A financial guarantee required by many jurisdictions for commissioned notaries public is a surety bond. This bond serves as a protection for the public against potential financial losses resulting from a notary’s negligence, errors, or intentional misconduct during the performance of their official duties. For instance, if a notary incorrectly notarizes a document leading to financial harm for a third party, a claim can be filed against the bond to provide compensation.
The purpose is to ensure accountability and ethical conduct among notaries. It offers a layer of financial security to individuals who rely on the integrity of notarized documents. Historically, the requirement for this type of bond developed as a means of safeguarding the public trust and maintaining the reliability of official records and transactions authenticated by notaries.