What is a Notary Bond and Why Do I Need One?
A notary public is an official appointed position by the Secretary of State’s office in a given state. As with most public officials, the State requires that the individual obtain a surety or notary bond prior to receiving their appointment. This bond “makes sure” that if the official violates the public trust through negligence of their duties, funds are available to reimburse the State for its loss. The primary responsibility of a notary public is to validate that the individual parties to a contract are who they claim to be. The State may suffer a loss if the notary fails to properly confirm the identity of the parties. Here’s an example… Let’s say Jim wants to buy a car currently titled to John. Jim and John bring the title to their local notary public to notarize their signatures on the transfer of title. The notary asks both for their drivers license to confirm their identities. Jim promptly presents his, but John claims to have left his ID at home. John is in a hurry to get th
