Notary surety bonds are required by many states when
obtaining or renewing a notary commission and are often part of the
notary application or renewal process. The surety bond helps to protect
the public from the notary's action or inaction through an agreement
to pay the obligee in an amount up to the bond coverage amount in the
event of a harmful act by the notary. The obligee is one of three parties
to the surety bond contract: