SD notary public bonds.
$50 flat.

South Dakota requires every notary to file a $5,000 surety bond before being commissioned, under SDCL 18-1-2. This bond is priced by our carrier’s rate book at a flat $50 — the price you see is the checkout price. The bond issues the moment you pay — no credit review of any kind, not even a soft pull.

Required before your SD notary commission is issued — new applicants and renewals
Fixed amount, $50 flat — the $5,000 statutory bond, one price, issued instantly
No credit section in the application — small fixed-amount license bonds like this typically don’t need one
A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantunderwriting process$50flat, one price
Trusted by industry leaders
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
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Triple Five
Georgetown
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

Notary bonds are the simplest thing in surety. Here’s the entire process:

NOW · ONLINE

Apply online

Your name, address, and an effective date. That’s the application — no financials and no credit section.

MINUTES, USUALLY

Pay & e-sign

Notary bonds are among the thousands of bond types that issue right after purchase. At most, 1–2 business days.

SAME DAY

File with your commission

In South Dakota the executed bond and oath are filed with the Secretary of State as part of your notary application. We deliver the signed bond and power of attorney by email, with a wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the notary bond actually guarantees

A notary bond is a public-protection guarantee. South Dakota wants a financial backstop so that if a notary performs an incorrect, negligent, or fraudulent notarial act, anyone harmed has a way to recover.

It’s a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier, and the public (the protected parties), with the State as obligee. If a valid claim is paid, the surety covers it up to $5,000 — then you reimburse the surety. The bond is not errors-and-omissions coverage for you; this is the bond-only version without E&O.

The bond is filed before you’re commissioned and must be in place to act as a notary. South Dakota commissions run six years, so many notaries pair a multi-year bond term with their commission and renew as needed.

SDCL 18-1-2South Dakota Codified Law 18-1-2 conditions a notary public commission on a $5,000 bond — a corporate surety bond or an approved individual surety — filed before the commission is issued, for a six-year commission term. The bond and oath are filed with the Secretary of State. This page is for the bond without E&O coverage; E&O is separate, optional protection for the notary.

You need this bond if you’re

Applying for a new SD notary commission — the bond is filed before you’re commissioned
Renewing your commission at the end of a six-year term
A business adding a notary on staff who needs to be commissioned
Replacing a lapsed bond to keep your commission valid

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual issuing fields — no credit section, because this bond doesn’t have one.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the South Dakota notary bond?It’s $50 flat — set by our carrier’s rate book for this bond. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay, for every notary.
Do I pay the $5,000?No. You pay $50. The $5,000 is the surety’s maximum liability if a valid claim is made against the bond — it’s not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.
Is this bond the same as E&O insurance?No. This is the bond without E&O coverage. The bond protects the public; errors-and-omissions insurance protects you, the notary, from your own mistakes. Many notaries carry both, but they’re separate and the E&O is optional.
Is there a credit check?The application collects no credit information — there’s no credit section at all. Most notary applications approve instantly; on the rare bond where a check runs, it’s a soft pull that won’t touch your score.
How long is my commission good for?South Dakota notary commissions run six years (SDCL 18-1-2). You can buy a 1, 2, or 3-year bond term and renew; we send renewal notices 60 and 30 days out so nothing lapses on a missed email.
Related bonds

Other South Dakota bonds.

Finish your notary checklist today.

$50 flat, no credit review, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.

Your price$50
Apply now →