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policy. The bond serves for the protection of members of the public who may be affected as a result of
negligence or misconduct on the part of the notary. Those commissioned only on behalf of the DC
Government do not have to purchase a surety bond, but any dual commission requires a surety bond.
Applicants must use the bond form provided by the ONCA office sent with the Appointment Notice.
No other form is allowed. The form may not be altered (except that the bond companies may add the
bond number at the top) and must be signed by the surety agent. On the left side there are lines for two
witnesses; the one at the bottom is for a witness to the signature of the “Surety and Title.” This must be
signed before you come to our office. The top witness is for your signature as the notary applicant. If
you haven’t signed this before you come to the office, we will act as your witness. We will keep the
original bond form; if you wish to keep a copy, you must make one before you come to the office.
The bond form you will receive with the Appointment Notice must be filled out by the surety bond
company. It has fillable fields that may be done if you send it to them. They will then print it out and sign
it; we must have the original signature from the company and the seal of the bond company must be on
the form. The company must mail it back to you as we must have the original signed bond form.
The bond form is sent only to the notary applicant. ONCA will only answer questions from the notary
applicant. If a surety bond company has any questions, they need to be addressed through you as the
applicant. The bond form must be opened on a computer, not a phone or tablet, and must be opened in
Microsoft Word, otherwise you may not be able to see the beginning and end dates of your commission.
Surety Bond - Proof of Payment:
Applicants must present the receipt of the bond payment, with your name as it appears on the
Appointment Notice, marked Paid in Full with the amount paid and date it was paid. The receipt must
include the correct beginning and end date of your commission and the address at which the commission
is held. You may provide us with an original or copy of the receipt, but it must contain all the
requirements specified in the Appointment Notice, and you must provide a hard copy. The surety bond
form must be the original.
If you wish to keep a copy of the surety bond form or receipt, you must make it before you come to the
office; ONCA will not make a copy.
Once your name has been published in the DC Register, you may be contacted by notary supply
companies or surety bond companies. It is up to you or your business if you wish to use that company or
another one. These companies have not been endorsed by ONCA; they have simply gotten your name
and address from the DC Register. ONCA may not recommend any supply or surety bond companies;
you may use the Internet to search for Notary Supply Companies, DC or Surety Bond Companies, DC. It
is highly advisable to keep a copy of the bond form and receipt; if you change employment or your
address or change your name you will be required to show our office proof you have notified your surety
bond company of this change.
Oath of Office:
Once you have your supplies, surety bond form and receipt, you must then come into the ONCA office
with your supplies and surety bond and receipt to complete and take the oath of office. The oath page
includes the address of your commission, the signature you will use when notarizing any document and