How to Become a Notary in South Dakota?
These steps will enable you to provide remote online notarization services for ink-signed paper documents in South Dakota, following the regulations implemented on July 1, 2019:
- Have a current commission as a traditional Notary Public in South Dakota.
- Establish an account with a videoconferencing software of your choice.
- Equip yourself with the necessary remote notarization tools, which include a computer, printer, or fax machine, and a secure internet connection.
Once you’re authorized to perform RON in South Dakota and approved with your platform, you can start performing Remote Online Notarizations.
Be sure to stay current with all your state’s local Online Notary laws!
How to Become a Traditional Notary in South Dakota (Get your Notary Commission)
These steps will guide you through the process of becoming a Notary in South Dakota:
- Ensure you meet all the eligibility requirements for becoming a Notary in South Dakota.
- Purchase a Notary seal and apply an imprint of the seal on the Notary Public Application.
- Obtain a $5,000 surety bond.
- Complete the application form and submit it along with the $30 commission fee to the Secretary of State.
- Consider obtaining a journal (recommended but optional).
- Explore the option of acquiring Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance for added protection (recommended but optional).
- Consider enrolling in Notary education courses to gain valuable guidance and knowledge (recommended but optional).
Once you have completed all these steps and obtained your commission you are ready to start performing notarial acts as a commissioned notary in South Dakota.
How to Become a Notary in South Dakota- The Requirements
To qualify as a Notary Public in South Dakota, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a permanent resident of South Dakota or a county adjacent to South Dakota while actively working within the state.
- Have no felony convictions.
For further details, consult the South Dakota Notary Handbook or the South Dakota SoS Website.
Are Online Notaries Legal in South Dakota?
As per House Bill 1272, South Dakota allows online notarization. This streamlined notarization process is accessible to applicants, including legal professionals, for efficient document authentication.
Effective July 1, 2024, e-notarization will be allowed in the state of South Dakota. Please see SB211 for further information.
Notary Seal Requirements
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- The seal should include the notary public’s name, the words “Notary Public”, “South Dakota”, the word “Seal” (if it’s a rubber stamp), and potentially the expiration date outside the seal’s border.
FAQ’s: How to Become a Notary in South Dakota
Q1. What are the Requirements for Becoming a Remote Notary in South Dakota?
Before performing remote notarizations, you must first hold a traditional Notary Public commission in South Dakota.
To qualify for a traditional commission, applicants must have no felony convictions and be either permanent residents of South Dakota or reside in a county bordering South Dakota while working within the state.
Q2. Are there any training and examination requirements for online notaries?
No, South Dakota does not require training or an exam to become a remote Notary.
Q3. What are the tools and technology for online notarizations in South Dakota?
To perform remote notarizations, you’ll need a computer, webcam, microphone, and a secure internet connection.
Your computer should support live two-way audio-visual transmission for real-time interaction with signers.
You can use our free online signature generator.
You’ll also need videoconferencing software like GoToMeeting or Skype.
Additionally, you’ll require a rubber stamp or physical seal approved by the Secretary of State, which must include the word “seal” and your commission expiration date.
Access to a printer or fax machine and email is necessary for handling paper documents if sent electronically.
Q4. Is an Additional Surety Bond Required?
No, you do not need an additional surety bond for remote notarizations.
You should maintain your $5,000 surety bond for your traditional commission during your term.
Q5. Is E&O insurance in South Dakota mandatory?
No, E&O insurance is not mandatory in South Dakota.
However, it is strongly recommended to protect yourself in case of errors or mistakes during notarization.
What to Expect as a Notary?
As in other professions, the amount of work an online notary receives can vary widely.
Generally, the busiest time is tax season, when documents such as tax returns need to be signed and notarized.
However, there is also a steady demand throughout the year from businesses and individuals in need of authentication services. There are many businesses that need consistent notarizations.
Did we mention there are over 1.25 billion notarizations performed annually?
It is important to remember that when working as an online notary, you are responsible for adhering to the regulations set forth by the state.
This includes making sure documents are properly notarized and witnessed.
Always ensure documents contain all of the necessary information.
The most successful online notaries spend some time doing their own client acquisition and sales funneling, especially those who are doing it online.
How Much Can You Expect To Make as a Notary in South Dakota?
As you gain more experience and have notarized more documents, you will be able to earn even more by taking on loan signings (where the industry standard is $150 per session) and other creative packages and invoicing clients outside of BlueNotary.
You will be able to earn a very decent income – all from the comfort of your home office.
BlueNotary lets you bill your clients at your rates. This makes your earnings very flexible depending on your ability to build a network.
Why Should You Think about Becoming An Online Notary In South Dakota?
Becoming an Online Notary in South Dakota is a simple way to offer convenient and secure services to clients from wherever you are.
Online Notaries offer faster booking and easier document completion turnaround times!
Save clients and yourself time by working from home. What are you waiting for?
How do I Start Notarizing Online in South Dakota?
A great place to start is the BlueNotary Free Training Group. There you will find advice from other South Dakota notaries who’ve been through the process and can answer your questions.
Becoming an online notary can be a great way to supplement your income and make a positive impact on the community.
As an online notary, you get to decide which platform to use for finding clients.
BlueNotary is the best option for super simple onboarding and for an independent notary looking to grow their own business.
We even have training videos and a signing simulator to get you comfortable with the process.
Register and get started here: Sign Up.
