Becoming a South Dakota Notary (2026): No Bond Since 2025 & How to Apply

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. South Dakota notary rules are set in SDCL Title 18 and can change, so confirm the details with the South Dakota Secretary of State before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

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What does it cost to become a notary in South Dakota?

Becoming a South Dakota notary now costs about $50 to $75, cheaper than before because the bond was dropped in 2025. The only fixed state charge is the $30 filing fee, which covers a six-year term, so the yearly cost is very low. The rest is your required seal and an optional journal. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in South Dakota?

You become a South Dakota notary by buying your seal first, then applying. The order is:

1. Buy your notary seal. Get a stamp or embosser with your name exactly as you will be commissioned, plus "Notary Public" and "South Dakota," because you imprint it on the application.
2. Complete the application and oath. Fill out the official Application and Oath form, signing your name exactly as it appears on your seal.
3. Mail it with the $30 fee. Send the form and fee to the Secretary of State in Pierre; no bond is required as of July 2025.
4. Wait for Attorney General approval. The Secretary of State forwards your application to the Attorney General for review before issuing your commission.
5. Get your commission certificate. You may notarize only after the certificate is issued; processing runs about two weeks plus the Attorney General's review.

Do you still need a bond to become a South Dakota notary?

No, South Dakota dropped the surety bond requirement effective July 1, 2025, so the $5,000 bond and personal-surety form many guides still describe are no longer part of the application. This change makes the state noticeably cheaper to enter, since the bond and its premium were the largest cost. You are still personally responsible for performing notarial acts correctly, so optional errors and omissions insurance remains worth considering, but the state no longer requires any bond or surety to be commissioned.

Is there an exam to become a South Dakota notary?

No, South Dakota does not require a notary exam or a training course, despite some sites that claim otherwise. You complete the application, sign the oath of office on it, and provide a seal imprint, with no test to pass. Reading the state's notary materials beforehand is still sensible, since you are liable for mistakes, but there is no education or examination step between applying and being commissioned once the Attorney General approves you.

What are the requirements to become a South Dakota notary?

The South Dakota requirements are short and now bond-free. You must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and either a South Dakota resident or someone who lives in a bordering county and maintains a physical place of work or business in the state, with no felony convictions or other disqualification under SDCL Title 18. You must buy your seal before applying, since its imprint goes on the form, and the seal must show your name, "Notary Public," and "South Dakota," with the expiration date kept outside the seal's border.

How do you renew or notarize electronically in South Dakota?

You renew with the same Application and Oath form and the $30 fee before your six-year commission expires, buying a new seal only if your name or details change. The application asks whether you will provide electronic notary services, and South Dakota authorizes electronic notarization where the signer is present. Remote online notarization, where the signer joins by audio-video, has been treated differently, so confirm the current remote status with the Secretary of State before relying on it.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: South Dakota Secretary of State, Notary Public program and the Notary Application instructions; SDCL Title 18 and the July 1, 2025 bond change. Confirm current fees and steps with the South Dakota Secretary of State before applying.