PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

200+ Free South Dakota Notary Practice Questions

South Dakota Notary Public Commission practice questions are available now; exam metadata is being verified.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
200+ Questions
100% Free

Loading questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Notary Public

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards39 videos42 blogs

California Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards4 videos8 blogs

New York Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards3 videos7 blogs

Texas Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards3 videos5 blogs

Pennsylvania Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards2 videos4 blogs

North Carolina Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideFlashcards2 videos4 blogs

More From This Family

Videos and articles for deeper review.

VideoAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year TermVideoAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year TermVideoAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year TermVideoAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year TermArticleAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year Term8 min readArticleArkansas Notary 2026: No Exam, $20 Fee, 10-Year Term8 min readArticleConnecticut Notary Bond Requirements (2026): Cost, Filing, and Renewal8 min readArticleFlorida Notary 2026: No Exam, $7.5K Bond, 5 Steps11 min read
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: South Dakota Notary Exam

6 years

Length of a South Dakota notary commission term

SD Notary Public Handbook (Secretary of State); SDCL 18-1

$0 bond

No surety bond required as of July 1, 2025

2025 South Dakota Legislative Session

$30

Filing fee for the Notary Application and Oath

SD Secretary of State Notary Public Handbook

$10

Maximum fee per instrument notarized

SDCL 18-1-9

No exam

South Dakota does not require a state notary exam

SD Secretary of State notary application process

10 years

Required retention of remote online notarization audio-visual recordings

SDCL 18-1-11.3

A South Dakota notary public is commissioned by the Secretary of State for a six-year term. As of July 1, 2025 no surety bond is required, and the application filing fee is $30. Notaries may charge up to $10 per instrument under SDCL 18-1-9 (no fee for absentee ballot requests), and South Dakota does not require a state exam. Remote notarization of tangible documents has been allowed since 2019, and remote online notarization of electronic records was authorized by SB 211 in 2024.

Sample South Dakota Notary Practice Questions

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

1Which state official commissions notaries public in South Dakota?
A.The county probate judge
B.The Lieutenant Governor
C.The South Dakota Secretary of State
D.The clerk of the circuit court
Explanation: Under SDCL 18-1-1, a notary public is a public official commissioned by the South Dakota Secretary of State. The Secretary of State appoints notaries, issues commissions, and maintains the records of all notaries in the state.
2How long is a South Dakota notary public commission valid?
A.Four years
B.Six years
C.Five years
D.Ten years
Explanation: A South Dakota notary commission is valid for exactly six years from the date the Secretary of State makes the appointment and issues the commission. The commission expires at midnight on the day of expiration.
3What is the minimum age to become a notary public in South Dakota?
A.16 years old
B.25 years old
C.21 years old
D.18 years old
Explanation: Under SDCL 18-1-1, an applicant for a South Dakota notary commission must be at least eighteen years old. The application and oath require the applicant to affirm they are of legal age.
4Which residency condition satisfies South Dakota notary eligibility?
A.Being a permanent South Dakota resident, or a resident of a bordering county who maintains a place of work or business in South Dakota
B.Being a U.S. citizen residing anywhere in the United States
C.Owning property anywhere in South Dakota
D.Having lived in South Dakota for at least ten years
Explanation: SDCL 18-1-1 allows a permanent South Dakota resident, or a resident of a county bordering South Dakota who maintains a place of work or business in the state, to be commissioned. This accommodates cross-border workers from neighboring states.
5Does South Dakota require applicants to pass a written notary examination before being commissioned?
A.No, South Dakota does not require a state notary exam
B.Yes, but only for electronic notaries
C.Yes, a proctored 50-question exam with a 70% passing score
D.Yes, an open-book exam mailed with the application
Explanation: South Dakota does not mandate a statewide written notary examination. An applicant becomes a notary by submitting the Application and Oath with the filing fee and receiving the commission certificate; no test or training course is required by statute.
6As of the 2025 legislative change, what is South Dakota's surety bond requirement for new notary applicants?
A.A $5,000 surety bond is required
B.A $10,000 surety bond is required
C.A $25,000 surety bond is required
D.No surety bond is required
Explanation: A law passed during the 2025 Legislative Session removed the surety bond requirement effective July 1, 2025. Applicants now simply complete the Notary Application and Oath; the previously required $5,000 bond is no longer needed.
7What is the filing fee to process a South Dakota Notary Public Application and Oath?
A.$10
B.$50
C.$30
D.$100
Explanation: The filing fee for processing a South Dakota Notary Public Application and Oath is $30. The same application and fee apply to both new and renewal commissions.
8Under SDCL 18-1-9, what is the maximum fee a South Dakota notary may charge for each instrument notarized?
A.$5
B.$10
C.$15
D.There is no statutory maximum
Explanation: There is no longer a statutory maximum fee. South Dakota House Bill 1192 (2025 Legislative Session), effective July 1, 2025, removed the former $10-per-instrument cap. The current SDCL 18-1-9 (as amended by SL 2025, ch. 91) reads only that 'a notary public may charge and receive a fee for each instrument notarized, except that no notary public may charge a fee for notarizing a request for an absentee ballot' — it sets no dollar limit.
9For which document may a South Dakota notary NOT charge a fee?
A.A real estate deed
B.An affidavit
C.A power of attorney
D.A request for an absentee ballot
Explanation: Although a notary may charge up to $10 per instrument, SDCL 18-1-9 prohibits charging any fee for notarizing a request for an absentee ballot. This exception protects access to voting.
10Does South Dakota law require a notary public to keep a journal or register of notarial acts?
A.Yes, a bound sequential journal is mandatory for every act
B.No, a journal is not required, though it is recommended as a best practice
C.Yes, but only for real estate documents
D.Yes, an electronic journal must be filed with the Secretary of State
Explanation: South Dakota law no longer requires a notary to keep a register or journal of notarial acts. The Secretary of State recommends keeping one as a best practice, because it helps verify acts and provides a record if the notary must testify later.

About the South Dakota Notary Practice Questions

Verified exam format metadata for South Dakota Notary Public Commission is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.