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Becoming a Notary Public

The Notary Application includes the application and oath form and the process checklist. The application is the same for a new and renewal request.

Notary Application Process Checklist

Following these steps will help to ensure a complete application and timely approval. Failure to complete these steps accurately will cause the rejection of your application and a delay in receiving your commission.

  1. Obtain your Notary Seal.
    • Can be rubber, electronic or embossing stamp, shaped as a circle, square or rectangle, that reflects your name EXACTLY as you will be commissioned and as you will sign when notarizing.
    • Must include your name and the words "Notary Public" and "South Dakota." If the seal is a rubber stamp it must also include the word "seal".
    • DO NOT include an expiration date inside the border of the seal.
  2. Complete the Notary Application
    • Make a legible imprint of your seal in the box. If you have two seals, include both on a separate sheet.
    • Complete your name EXACTLY as it appears on your seal.
    • The residence address MUST be your physical address. A post office box, business address or your mailing address alone is not acceptable. If your mailing address is different than your residence address, enter the address, city, state, and zip.
    • If you reside at an address in an out-of-state county bordering South Dakota, complete the Employer/Business Name and South Dakota Business Address. This MUST be a South Dakota address.
    • Complete the questions regarding whether you have been a South Dakota Notary, your date of birth and whether you have ever been convicted of a felony, if you have been a South Dakota Notary before, and if yes, enter your commission expiration date. Also, enter any name(s) you were previously commissioned under and answer whether you will be providing e-notary services.
    • NOTE: Failure to answer any of these questions correctly or leaving them blank will cause your application to be rejected.
  3. Complete the Oath portion of the application
    • Enter the county where the oath is signed.
    • Enter your name EXACTLY as it is on your seal and as it is entered in the top section.
    • Date and sign the Oath with your name EXACTLY as it appears on your seal.
  4. Effective July 1st, the surety bond/Personal Surety Form is no longer required to apply and become a South Dakota Notary Public. If you would like to wait until July 1st or after to apply, please ignore the below instructions.
    • For a six-year, $5,000 surety bond, contact a local insurance company to obtain a policy.
      • Your insurance company will have a form that looks like the application at the link below for you to complete with your information pre-filled.
      • Date the section.
      • BOTH you and the surety must sign. The insurance company typically has their signature pre-filled.
      • Do not complete the Personal Surety Form.
      • If the insurance company has a Power of Attorney, please send along with the application. We do not need a copy of your errors and ommissions policy.
      • If you prefer the personal surety, do not complete this section.
    • An alternate option is to choose to obtain a Personal Surety.
      • Do not complete the Bond section of the application.
      • Complete the Personal Surety Form on the third page.
      • A personal surety can be a friend, relative, spouse or co-worker whom will sign on their own behalf and be liable for your $5000 bond if you perform any unlawful acts with your notary commission.
      • A personal surety cannot be a company, business or organization.
      • Both you and the personal surety must sign the form, with each of your signatures being separately notarized.
      • A personal surety cannot have his/her name removed for any reason.
      • A Notary cannot be their own personal surety.
      • A Personal Surety CANNOT be a person from out-of-state.
  5. To obtain a copy of the application click here(Effective 07/01/2025).
  6. Enclose the $30.00 filing fee
    • Make checks payable to Secretary of State
    • Send completed application and payment to:
      • Secretary of State
        500 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 204
        Pierre, SD 57501

Only after you have received a Notary Commission Certificate issued by the Secretary of State, are you authorized to notarize documents.

Should you have any questions, contact our office at (605)773-3537 or email [email protected].