Notary Public
Mississippi
Notary Public Commission Requirements
4 years
Commission Term
before renewal
No
Education Required
no course needed
No
Exam Required
no exam needed
$5,000
Bond Required
surety bond
Application Process
VerifiedComplete the Notary Application form (NP-001) from the SOS website.
Have the Oath of Office included in the application notarized before a current Mississippi notary.
Pay the $25 filing fee.
Mail the completed application to the Secretary of State, Business Services Division, P.O. Box 136, Jackson, MS 39205.
Upon approval, obtain a $5,000 surety bond from an MS-authorized insurance/surety company and file it with the SOS within 60 days.
Purchase an official seal/stamp after receiving your commission certificate.
All new and renewal commissions are delivered by email (as of November 8, 2021).
Basic Requirements
Minimum Age
18 years old
Residency
Must be a resident of Mississippi for not less than 30 days immediately preceding the date of application.
Citizenship
U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
Background Check
Not required
Education & Exam Requirements
Education
Not RequiredNo formal education or training course required for Mississippi notaries. Must be able to read and write English.
Exam
Not RequiredNo exam required for Mississippi notary commission.
Bond, Insurance & Seal
Surety Bond
Required$5,000
$5,000 surety bond from a Mississippi-authorized insurance/surety company required, covering the 4-year commission term. Must be filed with the SOS within 60 days of application approval.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Not RequiredE&O insurance is optional and not state-mandated.
Seal / Stamp
RequiredOfficial seal/stamp mandatory. Must include: notary's name, 'Notary Public', state, county, expiration date, and commission ID.
Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $25 |
Bond Premium Cost varies by bonding company for the 4-year, $5,000 surety bond | $30-$60 |
Stamp / Seal Purchased from private vendors after receiving commission certificate | $20-$40 |
Total Estimated Cost Application ($25) + bond (~$45) + stamp (~$30). No education or exam costs. | $75-$125 |
Commission Term & Renewal
Commission Term
4 years
Renewal Process
Submit a renewal application with the $25 fee, obtain a new surety bond, and file with the SOS.
Renewal Fee
$25
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Mississippi authorized remote online notarization via House Bill 1156, effective July 1, 2021. Notaries must notify the SOS and use approved technology providers. As of 2024-2025, additional legislation has been introduced to further define RON requirements.
Additional Requirements
Must hold an active traditional notary commission, submit Remote Notary Notification form to remotenotary@sos.ms.gov, receive acceptance from SOS, and select a technology provider from the SOS approved list.
Important Notes
What Makes Mississippi Unique
Mississippi requires a 30-day residency period prior to application, which is more specific than many states. Also notable is the strict 60-day bond filing deadline after approval, which if missed requires restarting the entire process.
Mississippi requires a 30-day residency period before application.
Bond must be filed within 60 days of application approval or the commission process must be restarted.
As of November 8, 2021, all new and renewal notary commissions are delivered by email.
A notary journal is mandatory for all notarial acts with contemporaneous entries documenting date, time, signer details, and ID method.
Maximum fee per notarial act is $5.00.
Authority is valid only within Mississippi.
⚠ Data Conflicts Found
The following fields have conflicting information across sources.
remote_online_notarization