How to Become a Notary Public in Kansas

Who can apply

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Live in Kansas, or live in a bordering state and regularly work or practice in Kansas.
• Be able to read and write English.
• Not be disqualified under K.S.A. 53-5a24. You must disclose felonies, crimes of fraud or dishonesty, and some license or commission discipline.

Step by step

1. Buy a notary stamp or seal showing your name exactly as on your application, "Notary Public," and "State of Kansas." Do not include your county.
2. Get a $12,000 commercial surety bond from an insurer licensed in Kansas. The surety completes Section C of Form NO (or Form NO-S).
3. Recite the oath and sign Form NO in front of a notary, who notarizes your signature. Include a wet-ink signature sample.
4. Submit Form NO with your stamp impression, oath, and bond section, plus the $25 fee.
5. Wait until your status shows active with an expiration date in the online notary search before you notarize.

Official application →

What it costs in Kansas

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

What other sites get wrong about Kansas

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Repeat all the initial steps (new bond, oath, stamp impression) and pay $25, filing no more than 90 days before your commission expires.

Remote online notarization: Yes. A commissioned notary must pick an approved provider, pass the free state training and test, then file Form NC online with the certificate and a $20 fee; you must be physically in Kansas.

Good to know in Kansas

What you can charge: Kansas sets no maximum fee. Under K.A.R. 7-43-16, any fee must be disclosed and agreed to before the act, you must tell the signer a fee is allowed but not required, and you must collect it at the time and record it in your journal.

Sources

• Kansas SOS - Notary Public
• Form NO - Notary Public Appointment Form (PDF)
• Kansas Notary Handbook (PDF)
• Form NC - Notary Change (PDF)