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200+ Free Minnesota Notary Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Minnesota Notary Exam

5 years

Minnesota notary commission term (expires January 31 of the fifth year)

Minnesota Statutes 359.02

$120

Non-refundable Secretary of State commission fee (plus ~$20 county)

Minnesota Secretary of State Notary FAQ

$0

Surety bond required for Minnesota notaries (no bond mandated)

Minnesota Secretary of State

$5

Maximum fee for each oath administered by a notary

Minnesota Statutes 357.17

Jan 1, 2019

Date remote online notarization became authorized in Minnesota

Minnesota Statutes 358.645

18

Minimum age to apply to become a Minnesota notary public

Minnesota Secretary of State Notary application

To become a Minnesota notary you must be at least 18 and a Minnesota resident (or a resident of a bordering-state county), then apply to the Secretary of State for a $120 commission and register with your county for about $20. The commission lasts five years (expiring January 31 of the fifth year), there is no required exam and no surety bond, and statutory fees are capped at $5 per oath under Minn. Stat. 357.17. Minnesota authorized remote online notarization on January 1, 2019, which requires separate registration with the Secretary of State.

Sample Minnesota Notary Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Minnesota Notary exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which Minnesota official issues and commissions notaries public?
A.The county probate judge
B.The Lieutenant Governor
C.The Minnesota Secretary of State
D.The Minnesota Attorney General
Explanation: In Minnesota, the Office of the Secretary of State issues notary public commissions under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 359. Applicants apply to the Secretary of State and then register the commission with their county.
2What is the term length of a Minnesota notary public commission?
A.Four years
B.Five years
C.Six years
D.Ten years
Explanation: Under Minnesota Statutes 359.02, a notary holds office until January 31 of the fifth year following the year the commission was issued, making the effective term roughly five years.
3A Minnesota notary commission issued in 2024 expires on what date?
A.December 31, 2028
B.January 1, 2029
C.January 31, 2028
D.January 31, 2029
Explanation: A Minnesota commission holds office until January 31 of the fifth year following the year of issuance. For a 2024 issuance, that fifth year is 2029, so the commission expires January 31, 2029.
4What is the minimum age to become a Minnesota notary public?
A.16 years old
B.18 years old
C.21 years old
D.No minimum age
Explanation: Minnesota requires a notary applicant to be at least 18 years of age, as stated in the Secretary of State application requirements.
5Does Minnesota require a notary applicant to pass a written state notary examination?
A.Yes, a proctored 45-question exam
B.No, Minnesota does not require a notary exam
C.Yes, an open-book online exam
D.Only for remote online notaries
Explanation: Minnesota does NOT require a written or proctored notary examination. An applicant completes the Secretary of State application, pays the fee, and registers with the county; no statewide test is mandated.
6Besides Minnesota residents, who else may apply to be a Minnesota notary public?
A.Any U.S. citizen regardless of residence
B.Residents of any of the 50 states
C.Residents of a county in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin
D.Only residents of counties that border Canada
Explanation: Minnesota allows residents of a county in a bordering state (Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin) to apply, provided they designate a Minnesota county for filing and name the Secretary of State as agent for service of process.
7A non-resident notary applicant from a bordering state must designate whom as agent for service of process?
A.The county recorder
B.The Secretary of State
C.The Attorney General
D.A Minnesota-licensed attorney
Explanation: Non-resident notary applicants must designate the Minnesota Secretary of State as their agent for service of process, ensuring legal process can be served within Minnesota.
8Does Minnesota require a notary public to purchase a surety bond?
A.Yes, a $5,000 bond
B.Yes, a $15,000 bond
C.No, Minnesota does not require a surety bond
D.Yes, a $25,000 bond
Explanation: Minnesota does NOT require notaries to obtain a surety bond. Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is optional and protects the notary, but no bond is mandated by statute.
9Is errors and omissions (E&O) insurance required for Minnesota notaries?
A.Yes, a minimum $25,000 policy is required
B.Yes, but only for remote online notaries
C.Yes, the Secretary of State purchases it for all notaries
D.No, E&O insurance is optional and protects the notary
Explanation: E&O insurance is entirely optional in Minnesota. It is recommended because it protects the notary against liability claims, but it is not mandated and does not protect the public the way a bond would.
10What is the non-refundable fee paid to the Minnesota Secretary of State for a notary commission?
A.$40
B.$60
C.$120
D.$20
Explanation: The Minnesota Secretary of State charges a $120 non-refundable fee for a new notary commission or renewal, payable to the Office of the Secretary of State.

About the Minnesota Notary Exam

Minnesota notaries public are commissioned by the Secretary of State and serve a five-year term that runs until January 31 of the fifth year following issuance. Minnesota does not require a written notary exam or a surety bond, but a prospective notary must understand notarial acts, identification, the official stamp, fees, and remote online notarization. This practice test covers Minnesota notary law from Statutes Chapters 357, 358, and 359.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

No state exam; self-paced practice

Passing Score

No state passing score (Minnesota requires no notary exam)

Exam Fee

$120 non-refundable Secretary of State commission fee, plus ~$20 county registration fee (Minnesota Secretary of State)

Minnesota Notary Exam Content Outline

22%

Qualifications & Commissioning

Age and residency eligibility, bordering-state applicants, the Secretary of State application, county registration, the five-year term, renewal windows, and resignation.

24%

Notarial Acts & Identification

Acknowledgments, jurats (verifications on oath or affirmation), oaths, copy certification, personal appearance, and satisfactory evidence of identity under Minn. Stat. 359.085.

18%

Seal, Stamp & Certificates

Required stamp elements and size limits under Statute 359.03, venue, name matching, and short-form certificates under 358.66.

14%

Fees, Bond & Liability

Statutory maximum fees under 357.17 (such as $5 per oath), the no-bond rule, optional E&O insurance, and recommended journal recordkeeping.

12%

Remote & Electronic Notarization

RON registration with the Secretary of State, live audiovisual communication, identity proofing, and the electronic notarial stamp.

10%

Prohibited Acts & Discipline

Unauthorized practice of law, spousal and financial conflicts, grounds for revocation, and enforcement by the commissioner of commerce.

How to Pass the Minnesota Notary Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No state passing score (Minnesota requires no notary exam)
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: No state exam; self-paced practice
  • Exam fee: $120 non-refundable Secretary of State commission fee, plus ~$20 county registration fee

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 200 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Minnesota Notary Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the five-year term rule: the commission expires January 31 of the fifth year after issuance, not exactly five calendar years from your start date.
2Know that Minnesota has no required exam and no surety bond, two facts that surprise people who studied other states like California.
3Master the difference between an acknowledgment (signer confirms they signed) and a jurat or verification on oath (signer swears the contents are true and signs in your presence).
4Learn the three forms of satisfactory evidence of identity under Statute 359.085: personal knowledge, a credible witness personally known to you, or identification documents.
5Remember the official stamp elements and size limit (3/4 inch by 2-1/2 inches, rectangular, serrated border) under Statute 359.03, and that failing to affix the stamp means the document is not properly notarized.
6Understand RON basics: it began January 1, 2019, requires separate registration with the Secretary of State, and uses live audiovisual technology rather than eliminating the appearance requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a Minnesota notary commission?

A Minnesota notary commission lasts about five years. Under Minnesota Statutes 359.02, the notary holds office until January 31 of the fifth year following the year the commission was issued, and may apply to renew within six months before expiration.

Does Minnesota require a notary exam?

No. Minnesota does not require a written or proctored notary examination. You apply to the Secretary of State, pay the $120 fee, and register your commission with your county. This practice test helps you learn the underlying notary law.

Does a Minnesota notary need a surety bond?

No. Minnesota does not require notaries to obtain a surety bond. Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is optional and protects the notary against liability, but it is not mandated by statute.

How much can a Minnesota notary charge per notarial act?

Minnesota Statutes 357.17 sets maximum fees, including $5 for each oath administered and $5 per folio for affidavits or papers not otherwise provided for. These are caps, so a notary may charge less or nothing at all.

What does it cost to become a Minnesota notary?

The Secretary of State charges a $120 non-refundable commission fee, and the county collects about $20 to register the commission and signature, for roughly $140 total. No bond is required, though an official stamp must be purchased.

Can Minnesota notaries perform remote online notarizations?

Yes. Minnesota authorized remote online notarization (RON) effective January 1, 2019 under Minnesota Statutes 358.645. A notary must first register for RON authorization with the Secretary of State and use technology with live two-way audiovisual communication and identity proofing.