For Notaries · Missouri
How to Become a Notary in Missouri
To become a notary public in Missouri, you must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and live or work in the state with no disqualifying convictions. Read the state handbook, pass the Secretary of State's exam, buy a $10,000 surety bond, and file the $25 application. Commissions run four years.
Need a document notarized instead? This guide covers becoming a commissioned notary in Missouri. If you are looking for a notary today, compare where to get a document notarized in Missouri or notarize it online in minutes.
Last updated: July 9, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Missouri is one of the states that makes you pass a test. Before the Secretary of State will commission you, you must read the Missouri Notary Public Handbook (or complete approved training) and score at least 80% on a notary examination. From there the path is straightforward: obtain a $10,000 surety bond, submit a $25 application through the SOS Notary Portal, and appear at your county clerk's office to take the oath and file your bond. Commissions last four years, and once you are commissioned you can also register as an electronic (remote online) notary and notarize for signers located anywhere in the country.
Missouri Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | You must be at least 18 years old, able to read and write English, and either a Missouri resident or a non-resident who is employed or maintains a business in Missouri (commissioned in the county of residence or business). You cannot have had a notary commission revoked within the past five years, and you cannot have a felony conviction or a conviction for a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude within the past five years. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | $10,000 surety bond, executed by a Missouri-licensed surety company for the full four-year commission term. The bond is filed with your county clerk when you qualify, which must happen within 60 days after the Secretary of State approves your application. The bond protects the public, not you, so many notaries also carry separate errors-and-omissions coverage. |
| State filing fee | $25 total ($15 commission fee plus a $10 technology-fund fee) |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Required attestation. You must read the Missouri Notary Public Handbook or complete state-approved notary training before applying; there is no fixed classroom-hour mandate. |
| Exam | Required. Applicants must score at least 80% on an examination administered by the Secretary of State before a commission is issued. |
Missouri notary applicants must score at least 80% on an examination administered by the Secretary of State before a commission is issued. — Missouri Secretary of State — Notary Public FAQ
How to Become a Notary in Missouri: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Verify you are at least 18, can read and write English, and either live in Missouri or work/run a business there, with no notary commission revoked in the past five years and no disqualifying felony or dishonesty conviction in the past five years.
- 2
Read the handbook and pass the exam
Read the Missouri Notary Public Handbook (or complete state-approved training), then score at least 80% on the notary examination administered by the Secretary of State. Missouri will not commission you until you pass.
- 3
Submit your application and $25 fee
File your Application for Commission as a Notary Public through the Missouri SOS Notary Portal and pay the $25 fee, which is a $15 commission fee plus a $10 technology-fund fee.
- 4
Obtain your $10,000 surety bond
Purchase a $10,000 notary surety bond from a company licensed in Missouri, covering the full four-year term. The premium is set by the bonding company.
- 5
Qualify at your county clerk within 60 days
After the Secretary of State approves you, appear in person at your county clerk's office within 60 days to take the oath of office and file your bond. You then receive your four-year commission; order your seal and journal and begin notarizing.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Missouri
Missouri authorizes remote online notarization under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RSMo Chapter 486). After you hold a Missouri notary commission, you register as an electronic (remote online) notary with the Secretary of State, complete an approved RON training program and examination, and use approved audio-visual technology plus tamper-evident electronic tools. Once authorized, you may notarize for signers located anywhere in the United States.
Online / remote notary application fee: There is no online-only barrier beyond first holding a Missouri commission. Register as an electronic notary through the Secretary of State after you are commissioned (additional training and exam required). Third-party guides report a separate registration fee, but confirm the current figure directly with the Missouri SOS before relying on it.
Operative statewide. Permanent electronic and remote online notarization authority was enacted through SB 655 (RSMo Chapter 486); remote online notaries register directly through the Missouri Secretary of State.
See how RON is authorized in Missouri — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Missouri remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Missouri instead? Notarize online with a Missouri commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Missouri
Missouri allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Missouri commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Missouri? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Missouri?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $25 ($15 commission + $10 technology fund) |
| $10,000 surety bond | Premium set by the bonding company |
| Notary handbook & exam | Handbook free; approved training varies by provider |
| Seal/stamp & journal | Varies by supplier |
| Electronic (remote online) notary registration | Filed with the SOS after commissioning; confirm current fee |
See what USA Notary costs a Missouri notary for platform-side details.
What a Missouri Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Missouri caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $5 |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $5 + fee |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Missouri compares with every other state in the how Missouri fees compare across all 50 states.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Missouri
Commission term in Missouri
4 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Missouri Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Missouri notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states · compare RON platforms for Missouri notaries
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
Does Missouri require a notary exam?
Yes. Missouri is an exam state. After reading the Missouri Notary Public Handbook or completing approved training, you must score at least 80% on an examination administered by the Secretary of State before a commission is issued.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Missouri?
The state application fee is $25, made up of a $15 commission fee and a $10 technology-fund fee. On top of that you need a $10,000 surety bond (premium set by the bonding company) plus a seal/stamp and a record journal. The handbook itself is free to read.
How long is a Missouri notary commission valid?
A Missouri notary public commission is issued for a four-year term. You must reapply and requalify (including the exam) before it expires to keep notarizing.
Where do I qualify as a Missouri notary?
After the Secretary of State approves your application, you qualify in person at your county clerk's office within 60 days. There you take the oath of office and file your $10,000 bond; the county records your commission.
Does Missouri allow remote online notarization?
Yes. Missouri authorizes remote online notarization under RSMo Chapter 486. Once you hold a Missouri commission, you can register as an electronic (remote online) notary with the Secretary of State, complete additional RON training and an exam, and use approved audio-visual technology to notarize for signers anywhere in the country.
How much can a Missouri notary charge per notarial act?
Missouri caps notary fees at $5 per signature notarized, with a maximum of $10 per document. For remote online notarizations, a reasonable technology surcharge may be charged on top of the statutory notarial fee.
When does a Missouri notary commission expire?
The Missouri commission term is: 4 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Missouri cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- what a Missouri loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby West North Central guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- Missouri Secretary of State — Notary Public & Commissions
- Missouri Secretary of State — Qualifying at the County Clerk's Office
- Missouri Secretary of State — Electronic Notary Info
- American Society of Notaries — Missouri Requirements
This guide summarizes public requirements from Missouri's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.