Maintain Notary Commission

Step 1: Submit Renewal, Bond, and Fee

Renewal - Complete the Notary Public Renewal form in the FirstStop Portal If you do not have access to your notary record, contact the Secretary of State’s office.

Notary Bond - Obtain a Notary Bond (SFN 19355) from a surety company of your choice. The notary bond must be in the amount of $7,500 and must cover notarial acts performed during the term of your notary public commission.

Fee - $36

Submit the original renewal form, bond, and fee to:

North Dakota Office of the Secretary of State  
600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 108 
Bismarck, ND 58505-0500

Step 2: Obtain New Stamping Device

The Office of the Secretary of State will provide you with a Certificate of Authorization to Purchase Notary Stamping Device form once your renewal is approved. This form allows you to obtain a stamping device from a vendor of your choice (see Notary Public Stamp Requirements). The stamping device will be used when performing notarial acts.

Step 3: Return an Impression of the Stamp

After you receive your stamping device, return an impression of the notary stamping device on the Verification of Notary Public Stamping Device form.  It must be received by the Secretary of State on or before the date indicated on the Verification form.

Step 4: Receive Your New Commission Certificate

The Secretary of State will issue a new commission certificate after review and approval of the notary stamping device. 

You may begin performing notarial acts with the new stamping device only on or after the commencement date listed on your new commission certificate.  You may continue to perform notarial acts with the "old" stamping device until the expiration date of that commission.

Address Change

You must notify the Secretary of State within 60 days of any change of address. You may submit a Notary Public Amendment through the FirstStop Portal.

If you move to a county that borders North Dakota, you appoint the Secretary of State as the agent for service of process for all purposes relating to notarial acts, including the receipt of correspondence relating to notarial acts.

Name Change

You must notify the Secretary of State within 60 days of legally changing your name.  The notification may be provided by submitting a Notary Public Name Change through the FirstStop Portal and include a rider to your surety bond that states both your new name and previous name and the effective date of the name change.  

Once the Secretary of State receives the form, rider, and filing fee, a new certificate of authorization will be issued. You can then obtain a new stamping device from a vendor of your choice (see Notary Public Stamp Requirements).

After you receive the new stamping device, you must return an impression of the notary stamping device on the Verification of Notary Public Stamping Device form. A new commission with your new name will be issued once the notary stamping device is approved. You may then begin using the new stamping device to perform notarial acts.

After you have notified the Secretary of State of your name change, you may continue to perform notarial acts using the old stamping device until you receive your new commission. When doing so, you must modify the notary certificate as follows: 

Notary public North Dakota 
Formerly known and commissioned as

_________________________________ 
My commission expires

________________________________ 
Notary Stamp

Fee: 

• Name Change - $10

Additional or Replacement Stamp

If your notary stamp is lost, stolen, or otherwise damaged, or you want to purchase an additional notary stamp, you will need to request a new certificate of authorization through the FirstStop Portal. You will then receive a certificate of authorization to obtain a new notary stamping device from a vendor of your choice (see Notary Public Stamp Requirements).

You must return an impression of the notary stamping device on the Verification of Notary Public Stamping Device form. After approval of the notary stamping device, you will receive notification from the Secretary of State and you may begin using the new stamping device to perform notarial acts.

If your stamp was lost or stolen, it is recommended that you obtain a different type of notary stamp (example: either circular or rectangular, different color ink) so that the new one is different from the one lost or stolen. 

Commission Resignation

You may resign your notary commission by notifying the Secretary of State within 30 days of the resignation and providing an effective date of the resignation. You may file a Notary Public Resignation through the FirstStop Portal.

If you resign, you must destroy your stamping device to prohibit its further use.

Leaving Place of Employment

If you leave your place of employment, take your notary commission and stamp with you. Your notary commission and stamp are your property and as a notary, you must have direct and exclusive control of the stamping device at all times. Even if your employer pays for the commission and/or purchases the stamping device, they are not allowed to retain the commission or stamping device. 

Errors and Omissions Insurance

Errors and omissions insurance provides added protection for you as a notary from any mistake that causes a financial or other type of loss to a client for whom you notarized a document and for which you are sued for recovery. This coverage is optional and is in addition to the required surety bond. Errors and omissions insurance protects you if you are liable to the surety company for amounts paid out on the bond. 

Since the errors and omissions insurance is optional and not required by state law, documents related to the insurance do not need to be filed with the Secretary of State.