How to become a notary public in North Dakota

North Dakota notary public licenses

North Dakota issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every North Dakota notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Exam

Not required¹³

How to apply

Apply online

firststop.sos.nd.gov²³

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years²¹

Renewal fee

$36¹⁵

Who needs a Notary Public license

Performs acknowledgments, verifications on oath or affirmation, signature witnessing and copy certifications anywhere in North Dakota (and in a state that extends reciprocity to North Dakota notaries). Personal appearance is required unless the notary performs a remote notarization under N.D.C.C. 44-06.1-13.1. A notary who is not an attorney may not give legal advice.⁴

Other rules on who may do this work:

• A notary may not notarize their own signature or a spouse's, or a document on which the notary or spouse is a party or has a direct beneficial interest.¹

Requirements for a Notary Public license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

No education or training course is required.¹

Background check

No background check stated as required¹
No fingerprints required¹
The SOS may deny, refuse to renew, revoke or suspend a commission for a conviction of any felony or of a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit.¹

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; and a North Dakota resident, or employed/practicing in North Dakota, or living in a border county of a neighbouring state that extends reciprocity to North Dakota border-county notaries.²

Surety bond

$7,500²

Insurance

Errors and omissions insurance is optional, not required by state law.²

Also required

Must be able to read and write English.²

Also required

Must sign an oath of office before a notary public and submit it with the application.²

Also required

Must buy an official stamping device only after the SOS issues a Certificate of Authorization, and return an impression of it for approval before the commission is issued.²

How much a Notary Public license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

What a notary public may charge the public:

• Maximum fee a notary may charge: $5 per notarial act (separately agreed travel and technology fees allowed).¹

How to apply

1. Check you qualify: 18 or older, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, able to read and write English, and a North Dakota resident or worker (or a resident of a qualifying border county).²
2. Buy a $7,500 notary bond (form SFN 19355) from an insurance company and sign the oath of office in front of a notary public.²
3. Submit the Notary Public Application in the FirstStop Portal with the bond, oath and $36 fee.² firststop.sos.nd.gov²
4. When approved, the SOS sends a Certificate of Authorization. Take it to any stamp vendor to have your stamping device made.²
5. Return an impression of the stamp on the Verification of Notary Public Stamping Device form by the date shown.²
6. The SOS approves the stamp and issues your commission certificate. You may notarize from the commencement date on it.²

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Commission runs 4 years from 12:00 a.m. on the commencement date to midnight on the expiration date. Renewal may be filed up to 60 days before expiry by reapplying as for an original commission (new bond, oath and stamp); the SOS sends notice at least 30 days before expiry.²

If it expires

There is no grace period: notarizing after the commission expires is an infraction. An expired notary must reapply.¹
A revoked notary may be refused a new commission for up to 4 years.¹
A notary may notarize only while a valid bond is on file with the SOS.¹

Renew online

firststop.sos.nd.gov⁵

Moving to North Dakota with a license from another state

These are the routes SOS publishes for the Notary Public license. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Electronic and remote notarization authorization

In-person electronic notarization (IPEN) of electronic records, and remote notarization by two-way audio-video for a remotely located signer: Remote Ink Notarization (acknowledgments only, paper) and Remote Online Notarization (electronic records). The notary must be located in North Dakota, record the session and keep a journal and the recordings for 10 years.³

Requirements

Education or training

No technology course is required.³

Experience

Must hold an active North Dakota notary commission.⁵
License you must hold first: North Dakota notary public commission⁵

Background check

No background check stated as required³

Also required

The communication technology must comply with N.D.C.C. ch. 44-06.1; the SOS lists example providers but endorses none.³

Also required

Audiovisual recordings and the journal of remote acts must be kept 10 years.³

How to apply

1. Hold an active North Dakota notary commission.⁵
2. Choose an electronic or remote notarization provider whose technology meets N.D.C.C. ch. 44-06.1 (including 10-year recording retention).³
3. Before your first electronic or remote act, file a Notary Public Amendment in the FirstStop Portal stating which type you will perform and naming the provider.³ firststop.sos.nd.gov³

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary PublicNo local license. The North Dakota Secretary of State commissions all notaries through the FirstStop Portal.²

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in North Dakota, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in North Dakota is on the North Dakota license lookup page.

Look up a license

firststop.sos.nd.gov⁶

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• N.D.C.C. ch. 44-06.1 (Notaries Public)

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
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• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming