What happens if someone makes a claim against my Florida notary bond?

Your surety company's claim department will investigate the claim. They will contact you to gather information about the transaction in question. They may ask for a copy of your notary journal record for the notarization and any other facts that may help them determine the basis for the claim. A pending claim does not always mean there will be financial loss for the notary. Your surety company may find the claim not to be legitimate, or they may deny the claim. However, if the claim has merit, your surety company will negotiate a settlement or pay the full amount of the bond.

Important: You may be held responsible for repaying any amount the surety pays to satisfy the claim, including defense costs. Remember, the notary bond protects the public, not the notary. We highly recommend all notaries purchase notary errors & omissions insurance to guard against potential financial loss due to an innocent mistake.