How to Become a Notary in South Dakota
Learn about South Dakota notary requirements, commission process, fees, and more. Prepare with AI-powered supplementary training, adaptive quizzes, and a 24/7 AI tutor scoped to South Dakota law.
South Dakota does not mandate a pre-commission education course for traditional notaries; however, applicants must pass an exam administered by the Secretary of State's office. Remote online notarization (RON) notaries must complete additional technology-vendor training. Notary Mentor is a supplementary study resource only and does not fulfill any state-mandated examination or training requirement.
South Dakota Notary Requirements at a Glance
Key facts about notary commissions in South Dakota.
Remote Online Notarization
Journal Requirements
South Dakota law under SDCL § 18-1-11.1 requires notaries to maintain a journal of notarial acts. Each journal entry must include the date and time of the notarial act, the type of act performed, the ...
Fees & Seals
South Dakota sets maximum notarial fees under SDCL § 18-1-9. The maximum fee for an acknowledgment or jurat is $10.00 per signature. For administering an oath or affirmation the fee is $10.00. Protest...
Key Topics Covered for South Dakota
Master these essential areas of South Dakota notary law with our AI-powered training platform.
Acknowledgments
Under SDCL § 18-1-11 and the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) adopted in South Dakota, an acknowledgment requires the signer to appear before the notary, be identified...
Journals & Records
South Dakota law under SDCL § 18-1-11.1 requires notaries to maintain a journal of notarial acts. Each journal entry must include the date and time of the notarial act, the type of...
Identity Verification
South Dakota follows RULONA standards for identity verification under SDCL § 18-1-1.1. A notary may verify the identity of a signer through personal knowledge, presentation of a cu...
RON Specifics
South Dakota enacted RON provisions under SDCL § 18-1-11.2 et seq., permitting notaries to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals through real-time audio-video comm...
Prohibited Acts
Under SDCL § 18-1-12, a South Dakota notary is prohibited from performing a notarial act if the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction (other than ...
Fees & Seals
South Dakota sets maximum notarial fees under SDCL § 18-1-9. The maximum fee for an acknowledgment or jurat is $10.00 per signature. For administering an oath or affirmation the fe...
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in South Dakota
Mistakes that South Dakota notaries frequently make — and how to avoid them.
Failing to maintain a notarial journal or omitting required entry details such as the type of identification used.
Performing a RON session without properly registering as a RON notary with the Secretary of State or using an unapproved technology platform.
Notarizing a document in which the notary has a direct financial interest beyond the notarial fee.
Omitting the statement that a notarial act was performed remotely on the electronic certificate during a RON session.
Not retaining audio-video recordings of RON sessions for the required ten-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about becoming a notary in South Dakota.
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