Notary Application Instructions 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 a rubber 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 . i f the seal is a rubber stamp it must also DO NOT include an expiration date inside the border of the seal it must be OUTSIDE of the border. 2) Complete the Notary Application. Make a legible imprint of your seal in the box. If you have two seals, include both on the application or 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 y our mailing address is different than your residence address, enter the address, city, state, and zip. Complete the question s regarding if you have been a South Dakota Notary , your date of birth and whether you have ever been convicted of a felony. NOTE : Failure to answer any of these questions correctly or leaving them blank will cause your application to be rejected. If you reside at an address in an out - of - state county bordering South Dakota, comp lete the Employer/Business Name and South Dakota Business Address. This MUST be a South Dakota address. 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 s ign the Oath with your name EXACTLY as it appears on your seal. 4) Complete the Bond information the application. This bond would cover any unlawful acts performed with your notary commission. The bond can EITHER be a $5,000 Surety Bond issued by an insurance company OR an individual personal surety. Surety Bond o For a six - year, $5,000 surety bond, contact a local insurance company to obtain a policy. o Complete the Bond section of the application, listing your name exactly as it appears on your seal and as it is entered in the top section. o Enter the Bond Number. o Date the section. o BOTH yo u and the surety must sign. Your signature must be EXACTLY as it appears on your seal. o Do not complete the personal surety page of the application. o If you prefer the personal surety, do not complete this section. o Personal Surety o A personal Surety can be a friend, relative, spouse or co - worker who 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 must be an individual and CANNOT be a company, business or organi zation. o Complete the Personal Surety Form by entering your name and your county of residence. o Enter y and full address. o You (the notary) and your Personal Surety must BOTH sign and date the form in front of a Notary Public who is NEITHER you nor your personal surety . o The Notary must notarize BOTH signature s and include the proper information in BOTH sections . o A personal surety CANNOT have their name removed. 5) Enclose the $30 filing fee and s end completed application to the listed on the form . ONLY after you have received a Notary Commi ssion 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 Notary@state.sd.us . American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com MAKE IMPRINT OF SEAL HERE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: I hereby respectfully apply (Imprint required for processing) to be commissioned as a Notary Public f o r the State of South Dakota. NAME ( print y our name EXACTLY as found on y our seal imprint) RESIDENCE ADDRESS (not business address) CI T Y S T A T E ZI P MAILING ADDRESS CI T Y S T A T E ZI P COUN T Y PHONE EMAIL (Optional) STATE O F S O UTH DAK O TA OATH (MUST be completed and signed) COUNTY OF I, (enter y our name EXACTLY as found on y our seal imprint) , being first duly s w orn, depose and state that the ans w e rs to the questions on this application are true and complete to the best of my k no w ledge and that I am of legal age and meet the state residency requirements of SDCL 18 - 1 - 1. I do solem n ly s w ear that I w ill support the Constitut i on of the Un ited States and the Constitution of the State of South Dakota and that I w ill fai t hfully and impartially perform the duties of a NO T ARY PUBLIC w ithin and for the State of South Dakota according to the law and to the best of my abilit y , so help me God. Dated this day of , 20 ( Applicant Signature - sign name EXACTLY as found on y our seal imprint ) State of South Dakota Notary Public Application, Oath & Bond Filing Fee: $30.00 (Must be included to file) (Entire section must be complete d for a Bond) BOND Bond No. ( If a Personal Surety is being used, omit the follo w ing and complete the Personal Surety form on the backside) We , as principal, and (name of notary applicant EXACTLY as found on your seal ) (name of surety compan y ) are bound to the State of South Dakota in t he penal sum of $5000.00 for pa y ment of w h i c h w e bind ourselves, our successors, or representatives, executors, and administrators jointly and severally hereb y . T his obligation is conditioned upon appointment a nd commission as a Notary Public of the above - named Principal by the Secretary of State and covers the official term of six (6) ye ars from the date of appointment. If the Principal pe r forms w e ll and faithfully all of the duties of the office of Notary Public accor d ing to the la w s of South Dakota, then the above obliga t ion is to be null and void, other w ise, it is to remain in effect. Dated this day of ( Applicant Signature EXACTLY as found on y our seal imprint ) ( Both Signatures Required ) S u bmit to: Secretary of State, 500 East Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501 Type or print ne atly - please read instructions and complete all sections. Approved by the South Dakota Att o rney General FOR INTERNAL OFFICE USE ONLY Receipt No : Commission Date: File Date : Notary ID: Complete the follo w ing if y ou reside in an out - of - state county bordering South Dakota: Emplo y er/Business Name South Dakota Bus i ness Address: Street City State Z i p SOS Form 20181008 Have you ever been a SD Notary Public? Yes No If yes, when did/does your commission expire? What name(s) was your commission under? Date of Birth Have you ever been convicted of a felony? American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Personal Surety Form Know all by these presents: That we, (Notary name EXACTLY as it appears on your seal imprint ) , o f the County of and the State of South Dakota, as principal, and (Personal name must be an individual, not a business ) , County of , (Address , City, Zip ) , State of South Dakota, as surety, are individually held firmly bound unto the State of South Dakota in the penal sum of five thousand dollars, for the payment of which we hereby jointly and severally bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators and successors. Further, each of us deposes and says individually that we are worth $5000, the amount of the bond, over and above our debts and liabilities, in unencumbered property, exclusive of property exempt from execution and forced sale under the laws of this state. The conditions of this obligation are such that, if the above principal, (Notary name EXACTLY as it appears on your seal imprint) , who has or will be appointed Notary Public in the State of South Dakota, shall faithfully execute the duties of the office according to law, then this obligation shall be null and void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect. Dated this day of , 20 Signature ( EXACTLY as it appears on the seal imprint) Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of , 20 (SEAL) Notary Public My commission expires: Dated this day of , 20 Personal Signature Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of , 20 (SEAL) Notary Public My commission expires: PLE