How to Become a Notary in North Dakota (2026 Guide)
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North Dakota requires a $7,500 surety bond and a $36 application fee, but no exam and no training. The commission runs four years, the maximum fee is $5 per notarial act, and the whole process, bond, application, stamp purchase, and a stamp-impression verification, closes in a few weeks. Expect to spend about $110 to $160 all in.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify as a North Dakota notary, you must meet all of the following before applying:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a United States citizen or permanent legal resident.
- Be a resident of North Dakota, have a place of employment or practice in North Dakota, or reside in a county that borders North Dakota in a state that extends reciprocity to a notary public living in a border county of North Dakota.
- Be able to read and write in the English language.
Application Process
- Obtain a $7,500 notary bond from a surety licensed in North Dakota.
- Submit the application, the $36 fee, and the bond to the Secretary of State.
- Buy your stamp using the Certificate of Authorization to Purchase a Notary Stamping Device form sent on approval.
- Send a stamp impression to the Secretary of State before the date listed on the verification form.
- Start notarizing on the commencement date listed on the commission certificate that follows.
The Bond, and What It Does Not Cover
The $7,500 surety bond is mandatory and protects the public, not you. Errors and omissions insurance is the optional counterpart that covers your own defense when an unintentional error leads to a claim, and most working notaries carry it precisely because the bond offers them nothing.
Stamp and Journal
An official stamping device is required for every notarial act, with the seal impression placed near the notarial certificate. A journal is not required, but keeping one of every notarization is strongly recommended and is your best evidence if an act is ever questioned.
Training and Exam
Neither is required. A short training course on North Dakota notary law is still worth an evening, since the state’s rules on venue, identification, and the stamp-verification deadlines are where new notaries trip.
Costs to Get Commissioned
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $36 |
| $7,500 surety bond premium | ~$50 |
| Notary stamp (required) | $15-$25 |
| Notary journal (recommended) | $10-$50 |
| Total | ~$111-$161 |
How Much You Can Charge
North Dakota notaries may charge up to $5 per notarial act. If both parties agree in advance, you may also charge a travel fee on top of the notarization fee, and electronic acts carry a separately agreed technology fee.
Notarizing for Family Members
North Dakota does not explicitly prohibit notarizing for family members, but its guidance is plain about the bars that do exist: you cannot notarize when your name or your spouse’s appears on the document as a party, when either of you holds a direct beneficial interest, or when the signature is your own or your spouse’s. The state’s own advice on family work generally is that although it is not prohibited by law, declining close-family notarizations is the safer habit.
Penalties for Misconduct
Notarizing without authority is a misdemeanor and fraud or forgery tied to a notarial act brings felony charges. The Secretary of State can revoke a commission, and the $7,500 bond stands behind the public with you liable to repay anything the surety pays out. Employers who pressure a notary into misconduct can share that exposure.
Your Commission Belongs to You
A North Dakota commission is personal: if you change jobs, your stamp and commission go with you, and no employer controls them.
Becoming a Signing Agent
Yes, a North Dakota notary can add signing agent work. The additional training and certification needed pays for itself in loan-signing fees and a client base beyond walk-in notarization. Our guide to becoming a signing agent lays out the certification options.
How North Dakota Compares to Neighboring States
| Requirement | North Dakota | Minnesota | Montana | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond | $7,500 | None | $25,000 | None |
| Exam | No | No | Yes (80%) | No |
| Training | No | No | 4 hours | No |
| Term | 4 years | 5 years | 4 years | 6 years |
| RON | Yes | Yes (since 2018) | Yes | Yes |
North Dakota requires a $7,500 bond but no exam or training. Montana is the strictest neighbor ($25,000 bond, four-hour course, exam). Minnesota and South Dakota require no bond, and Minnesota has allowed remote online notarization since 2018, so treat any older source calling it pending as out of date. South Dakota offers the longest term at 6 years. Guides: Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a notary exam in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota requires no exam and no training course.
Do I need a surety bond in North Dakota?
Yes, a $7,500 surety bond filed with the Secretary of State before your commission issues.
How long does a North Dakota notary commission last?
4 years, beginning on the commencement date printed on your commission certificate.
Is a notary stamp required in North Dakota?
Yes. You buy the stamping device only after receiving your Certificate of Authorization, then send an impression of the stamp to the Secretary of State before the verification deadline.
Can North Dakota notaries perform remote online notarizations?
Yes. North Dakota permits RON for commissioned notaries, with an additional registration.
How much can a North Dakota notary charge?
$5 per notarial act at most, plus a technology fee for electronic acts and travel fees, each agreed in advance.
Can a North Dakota notary notarize for a spouse?
Not when you or your spouse is a party to the document or has a direct beneficial interest in it, which North Dakota guidance treats as disqualifying. Outside that bar, the state recommends simply declining family work when in doubt.
Updated October 2026. Requirements based on the North Dakota Secretary of State and N.D.C.C. Title 44.
