A South Dakota notary seal must show your name and the words South Dakota and notary public, and on a rubber stamp or electronic seal a border must enclose the words and the seal. A rubber stamp also carries the word Seal. No size or color is required, and an embosser is a full alternative. This page covers wording, devices, the six-year term, notices and ordering.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against SDCL § 18-1-3.1 and the South Dakota Secretary of State. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yours, on the face of the seal. | SDCL § 18-1-3.1 |
| State and office | The words South Dakota and the words notary public. | SDCL § 18-1-3.1 |
| Border | On a rubber stamp or electronic seal it runs around the words and the seal. | SDCL § 18-1-3.1 |
| The word Seal | Must appear when the device is a rubber stamp. | SDCL § 18-1-3.1 |
| Dimensions and shape | No size rule, and the outline is left open. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Ink color | No color rule in the notary act. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Embosser | Allowed as a complete substitute for a rubber stamp. | The South Dakota Secretary of State |
| Term | Six years, running out at midnight on the expiration day. | The South Dakota Secretary of State |
| Renewal | A new application on the same form with the same $30 fee, filed no more than 60 days ahead. No back dating. | The South Dakota Secretary of State |
| Lost or stolen seal | Report it right away so the office can note your record. | The South Dakota Secretary of State |
| Commission expiration date | Shown below the seal impression, outside the border, never inside it. | SDCL § 18-1-3.1; Notary Public Handbook (July 2025) |
To compare South Dakota with every other jurisdiction, see our table of notary seal requirements by state.
What must a South Dakota notary seal show?
Under SDCL § 18-1-3.1, your name and the words South Dakota and notary public. A rubber stamp or electronic seal needs a border enclosing the words and the seal, and a rubber stamp adds the word Seal.
That is a short list, and every item is fixed except your name. The border and the word Seal deserve a second look on any rubber stamp proof, because both depend on the device you choose.
Our article on South Dakota notary seal requirements covers the same elements, and our South Dakota notary public seal guidelines add practical detail.
Can an embosser replace a rubber stamp?
Yes. South Dakota accepts an embosser as a full alternative, so you can meet the seal requirement with an embossing seal instead of a rubber stamp. You do not need both.
Your name and the words South Dakota and notary public apply whichever device you pick. If you choose an embosser, check the raised impression for those items with the same care you would give an inked proof.
What does the rule say about electronic seals?
SDCL § 18-1-3.1 names the electronic seal alongside the rubber stamp in its border requirement. An electronic seal, like a rubber stamp, keeps its words and the seal within a border that runs all the way around.
The cited list does not tie the word Seal to an electronic seal; that item is stated for a rubber stamp. Beyond the border, the sources behind this page give no further electronic seal detail.
Is there a size requirement for the seal?
No. The Secretary of State states plainly that a South Dakota notary public seal carries no size requirement, so the dimensions are yours to choose. The cited rules give no measurement of any kind.
With no size to hit, fit the seal to its content. Your name is the only variable, so choose a face large enough to keep it clear alongside the fixed words and, on a rubber stamp, the word Seal inside the border.
What ink color should you use?
Your choice. The notary act does not address ink color, and the same Secretary of State statement that rules out a size requirement also rules out a color requirement for the seal.
A dark ink that stamps evenly is the practical pick, since the border and the small word Seal both need to read clearly.
What if your seal is lost or stolen?
Report it to the South Dakota Secretary of State immediately, as soon as you realize it is gone. The report lets the office make a notation on your record, so your record reflects the loss.
Replace the device before your next notarization. If you used a rubber stamp, reorder with the same name, border and word Seal; if you prefer, an embosser is also acceptable as the replacement.
How do you report a name or address change?
Send the Notary Change Form to the South Dakota Secretary of State. South Dakota attaches a required order of steps to this filing and handles it more strictly than almost any other state.
Our sources flag that sequence without spelling it out, so this page does not list it; get the order of steps from the Secretary of State before you file. Your name is on the seal, so a name change also means planning for a seal that shows the new name.
How long does a South Dakota commission last?
Six years. The commission runs out at midnight on the day it expires, and a further term comes only through a fresh application, as the renewal section below explains.
Mark the expiration date well ahead of time. The renewal window is short, and the office will not back date a late application.
How does renewal work?
There is no shortcut for current notaries. Renewal is a brand new application on the same form, with the same $30 fee, sent no more than 60 days before the commission expires.
Back dating is not available, so timing matters at both ends: too early and it falls outside the 60-day window, too late and it cannot be dated back. Our note on South Dakota notary stamp renewal covers the process.
Who commissions South Dakota notaries?
The South Dakota Secretary of State. The office cannot appoint anyone who has been convicted of a felony, and the same office receives your change form and any report of a lost or stolen seal.
For the supplies side of starting out, our list of South Dakota notary supplies sets out what to buy.
What should you have ready when ordering?
Your name, and a decision on the device: a rubber stamp, which carries the border and the word Seal, or an embosser. The words South Dakota and notary public are the same for every notary.
Since there is no size or color rule, those are your call. Our guide to a South Dakota notary kit is a helpful checklist before you order.
How do you check a new seal before first use?
Make a test impression on plain paper. Confirm your name is spelled correctly and that South Dakota and notary public both appear. On a rubber stamp, check for the word Seal and a border that closes all the way around.
For an embosser, press the test sheet firmly and read the raised text at an angle under good light. Our summary of South Dakota notary stamp law is a quick second check.
Frequently asked questions
Does renewing change what is on my seal?
The items SDCL § 18-1-3.1 lists are your name, South Dakota, notary public, the border and, on a rubber stamp, the word Seal. None of them depends on the term, so the listed wording alone does not call for a new seal at renewal.
Can someone who lives in a neighboring state be commissioned?
Yes, in one case. If you live in a county of a neighboring state that borders South Dakota, and your job is in South Dakota, the Secretary of State may appoint you.
Will a seal graphic do instead of the word Seal?
The requirement for a rubber stamp is the word Seal itself, so spell it out on the face rather than relying on a symbol.
What happens if I miss the renewal window?
A late application cannot be back dated, so it cannot be treated as though it had arrived on time. File inside the 60 days before your commission runs out.
Is a round rubber stamp acceptable?
Yes. Shape is unconstrained, so a round face works as well as a rectangle, provided the border on the rubber stamp runs around the words and the seal.
Choose a rubber stamp or an embosser for your commission from our South Dakota stamps and seals collection.
