $25,000 bond free through the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division (RMTD).
Who Qualifies
- Montana state employees only
- Must perform notarial acts in official capacity
- Bond provided through RMTD (not a commercial surety)
Who Does NOT Qualify
- Private citizens
- County/city employees (not state)
- Notaries working outside state employment
Apply through: rmtd.mt.gov/insurance/notarybond/. The RMTD bond uses the same standardized form and meets the $25,000 requirement. You still need education, exam, and the $25 filing fee.
Mandatory Journal & Record-Keeping
Montana requires a journal for all notarial acts — not just RON. The 10-year retention period is among the longest in the country.
What to record per act:
- • Date and time of the notarial act
- • Type of act (acknowledgment, jurat, etc.)
- • Description of the document
- • Signer's name and address
- • Method of identification used
- • Fee charged (if any)
Retention rules:
- • 10 years after the last entry in the journal
- • RON recordings: same 10-year retention
- • Upon resignation or commission end: deliver journal to SOS or county clerk
- • Personal representative delivers if notary dies or becomes incapacitated
Compare journal requirements across states in our notary requirements guide.
Prohibited Acts & When Bond Claims Happen
Your $25,000 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 (up to $25,000), then you repay the surety.
Prohibited Acts
- • Notarizing your own signature
- • Notarizing when you have a financial interest
- • Performing acts outside your commission period
- • False advertising about notarial authority
- • Using “notario publico” or implying legal authority
- • Failing to maintain the $25,000 bond
Disqualification Grounds (MCA 1-5-621)
- • Fraud, dishonesty, or deceit in the performance of duties
- • Failure to faithfully discharge notarial duties
- • Violation of SOS rules or regulations
- • Commission denied or revoked in another state
- • Failure to maintain the required surety bond
- • Appeal rights under MCA 2-4-601 (MT Administrative Procedure Act)
Change-of-Name & Address Rules
- • Name change: Notify SOS within 10 days; new stamp required with updated name
- • Address change: Notify SOS within 10 days
- • A name change may require a new bond with the updated name
- • Failure to report can result in commission revocation
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 Montana notaries carry both. See our bond vs. insurance comparison.
Montana Notary Bond — Frequently Asked Questions
Why does NNA show $10,000 for Montana?
NNA has not updated their Montana bond page since the October 1, 2019 change (HB 370). The correct amount is $25,000 per MCA 1-5-619. Any bond on the old form or showing $10,000 must be corrected before the SOS will accept it. This is a major accuracy gap among competitors.
What is the standardized bond form requirement?
Since October 1, 2019, all surety companies must use the SOS-prescribed standardized bond form that includes the Statement and Oath of Office on the same document. You sign twice: once as the bond principal, and a second time before a separate notary public to swear the Statement of Qualifications and Oath of Office.
What is the 30-day bond timing window?
Per ARM 44.15.101, the application, bond, and filing fee must be submitted within 30 days before or after the effective date of the surety bond (or expiration of previous commission). Missing this window means your bond is rejected and you must purchase a new one with corrected dates.
What education does Montana require?
All new applicants must complete 4 hours of SOS-approved education within the 12 months before application, plus pass an online SOS exam (50 questions, 80% to pass). Renewing notaries whose commission expired 30+ days ago must also complete education. Renewals within 30 days: 4 hours total or 2 hours/year for the prior 3 years. Free training at sosmt.gov/notary/academy/.
Can state employees get a free Montana notary bond?
Yes — Montana state employees performing notarial acts in their official capacity can get their bond free through the Risk Management & Tort Defense Division (RMTD) at rmtd.mt.gov. This does not apply to private citizens or notaries working outside state employment. The RMTD bond uses the same standardized form and meets the $25,000 requirement.
What are Montana's disqualification grounds?
Per MCA 1-5-621: fraud/dishonesty/deceit, failure to discharge duties faithfully, false advertising about notarial authority, violation of SOS rules, denial/revocation in another state, or failure to maintain the $25,000 bond. The SOS uses the Montana Administrative Procedure Act for contested actions, and you have appeal rights under MCA 2-4-601.
Official Montana Sources
MCA 1-5-619 (Bond Statute)
$25,000 bond, 4-year term, standardized form
MT SOS — Bonds & Tools
Standardized form, timing rules, stamp specs
MT SOS — Apply / Renew
Application process, $25 fee, 30-day window
MCA 1-5-621 (Disqualification)
Denial/revocation grounds, appeal rights
Notary Academy (Free)
Free 4-hour course + 50-question exam
RON/IPEN Info
Remote notarization requirements, ARM 44.15.108
MT SOS Contact: PO Box 202801, Helena, MT 59620-2801 • Phone: 406-444-2034 • Email: sosnotary@mt.gov • RMTD (state employee bonds): rmtd.mt.gov
Related Guides & Resources
Other Montana Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in Montana
The Correct Amount, The Right Form
$25,000 Montana notary bond • Standardized form + oath • 30-day filing window • Instant approval