How to Become a Notary Public in South Dakota

There is a $30 fee to apply for a Notary Public commission. Additional costs for bonds, Notary tools and education courses vary depending on vendors.

Supply package prices vary among vendors. New Notaries may need more how-to assistance than experienced Notaries. Books, training and live expert assistance are often must-haves for most new Notaries.

The South Dakota Secretary of State recommends allowing a minimum of 14 days for the processing of a Notary Public application.

The term of a South Dakota Notary commission is six years.

A Notary Public applicant in South Dakota must meet the following requirements:

• Be a permanent resident of South Dakota, or of a county bordering SD and work within the state
• Have no felony convictions

No training course or exam is required, but it is recommended that new Notaries take an education course before beginning their notarial duties.

South Dakota Notaries must use a seal. A Notary seal may be a rubber stamp or a physical device capable of affixing to or embossing on a tangible document. The seal must contain a border surrounding the following information:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The words "South Dakota"
• The words "Notary Public"
• The word "seal," if you use a rubber stamp seal or electronic seal

The words "My commission expires" with your commission expiration date must be displayed outside of the border. This information can be in writing, printed or imprinted using a separate stamp.

While not required for most notarizations, the Secretary of State strongly recommends that Notaries maintain a register or record of all notarial acts in a journal.

When purchasing a journal, there are a few important features to which you must pay close attention. A journal with numbered pages and tamper-proof sewn construction allows Notaries to identify missing pages in their journals, which becomes extremely helpful if you're ever named in a lawsuit.

South Dakota Notaries must purchase a $5,000 surety bond or obtain a personal surety to protect signers against financial damages resulting from the Notary's negligence or misconduct.

A surety bond is a financial guarantee that the Notary will fulfill their obligations to notarize in compliance with state laws. This Notary bond specifically protects the public and not the Notary. Any damages paid from the bond go to cover any signer's losses and must be paid back to the surety company by you.

Notaries can insure themselves against possible legal costs or damages by purchasing a separate, optional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy. Though not required by law, an E&O policy covers a Notary's legal fees and damages up to the amount of the policy.

The South Dakota Secretary of State, Notary Administrator, located in Pierre, SD, issues Notary Public commissions.

Yes. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to become a South Dakota Notary Public. You must, however, meet all other application requirements.

A South Dakota Notary can perform notarial acts anywhere within the state's borders.

You are licensed to notarize for any member of the public, as long as the request meets all statutory requirements for notarization. You're prohibited from notarizing your own signature.

South Dakota Notaries may notarize electronic documents for signers in their physical presence by using an electronic seal. Learn more about the requirements to become an electronic Notary in South Dakota.

South Dakota Notaries may charge a maximum fee of $10 per notarial act.

Any changes to your address must be reported to the Secretary of State. You can do so by completing and submitting a Notary Change Form.

To update the name on your commission, get a new seal with your new name and imprint it on the Notary Change Form. The Secretary of State will issue a Notary Public Name Change Certificate at no additional filing fee. You must receive confirmation from the Secretary before performing notarial acts with your new information.

The process for renewing as a South Dakota Notary is the same as applying for a new commission in the state (see above). Your application to renew your Notary Public may not be submitted more than 60 days prior to the expiration of your commission.

As of July 1, 2024, South Dakota Notaries may register the capability to perform remote online notarization, also known in South Dakota as “e-notarization”. To become an SD remote online Notary, follow the steps in this guide.

If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.