Mississippi is one of the simplest notary states — no exam, no course, just a $25 fee and a $5,000 bond. However, Mississippi does NOT authorize remote online notarization as of 2026 (pending legislation hasn't passed). IPEN (in-person electronic) is available since July 2021.
Under Mississippi Code 25-33-1 et seq., the requirements are:
Mississippi has a very moderate cost structure — $25 application fee, $5,000 bond, no exam or course fees.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State application fee | Required | $25 |
| $5,000 surety bond (4-year term) | Required | $35–$55 |
| 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 | $75–$135 |
Mississippi does NOT authorize RON as of 2026. If you want to perform remote online notarizations, Mississippi isn't currently an option. IPEN (In-Person Electronic Notarization) is available — signer must be physically present, but the document and signatures are electronic. RON legislation has been introduced but not passed.
Mississippi's process is straightforward — just application, bond, and oath.
Download the application from the Mississippi Secretary of State website. Fill it out completely with your personal info and eligibility affirmations.
Buy your 4-year, $5,000 bond. The bond must be on SOS Form NP-002 or substantially similar to the official MCA 25-1-15 bond form.
Sign your application before a current Mississippi notary. The notarized signature is required.
Mail the completed application, original signed and notarized bond, and $25 filing fee to the Mississippi Secretary of State.
Processing typically takes 1-2 weeks. You'll receive your commission certificate by mail.
You have 60 days from your commission date to file your bond with the SOS. Until your bond is filed, your commission is dormant — you can't notarize anything. After bond filing, you're active.
Get a Mississippi-compliant seal containing your name, "Notary Public," and "State of Mississippi."
Mississippi notaries can perform these acts statewide under MS Code Chapter 25-33:
Mississippi allows notary-set fees — no statutory hard caps:
Jackson, Gulfport, and Hattiesburg are the main markets. Mississippi's lower real estate transaction volume compared to neighboring states means mobile notary work is more concentrated around legal services, healthcare documents, and small business documentation rather than loan signings.
Mississippi does NOT authorize Remote Online Notarization as of 2026. Pending RON legislation has been introduced but not passed. IPEN (In-Person Electronic Notarization) is available since the 2021 Revised Notarial Acts law:
Your Mississippi commission is valid for 4 years. Renewal is the same process as initial application.
Submit a new application, purchase a new $5,000 bond, pay the $25 fee. The bond filing 60-day window applies again. Start the renewal process 6-8 weeks before expiration to avoid a gap.
Mississippi is one of only a few remaining states that haven't authorized full RON. Legislation has been introduced multiple times but hasn't passed. The state has IPEN (in-person electronic) since 2021, which is a middle step but doesn't allow remote signing sessions. If RON is important for your business, MS may not be the right state to commission in.
Yes. Your commission is statewide once your bond is filed.
Mississippi requires you to be a resident for at least 30 days before applying — this prevents people from establishing temporary residency just to obtain a commission. Most states have similar but unstated assumptions; MS makes it explicit.
After your commission is issued by the Secretary of State, you have 60 days to file your bond with the SOS. Until the bond is filed, your commission is dormant — meaning you have the commission certificate but cannot legally notarize anything. Once the bond is filed, you become active.
Mississippi does not have an explicit accommodation for employed non-residents like many states do. You must be a Mississippi resident for at least 30 days to apply. If you live in TN or LA and work in MS, you'd need to actually move to MS to become commissioned.
Yes. The notarial act itself must take place in Mississippi (you must be physically located in MS), but the documents can be used anywhere — out of state, out of country, etc. The receiving jurisdiction will accept a properly executed MS notarization.
Mississippi's low cost and simple process make it accessible. The lack of RON is a meaningful limitation if you want to build a remote notary practice — but for traditional and IPEN work, it's a straightforward state. We're recruiting founding-cohort Mississippi notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
Apply to Smoothquill →Founding cohort · 10 spots · $10 flat platform fee for life