Kentucky Secretary of State and the applicant’s county clerk handles the verified commission route. The captured fee basis is $10 Secretary of State application fee; county-clerk bond, oath, and recording charges are separate, the term is 4 years, and the bond rule is A bond is executed and recorded with the county clerk; check the county for the current amount and procedure.
Kentucky notary fee, term, bond, and authority
- Responsible authority
- Kentucky Secretary of State and the applicant’s county clerk
- Application fee
- $10 Secretary of State application fee; county-clerk bond, oath, and recording charges are separate
- Commission term
- 4 years
- Bond requirement
- A bond is executed and recorded with the county clerk; check the county for the current amount and procedure
- Training or exam
- No statewide precommission course or exam is listed for the traditional commission
- Official source
- https://sos.ky.gov/bus/businessrecords/Pages/Notaries.aspx ↗
- Jurisdiction
- Kentucky (KY)
Who can apply for a Kentucky notary commission
Be at least 18 and meet Kentucky residence or qualifying employment requirements.
How to apply
Review the current official requirements
Open the verified public source and confirm the correct commission category, application window, fee, and supporting documents.
Complete required education, exam, or background steps
No statewide precommission course or exam is listed for the traditional commission.
Prepare the bond and application package
A bond is executed and recorded with the county clerk; check the county for the current amount and procedure. Obtain any required seal, oath, identification, endorsements, or county paperwork only after confirming the official instructions.
Submit through the correct authority
Apply to the Secretary of State, then complete bond and oath requirements with the county clerk after appointment.
Important conditions and exceptions
Bond premiums, education, examination, fingerprinting, background checks, county recording, seals, journals, technology providers, and shipping can be separate. The official authority—not this website—determines eligibility and whether an application is complete.
Traditional, electronic, and remote notarization are not always the same commission
This page maps the standard public commission route. Electronic or remote online notarization may require a current traditional commission, separate registration or endorsement, approved technology, identity proofing, recording retention, and additional fees. Use the official source before offering remote services.
Source verification
Authority, fee, term, bond, training, and exception claims are mapped to the identified public source.
- Kentucky Secretary of State and the applicant’s county clerkOfficial application, commission, or handbook sourceOpen official source ↗
- National Association of Secretaries of StateNationwide notary authority directorynass.org ↗
Kentucky notary commission answers
Who commissions notaries in Kentucky?
Kentucky Secretary of State and the applicant’s county clerk.
How much is the Kentucky notary application?
$10 Secretary of State application fee; county-clerk bond, oath, and recording charges are separate.
How long does a Kentucky notary commission last?
4 years.
Does Kentucky require a notary bond?
A bond is executed and recorded with the county clerk; check the county for the current amount and procedure.
Is training or an exam required in Kentucky?
No statewide precommission course or exam is listed for the traditional commission.
Can SecretaryOfStateUSA.com issue a Kentucky notary commission?
No. This private directory does not accept applications, issue commissions, sell bonds, or provide legal advice.