South Dakota Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form, Wording & Seal Rules
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects South Dakota Codified Laws Title 18, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the South Dakota Secretary of State before relying on it.
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Fillable South Dakota acknowledgment certificate
Enter the details and the certificate updates live with the standard South Dakota wording. Copy or print it, then attach it to your document. The notary completes and signs the final certificate after verifying identity; this tool just prepares the correct form.
What is the exact South Dakota acknowledgment wording?
South Dakota's general certificate of acknowledgment for an individual, drawn from Title 18, names the officer taking the acknowledgment and closes with the traditional witness clause.
State of South Dakota
County of ______
On this the ______ day of ____________, 20____, before me, ____________, the undersigned officer, personally appeared ____________, known to me (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged that he or she executed the same for the purposes therein contained.
___________________________________
Notary Public, South Dakota
My commission expires: ______
Can a South Dakota notary notarize a document that is already signed?
The Secretary of State's handbook tells South Dakota notaries to require the signer to sign in their presence, and it lists notarizing a document that has already been signed among the things a notary should not do. That is stricter than the general rule in most states, where an acknowledgment may be taken on a pre-signed document. In practice, ask the signer to sign in front of you even when the block says "acknowledged." If someone arrives with the document already signed, the clean fix is to have them sign again in your presence.
Can a South Dakota notary certify a copy?
No, a South Dakota notary public cannot certify copies of documents, which surprises people arriving with a passport or diploma to copy. The handbook offers a workaround: have the person sign a written statement declaring the copy is a true and accurate copy, then notarize that person's signature. The notary is then certifying the signature on the declaration, not the copy itself, which stays within a South Dakota notary's authority. Certified copies of vital records and court files come from the issuing office instead.
| Element | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Venue | State of South Dakota and the county where the act occurs |
| Officer | The name of the officer taking the acknowledgment |
| Signer | The person whose name is subscribed to the instrument |
| Seal | Official seal plus the commission expiration date |
What must a South Dakota notary seal show?
The seal must be a type approved by the Secretary of State and must show the commission expiration date, either on the seal itself or written below the imprint with the words "my commission expires." An impression of that seal has to be filed with the Secretary of State along with the oath and bond before the notary begins acting, so the office holds a reference imprint from day one. If a notary changes their name, they buy a new seal and place the imprint on the change form, and a Certificate of Correction is issued with no additional filing fee.
Is a South Dakota commission limited to the county it names?
No. A South Dakota notary commission is good in any county in the state, regardless of the county for which it was issued, so a notary commissioned in Minnehaha County may act in Pennington County without a second commission. The venue on the certificate still names the county where the act actually takes place, not the county on the commission. If your address changes, notify the Secretary of State so the notary record can be updated. The Secretary of State issues the commission, which is posted in a conspicuous place in the notary's office for public inspection.
South Dakota acknowledgment: frequently asked questions
- What statute governs South Dakota acknowledgment forms?
- South Dakota Codified Laws Title 18 governs oaths and acknowledgments, with the general certificate of acknowledgment in section 18-4-12.
- Can a South Dakota notary notarize a pre-signed document?
- The Secretary of State's handbook tells notaries to have the signer sign in their presence and lists notarizing an already-signed document among the things not to do.
- Can a South Dakota notary certify a copy?
- No. A South Dakota notary cannot certify copies, but may notarize the signature of a person who signs a statement certifying the copy is valid.
- Is a South Dakota commission limited to one county?
- No. A commission is good in any South Dakota county regardless of the county for which it was issued, though address changes must be reported.
- How long is a South Dakota notary commission?
- Six years, issued by the Secretary of State. The commission must be posted in a conspicuous place in the notary's office for public inspection.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: South Dakota Codified Laws sections 18-1-1, 18-1-3, 18-1-3.1, 18-1-4 and Title 18, Chapter 4 (South Dakota Legislature); the South Dakota Notary Public Handbook, Office of the Secretary of State. Confirm current wording before relying on it.