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Please read this first We work to keep state commissioning information current, but requirements, fees, and forms can change faster than we can update this page. Confirm every step with the Missouri Secretary of State, Notaries & Commissions using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice. |
Overview
Missouri commissions traditional notaries, then you qualify at the county clerk with a $10,000 bond. The SOS uses the term electronic notary for a commissioned notary approved to provide services remotely. You must complete SOS online registration and the online training course and select approved remote software.
Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow the Secretary of State’s current instructions if anything here differs from the official site.
For a U.S. overview of remote online notary authorization, see the National Notary Association’s How to Become a Remote Online Notary. Follow the Missouri Secretary of State, Notaries & Commissions’s instructions if anything differs.
Who Can Apply
To be commissioned as a Missouri notary public, you must meet all of the following:
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Start Here: Online Notary Account, Then Electronic Registration
Register on the SOS notary site, complete training, apply ($25), then qualify at the county clerk. Electronic/remote approval is a later SOS registration with approved software.
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Read the official how-to and electronic-notary pages Open How to Become a Notary and Electronic Notary Information. |
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Create the online notary account File on Notaries & Commissions. Convenience fees apply to card ($1.25) or eCheck ($0.50) as the registering guide describes. |
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If you already hold a Missouri commission, register as an electronic notary before remote sessions Complete the online registration form and training course on Electronic Notary Information. |
Part 1: Traditional Missouri Notary Commission
Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired Missouri notary public commission. You cannot register as an electronic (remote) notary until this is in place.
Checklist
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Review the official how-to How to Become a Notary, the Missouri Notary Public Handbook, and Notaries & Commissions. |
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Complete traditional notary education Take the SOS online training course or written training course and keep the certificate. The course is part of commissioning, not listed as a separate SOS tuition dollar amount on the application (the application fee is $25). |
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Obtain a $10,000 surety bond Buy a four-year bond from a licensed Missouri surety covering the commission dates. An errors-and-omissions policy does not replace the bond (Notary Public Bond). |
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Submit the traditional application Apply online or by mail with $25 payable to the Secretary of State’s Office (RSMo 486.630 and 28.160.3). |
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Qualify at the county clerk Appear in person within 60 days, take the oath, match your official signature to the commission name, and mail oath and bond to the SOS within seven days. Then obtain your seal. |
Part 2: Online (RON) Commission
Missouri’s electronic-notary registration is the remote path: online form, SOS training course, and an approved remote software provider. Only platforms used for remote notarial services require SOS approval. In-person electronic software is described as not needing that approval.
Have these ready
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Checklist
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Read the official online-notary instructions Electronic Notary Information and the online step-by-step guide linked there. |
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Complete online notary education Complete the SOS online training course required as Step 2 of electronic-notary registration (in addition to traditional commissioning training). |
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Start the online commission application Complete the online registration form on Electronic Notary Information. You must already be a commissioned Missouri notary. |
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Sign with a digital certificate Name the approved software you will use for remote notarization. |
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Upload your electronic seal Follow the SOS online registration for seal/signature evidence. Existing electronic notaries use the change-software process on the same page. |
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Pay and submit Not listed as a separate SOS dollar fee on the Electronic Notary Information page reviewed for this checklist. Confirm any current electronic-registration fee in the online system before you file. |
After You Are Commissioned
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Electronic/remote approval ends if the traditional commission is not kept current. Qualify renewals at the county clerk with a new bond as SOS instructs.
Fees Listed by the Secretary of State
The $25 application fee is from the official application. Bond rules are from Notary Public Bond. Confirm any electronic-registration fee in the SOS online system.
| Item | Listed amount |
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| Traditional SOS training course | Included in the commissioning process (not listed as a separate tuition on the $25 application) |
| Electronic notary training course | Required SOS online course (confirm any separate dollar amount in the online system) |
| Traditional application | $25 |
| Electronic / remote registration | Not listed as a separate dollar fee on the Electronic Notary Information page; confirm in the online system |
| Surety bond | $10,000 coverage (premium paid to the surety); county clerk qualifying fees vary |
Official Missouri Links
| Resource | Where to go |
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| Notaries & Commissions | sos.mo.gov/business/notary |
| Electronic Notary Information | sos.mo.gov/Business/Notary/ElectronicNotaryInfo |
| Approved remote software | s1.sos.mo.gov/Business/Notary/info/softwarevendors.aspx |
| Commissions | [email protected] |
Common Questions
Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?
A: No. You must first be a commissioned Missouri notary public, then complete electronic-notary registration for remote services.
Q: Does Missouri approve a list of RON platforms?
A: Yes. Select from SOS-approved software providers for remote notarization. The office updates the list; expired emergency approvals are marked expired.
Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?
A: Use Notaries & Commissions and Electronic Notary Information.
Last Updated: August 26, 2026 | Author: Customer Success Team | Version: v1.0
