Why Notaries Need Insurance in Oklahoma?

As a notary public, your role is crucial in many significant transactions, from business agreements to legal documents. However, even a minor error can lead to rejected documents, causing delays and fines for your clients. Insurance is essential for notaries to protect against potential lawsuits and financial losses stemming from unintentional mistakes or negligence. Business insurance covers legal defense costs, medical bills, property repairs, and even recovery expenses from data breaches or cyberattacks. Ensuring you have the right coverage helps maintain your professional reputation and provides peace of mind.

Insurance for Notaries

Types of Insurance Notaries Need

General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance: This policy covers third-party risks, including customer injuries and property damage.

  • Importance: Protects against significant financial losses from lawsuits and medical expenses.
  • Coverage: Medical expenses, legal fees, and settlements related to third-party injuries and property damage.
  • Best For: Slip-and-fall accidents, damaged customer property, product liability.

Business Owners Policy (BOP)

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP): A BOP combines general liability, commercial property insurance and business interruption insurance. This is a cost-effective option for small to medium sized businesses.  

  • Importance: Offers comprehensive coverage in a single policy, saving costs and simplifying management.
  • Coverage: Combines general liability, property insurance and business interruption insurance to cover a wide range of risks.
  • Best For: Bundled coverage for customer injuries, business property damage and business interruption.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Workers’ Compensation Insurance: If you have employees, this insurance is legally required. It covers medical costs and lost wages if an employee gets injured on the job.

  • Importance: Provides essential financial support for injured employees, ensuring legal compliance.
  • Coverage: Medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages due to workplace injuries.
  • Best For: Employee medical costs, disability benefits, injury lawsuits.

Commercial Auto Insurance

Commercial Auto Insurance: Covers vehicles owned by your business, protecting against accidents, property damage, and theft.

  • Importance: Essential for businesses that use vehicles for operational purposes, ensuring coverage for auto-related incidents.
  • Coverage: Covers damages and medical costs from auto-related incidents.
  • Best for: Property damage caused by your vehicle, liability coverage in an accident, repairs due to vandalism or weather.

Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber Insurance: Protects your business from cyberattacks and data breaches. Essential for businesses handling credit card payments and personal information.

  • Importance: Safeguards sensitive data and helps mitigate the impact of cyber incidents.
  • Coverage: Client notification expenses, data breach investigations, fraud monitoring costs.
  • Best for: Protection against cyber threats and data breaches.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance: Also known as Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance, it covers legal defense costs if you are sued for negligence.

  • Importance: Critical for protecting against claims related to the professional advice you provide.
  • Coverage: Professional errors or oversights, failure to meet client expectations, and breach of contract.
  • Best For: Professionals offering specialized advice and services.

Additional Insurance and Endorsements

Depending on your business needs, consider these additional coverages:

  • Commercial Umbrella Insurance: Provides additional liability coverage beyond standard policies.
  • Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI): Protects against claims of employment-related issues such as harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination.
  • Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers repair or replacement costs for essential equipment.
  • Inland Marine Insurance: Covers valuable property that is in transit or stored off-site.

Cost of Insurance

The cost of insurance for notaries varies based on several factors:

  • Services offered
  • Property and Equipment
  • Business size and revenue
  • Types of insurance purchased
  • Policy limits and deductibles

How to Get Insurance

Getting insurance for your notary business is straightforward. Follow these simple steps to secure coverage:

  1. Complete a Free Online Application: Provide basic information about your company, such as revenue and the number of employees.
  2. Compare Insurance Quotes: Review quotes from top-rated insurance companies and choose the policies that best meet your needs.
  3. Pay for Your Policy and Download a Certificate: Once you’ve selected your coverage, pay for your policy and download your certificate of insurance.

Ready to Protect Your Business?

Protect your notary business with the right insurance coverage. Start your application today to find affordable and comprehensive policies that suit your needs. Ensure your peace of mind and safeguard your professional reputation by getting insured now!