How to Become a Notary in Mississippi (2026 Guide)

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Key Takeaways

• No exam or training required
• $5,000 surety bond required
• Application fee: $25 | Commission term: 4 years
• Notary stamp required
• Maximum fee: $5 per notarial act; remote online notarization permitted (HB1156, 2021)
• Must be 18+, a MS resident, with no felony convictions

Mississippi keeps the entry requirements light: no exam, no training course, a $5,000 surety bond, and a $25 application fee paid to your circuit clerk.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a resident of Mississippi
• Have no felony convictions (unless rights restored)

Disqualifying Factors

Felony convictions (unless pardoned or rights restored) can disqualify you from becoming a Mississippi notary.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Purchase Your $5,000 Surety Bond

Mississippi requires a $5,000 surety bond. The premium costs about $30 for the 4-year term.

Step 2: Apply Through Your Circuit Clerk

Submit your application and bond to your county circuit clerk, not the Secretary of State. Pay the $25 fee.

Step 3: Purchase Your Stamp

Mississippi requires a notary stamp. Order one after approval.

Costs to Get Commissioned

Item	Cost
Application fee	$25
$5,000 surety bond premium	~$30
Notary stamp (required)	$15-$25
Notary journal (recommended)	$10-$50
Total	$80-$130

How Much You Can Charge

Mississippi sets a maximum of $5 per acknowledgment and $5 per person for jurats and oaths. Remote online notarization is permitted under House Bill 1156, effective July 1, 2021.

Authorized Notarial Acts

• Take acknowledgments
• Administer oaths and affirmations
• Take verifications
• Witness signatures
• Certify copies
• Protest negotiable instruments

Notary Stamp Requirements

Mississippi requires a notary stamp. All notarized documents must bear your official seal.

Notarizing for Family Members

Mississippi does not explicitly prohibit notarizing for family members. Avoid notarizing documents where you have a direct financial or beneficial interest.

Penalties for Notary Misconduct

The circuit clerk can revoke your commission for misconduct. Felony convictions result in automatic disqualification.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

Not required, but strongly recommended given the $5,000 bond: E&O protects you personally beyond what the bond covers.

Renewal

4 years. The renewal process is the same as the initial application through your circuit clerk.

Remote Online Notarization (RON)

Mississippi permits remote online notarization under House Bill 1156, effective July 1, 2021. Traditional in-person acts remain the default for most work. Check with the Secretary of State for online-notary registration requirements.

Becoming a Signing Agent

After receiving your commission, complete a signing agent certification program. Mississippi is not an attorney state for real estate closings, and the Gulf Coast and Jackson metro areas generate steady refinance and purchase work.

Mississippi’s $5,000 bond sits near the low end nationally. Neighboring Louisiana requires $50,000, raised from $10,000 effective February 1, 2026 under Act 258. Tennessee also requires a surety bond, commonly cited at $10,000, filed with the county clerk. If you want the regional contrast, Alabama’s guide covers the training-and-exam route next door.

Your Commission Belongs to You

Your commission is personal: it does not belong to your employer, and your stamp and commission go with you when you change jobs. No employer can require you to skip proper notarization procedure, and one who pressures you into misconduct can share the liability for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated October 2026. Requirements based on the Mississippi Secretary of State and Miss. Code Title 25; remote online notarization per HB1156 (2021).