How to become a Missouri notary

A Missouri notary is a public official appointed by the State to serve the public. Becoming a Missouri notary is a great option if you are looking to make a career change or earn extra income. Fortunately, applying to be one is straightforward. The American Association of Notaries will guide you through the entire process to ensure you receive your Missouri notary commission in a timely manner and will support you during the four-year Missouri notary term.

To become a Missouri notary, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Be 18 years or older.
2. Be registered to vote in and be a resident of the county in which you are applying.
3. Be able to read and write in English.
4. Never have had a notary commission rescinded within the past ten years.
5. Never have been charged, in any state, with a felony or found guilty of a crime or any offense in the past five years in which you were found to be dishonest or immoral.

The process to become a Missouri notary is as follows:

1. Read the Missouri notary handbook.

Missouri notary applicants are required by law to read the Missouri notary handbook to familiarize themselves with the notary law. Reading the notary handbook will help you pass the exam during the Missouri notary application process.

2. Complete the Missouri notary application online.

All Missouri notary applicants are required to complete an application on the Secretary of State’s website. Before you start the notary application process, you need to take a few steps first. Create an account on the Missouri Secretary of State - Notary Public Division website. Next, you will be required to take a mandatory notary online training course. Once that is completed, you will then be allowed to complete the Missouri notary application, which costs $25 to file.

3. Purchase a four-year, $10,000 Missouri notary bond.

Within four to six business days of submitting your Missouri notary application, you will receive a notary commission letter from the Secretary of State. It will direct you to purchase a four-year, $10,000 Missouri notary bond, which you must file with your county clerk’s office. This is required for all Missouri notary applicants. If you purchase the notary bond from us, we will email the bond file to you in one business day. Included in the purchase is a complimentary four-year, $10,000 Missouri errors and omissions insurance policy.

You have 90 days to file the bond with the county clerk’s office. The clerk or deputy will administer the oath of office, after which you must submit a handwritten specimen of your official signature on the oath of office. This signature MUST match the exact name typed on the commission certificate. The clerk will then staple the bond to the oath of office and official signature filing and mail them to our office. The clerk or deputy will then present the notary with his or her commission certificate. Failure to appear before the clerk within ninety days will invalidate your Missouri notary commission, and you will need to reapply.

4. Order your Missouri notary supplies.

Missouri notaries public are required to use a notary inked stamp with black ink only or a notary seal embosser. They are also required to maintain a bound notary journal or notary record book with numbered pages. The American Association of Notaries manufactures Missouri notary stamps, seals, journals, and record books in-house. These notary supplies comply with Missouri notary laws and come with a lifetime replacement guarantee. If you do order your notary supplies from us, mail, email, or fax us a copy of the Missouri notary commission certificate you received. We will use the information to make your notary stamp.

The American Association of Notaries has been helping individuals become notaries since 1994.  We will guide you step by step through the Missouri notary application process and support you during your four-year Missouri notary term. Click here to start the Missouri notary application process.