Missouri modernized its notary laws in 2020 with HB 1655/1564 — adding RON authorization and updating the training and exam process. Today the application is fully online and the process is efficient.
Under RSMo Chapter 486, the requirements are:
Missouri is mid-range for startup costs. The $25 application fee is one of the cheapest in the country, but you also need a $10,000 bond and the training/exam costs.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| State application fee | Required | $25 |
| $10,000 surety bond (4-year term) | Required | $30–$50 |
| Mandatory training course | Required | $25–$75 |
| County clerk swearing-in fee | Required | Varies ($5–$20) |
| Notary stamp/seal | Required | $20–$50 |
| Mandatory journal | Required | $10–$25 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $115–$245 |
Missouri's 60-day clock is strict: once your commission letter arrives, you have 60 days to appear at your county clerk's office to be sworn in. Miss this deadline and your commission is voided — you start the application over.
The whole process is online via the Secretary of State portal, then offline at your county clerk for swearing-in.
Download the current handbook from sos.mo.gov/notary. Required reading before the training course — the handbook is the basis for the exam.
Take a state-approved training course (online providers like NotaryRotary, AAN, or others). Course costs vary $25-$75.
After the course, take the exam. You need 80% to pass. Save your training completion certificate — you'll attach it to your application.
Apply online at the Missouri SOS Commissions Division portal. Pay the $25 application fee, attach your training certificate, and submit. Processing typically takes 2 weeks.
You'll receive a commission letter from the Secretary of State indicating your commission number, expiration date, and instructions to appear at your county clerk.
Buy your 4-year, $10,000 bond. Within 60 days of the commission letter, appear at your county clerk to file the bond, take the oath, and sign the official record. Pay the small county fee. Then mail the signed oath and bond to the Secretary of State within 7 days.
Missouri notaries can perform these acts statewide under RSMo Chapter 486:
Missouri allows notaries to charge "reasonable fees" — there are no statutory hard caps:
Kansas City and St. Louis are the dominant markets. Both have strong real estate transaction volume and concentrated business districts. Springfield and Columbia are smaller but underserved markets with less competition.
Missouri authorized remote online notarization through HB 1655 and HB 1564, effective August 28, 2020. To perform RON in MO:
Your Missouri commission is valid for 4 years. Renewal can begin up to 6 weeks before your current commission expires.
You will not be automatically reappointed. The renewal process is identical to the initial application: new bond, new training course, new exam, new $25 fee, new oath at the county clerk. Start at least 8 weeks before expiration to avoid a lapse.
About 2-4 weeks total. The training course and exam can be done in a single day if you focus. The Secretary of State processes online applications in about 2 weeks. Then you have 60 days to get sworn in at your county clerk — but most people do it within a week of receiving the commission letter.
Yes, since the 2020 update to RSMo Chapter 486, all new applicants must complete a state-approved training course AND pass an exam. There's no self-study path. The course can be online or in-person.
Missouri requires absentee ballot envelopes to be notarized in certain circumstances. During election seasons, this creates a real revenue spike for active notaries — particularly mobile notaries who can come to homebound voters. Most charge $2-$5 per envelope but volume can be significant in October/November of election years.
Yes, with limits. You can notarize documents for your employer, but you cannot notarize documents in which you have a direct financial interest. If your employer is signing a document related to your own compensation, benefits, or property, you can't notarize it.
After being sworn in at the county clerk, you have 7 days (postmarked date) to mail your signed oath and bond to the Secretary of State's office in Jefferson City. This finalizes your commission. Miss this deadline and you can't perform notarial acts until it's resolved.
Missouri's 2020 modernization (HB 1655) added training and exam requirements to bring the state in line with best practices. Neighboring states like Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa have less stringent requirements — which is a competitive disadvantage for MO notary applicants but creates a slight quality moat for those who complete the training.
Missouri's recent modernization (RON, training, exam) signals it's investing in notary quality. Kansas City and St. Louis are particularly strong markets for mobile and RON work. We're recruiting founding-cohort Missouri notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
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