Surety Bond Professionals is a family-owned and operated bonding agency with over 30 years of experience. With access to a broad range of surety markets, our expert agents are ready to assist with all your Texas notary bond needs.
What Are They?
A notary public serves an important role in ensuring the safety of transactions that often involve large sums of money, the transfer of property, granting authorization for crucial decisions, and more. Specifically, a notary guarantees the identity of individuals signing documents associated with such transactions, such as a power of attorney, lease, loan agreement, property deed, will, etc. Requiring such documents to be notarized is an important protection against fraud.
A Texas notary bond is considered to be a type of license bond because it’s a requirement for obtaining a commission to serve as a notary public in Texas. The bond is a notary’s pledge to abide by all applicable Texas laws and regulations governing the execution of notarial duties. In the event that a notary’s unlawful, unethical, or negligent actions cause someone financial harm, the bond ensures that funds will be available to compensate the injured party.
Who Needs Them?
Anyone applying for a Texas notary public commission or renewing an existing commission must first purchase a Texas notary bond in the amount of $10,000 with a four-year duration. A Texas notary commission is good for four years.
Many notaries also purchase errors and omissions insurance. This is because financial losses attributed to a notary’s actions and the cost of mounting a legal defense against allegations of improper or negligent conduct can easily exceed $10,000.
Speak with a Surety Bond Professionals agent today to discuss your bonding needs.
How Do They Work?
The surety bond agreement for a Texas notary bond is a legally binding contract between three parties:
- The Texas Secretary of State is the “obligee” requiring the purchase of the notary bond.
- The notary is the “principal” required to purchase the bond.
- The surety company that underwrites and approves the bond is the “surety.”
Intentional fraud on the part of the principal, such as knowingly notarizing a document bearing a forged signature or being negligent in examining identification documents leaves the principal open to a claim being filed against the Texas notary bond.
In issuing a $10,000 Texas notary bond, the surety is agreeing to extend up to that much credit to the notary should it be necessary to pay a valid claim against the bond. The surety will use that credit to pay the claim on behalf of the principal, who is legally obligated to repay the surety. That’s because the terms of the surety bond agreement indemnify the surety and make the principal solely responsible for claims.
What Do They Cost?
Texas notary bonds are sold for a flat fee rather than on a premium basis. A four-year $10,000 bond costs the principal only $50.
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You can count on our surety bond professionals to get you the Texas notary bond you need.