How to become a notary public in Missouri

Missouri notary public licenses

Missouri issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Missouri notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Background check

Background check required¹
The SOS may deny for any felony or any offense involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; no commission within 5 years after the conviction or plea. A denial may be appealed within 30 days.¹

How to apply

Apply online

s1.sos.mo.gov⁴²

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years¹

Renew online

s1.sos.mo.gov⁵²

Who needs a Notary Public license

Performs notarial acts anywhere in Missouri and only in Missouri for a four-year term. Fees are capped, e.g. $5 per signature for an acknowledgment. Non-resident notaries may notarize only in the course of their Missouri employment.¹

Requirements for a Notary Public license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Exam

Missouri notary training course examination (online training course or written training course)¹
Given by: Missouri Secretary of State (online, via the notary filing system)¹
When you can take it: Before applying; the online-course certificate number auto-fills the application, or attach the certificate or completed written training form to a mail application.⁶
Retakes: If you do not pass, follow the on-screen instructions. One course may be in progress at a time and stays open for up to 90 days.⁷
Time limit: An in-progress online course remains available for up to 90 days.⁷

Residency or citizenship

Live legally in the U.S. and either live in Missouri or have a regular place of work or business there. Non-residents can be commissioned only if they work in Missouri and will notarize in the course of that job; they must appoint the SOS as their agent for service of process.¹

Surety bond

$10,000¹ (Bond coverage amount. The premium is set by the surety and not published by the SOS.)

Insurance

An errors and omissions policy is optional and does not replace the bond.⁸

Also required

Ability to read and write English.¹

Also required

Buy your own seal (black-ink rubber stamp) from a registered manufacturer.⁹

How much a Notary Public license costs

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Check you qualify: 18+, living legally in the U.S., a Missouri resident or someone with a regular place of work or business in Missouri, able to read and write English.¹
2. Apply online through the SOS notary system or by mail on Form Comm. 51 (resident) or Comm. 53 (non-resident), with the $25 nonrefundable fee.⁴ s1.sos.mo.gov⁴
3. The SOS sends your commission to the county clerk of your county of residence or work, and sends you a commission letter. Buy a 4-year $10,000 bond from a licensed Missouri surety.¹
4. Within 60 days of the issue date, appear at the county clerk (circuit clerk for St. Louis City) with the commission letter, bond and photo ID. Take the oath and pay the county fee. If you miss the 60 days you may have to reapply.⁹
5. Mail the signed oath and bond to the SOS, postmarked within 7 days of the oath. Then buy your seal and journal.⁹

Application form

Form (PDF, sos.mo.gov)⁶

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

There is no renewal: reapply for each four-year term with a new application, a new bond and the training course. Apply no earlier than six weeks before your commission expires.⁸

Renewal fee

$25¹⁰

Required topics

Retake the online or written training course (with exam) for each reappointment, no earlier than six weeks before expiry.⁵

If it expires

Commissions are not automatically renewed. After expiry you must reapply as a new applicant, following all the same steps.⁸

Moving to Missouri with a license from another state

These are the routes SOS publishes for the Notary Public license. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Electronic Notary registration

A commissioned notary registered with the SOS may notarize electronic documents and, with approved software, perform remote online notarizations for signers in Missouri, elsewhere in the U.S., or abroad where not prohibited, while the notary is physically in Missouri. Max $5 per signature plus an optional agreed remote transaction fee.²

Requirements

Education or training

SOS online electronic notary training course, completed in addition to the commissioning course.¹
Who may teach it: Course approved by the Secretary of State (taken in the SOS online system after registration).¹

Experience

Must already be a commissioned Missouri notary public.²
License you must hold first: Mo-notary-public-commission²

Exam

Electronic notary online training course exam¹²
Given by: Missouri Secretary of State²
Passing score: 80% or greater¹²
When you can take it: After submitting the online registration form¹²
20 multiple-choice questions¹²

Residency or citizenship

As for the underlying commission. Remote online notarizations may be performed only while the notary is physically in Missouri.¹

Surety bond

$10,000¹ (No separate bond for electronic registration is stated; the commission bond applies.)

Also required

Select approved notarization software from the SOS list during registration.²

How to apply

1. Be a commissioned Missouri notary (you can apply for the commission and register for electronic notarization at the same time).²
2. Log in to the SOS notary system and complete the online Electronic Notary Registration Form, selecting approved software.² s1.sos.mo.gov²
3. Take the online training course (20 multiple-choice questions; 80% to pass). Once you pass, you are registered as an electronic notary.¹²

Renewal

When it expires

Registration lasts as long as your commission. After recommissioning you must register again before notarizing electronically.¹

If it expires

Registration ends when the commission ends.¹

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary PublicQualify at the county clerk within 60 days of issue: appear in person with the SOS commission letter, $10,000 bond and photo ID, take the oath and pay the county's registration fee. Fees vary by county, e.g. $20.00 in St. Louis County, $5.00 in Jackson County and $3.50 in St. Louis City.⁹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Missouri, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Missouri is on the Missouri license lookup page.

Look up a license

s1.sos.mo.gov¹⁴

File a complaint

s1.sos.mo.gov¹⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• RSMo ch. 486 (§§ 486.600–486.830 notaries public; L. 2020 H.B. 1655, eff. Aug. 28, 2020)
• RSMo 28.160.1 and 28.160.3
• RSMo 486.900–486.1010 (electronic notaries) and 486.1100–486.1205 (remote online notarization)

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming