Alaska's notary program is administered by the Lieutenant Governor's office. The bond is just $2,500 — one of the smallest in the country — and there's no exam or course. The application is online through myAlaska.
Under Alaska Statutes 44.50, the requirements are:
Alaska's costs are modest. The $2,500 bond is one of the smallest in the country, with correspondingly low premiums.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Notary commission application fee | Required | ~$40 |
| $2,500 surety bond (4-year term) | Required | $35–$50 |
| Notary stamp/seal | Required | $15–$35 |
| Notary journal | Optional but recommended | $10–$25 |
| Education course | Not required | $0 |
| Written exam | Not required | $0 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $90–$150 |
Alaska's notary program runs through the Lieutenant Governor's office, not the Secretary of State. Since January 1, 2021, each time you apply for a commission you must submit a NEW $2,500 bond. The surety signature on the bond form must be notarized — you cannot act as your own surety. Federal, municipal, or state employees can use an Employer Approval Form instead of a commercial bond (for a Limited Governmental Commission).
Alaska's process is online through myAlaska, starting with the bond.
Get your 4-year, $2,500 bond first — it's the first form required in the online application process. If you use the State of Alaska's notary bond form, the surety signature must be notarized. (Government employees can use an Employer Approval Form instead for a Limited Governmental Commission.)
Access the Online Notary Database through your myAlaska account.
Begin the application process in the online notary database. Provide your personal information and attach your bond documentation.
Submit the application fee online.
Once your application is processed and approved, you'll receive your notary commission. Order your stamp.
Once you have your commission and stamp, you're ready. Commissioned notaries can separately request approval to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals (RON).
Alaska notaries can perform these acts statewide under AS 44.50:
Alaska allows notary-set fees — no statutory hard caps:
Anchorage is the dominant market, with Fairbanks and Juneau as secondary markets. Alaska's vast geography and many remote communities make mobile notary services — and especially RON — particularly valuable. Many Alaskans in rural areas have limited access to notaries, so remote online notarization is a meaningful opportunity in this state more than most.
Alaska authorized notarial acts for remotely located individuals. To perform RON in Alaska:
Your Alaska commission is valid for 4 years. A regular commission expires after 4 years and you must reapply to renew.
Even if you've previously held a commission, renewal requires submitting an updated commission application, a NEW $2,500 bond, and payment. Since January 1, 2021, a fresh bond is required each application cycle — your old bond cannot carry over.
Alaska is one of the states where the Lieutenant Governor's office (rather than a Secretary of State) handles notary commissioning. Alaska doesn't have a Secretary of State — the Lieutenant Governor performs many of those functions. Apply through the Online Notary Database via myAlaska.
Alaska's $2,500 bond is one of the smallest in the country. The bond protects the public against notarial misconduct, but Alaska set a modest amount. Note: the $2,500 bond doesn't cap your personal liability — a damaged party can still sue you for the full amount of their losses, which is why E&O insurance is recommended.
No. The surety on your bond must be a separate party, and the surety signature on the bond form must be notarized. A notary applicant cannot act as their own surety. If you use a commercial bond, the surety company handles this.
Alaska's vast geography and many remote communities mean a lot of residents have limited access to in-person notaries. Remote online notarization lets you serve clients across the state without travel. In a state this large and sparsely populated, RON is a more significant opportunity than in most states — worth pursuing the separate RON approval.
Yes. Your commission is statewide — which, in Alaska, covers an enormous area.
Yes. Since January 1, 2021, each time you apply for a commission (new or renewal), you must submit a new $2,500 bond. Your previous bond does not carry over to a new commission term.
Alaska's vast geography makes RON especially valuable — remote communities have limited notary access. Anchorage anchors the market, with Fairbanks and Juneau as secondary hubs. We're recruiting founding-cohort Alaska notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
Apply to Smoothquill →Founding cohort · 10 spots · $10 flat platform fee for life