A North Dakota notary stamp must show State of North Dakota, Notary Public, and your name and commission expiration date exactly as your commission prints them, all inside a border. A round stamp may measure up to 1 5/8 inches across, and a rectangle up to 7/8 by 2 5/8 inches. Commissions run four years. This page covers wording, size, devices, renewal and notices.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against N.D. Cent. Code § 44-06.1-16(1) and the North Dakota Secretary of State. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed wording | Notary Public, together with State of North Dakota. | N.D. Cent. Code § 44-06.1-16(1) |
| Your name | Matches your commission letter for letter. | N.D. Cent. Code § 44-06.1-16(1) |
| Expiration date | Matches the date printed on your commission. | N.D. Cent. Code § 44-06.1-16(1) |
| Border | An outline encloses the stamp. | N.D. Cent. Code § 44-06.1-16(1) |
| Round stamp | Diameter of 1 5/8 inches at most. | The North Dakota Secretary of State |
| Rectangular stamp | No bigger than 7/8 inch on the short side and 2 5/8 inches on the long side. | The North Dakota Secretary of State |
| Ink color | No color is named. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Embosser | The notary act is silent. For a document filed with a recorder, the recording statute accepts a seal in stamped or imprinted form. | North Dakota recording statute |
| Term | Four years, ending at midnight on the expiration date. You can file for the next term up to 60 days ahead. | The North Dakota Secretary of State |
| Notices | Name or address change: 60 days. Lost or stolen stamp: promptly, once you learn of it. | The North Dakota Secretary of State |
North Dakota is one row in our notary seal requirements by state table, which sets each jurisdiction's rule side by side.
What wording goes on a North Dakota notary stamp?
Four text items and a border, under N.D. Cent. Code § 44-06.1-16(1): the words State of North Dakota and Notary Public, your name, and your commission expiration date, with a border running around the whole stamp.
The two personal items carry a precision requirement. Your name and your expiration date must both appear exactly as your commission shows them, so copy them from the commission itself rather than from a driver's license or from memory.
Our guide to North Dakota notary stamp requirements goes through each line, and our North Dakota notary stamp format sample shows a finished layout.
What are the size limits?
North Dakota sets an upper limit for each of two shapes: a diameter of no more than 1 5/8 inches for a circular stamp, and 7/8 by 2 5/8 inches at most for a rectangle.
Check any stamp against the ceiling for its own shape, since the two figures do not mix. Measuring the full impression, border included, is the safe way to compare a sample against the limits.
Should you choose a round or a rectangular stamp?
Either shape is available to you, since the size rule gives a limit for each. The better choice depends on your name: a long name usually lays out more easily across a rectangle than around a circle.
A round face at 1 5/8 inches gives the text a curved path, while the rectangle gives straight lines within a narrow 7/8 inch height. Ask for a proof in the shape you prefer and check that every item stays readable.
Can you use an embosser in North Dakota?
The notary act says nothing about embossers. The recording statute does address them: for a document filed with a recorder, the notary seal may be stamped or imprinted, or it may be an official stamp as the notary act defines it.
So the express support for an embossed seal comes from the recording statute, for documents filed with a recorder. The notary act's own requirements describe a stamp with a border, which is why the stamp is the device to order first. Our note on North Dakota notary seal requirements covers the seal side further.
What ink color does North Dakota require?
None. The cited rules do not name an ink color for a North Dakota notary stamp, so the color is left to you. What matters in practice is an impression that reads cleanly on the page.
A dark, even ink gives the clearest result, especially on the narrow rectangular format where the lines sit close together. Test it on the kind of paper you notarize most often.
What if your stamp is lost or stolen?
Notify the North Dakota Secretary of State promptly once you learn the stamp is missing. The duty starts when you find out, and it calls for prompt action rather than a set number of days.
Replace the stamp before your next notarization so there is no gap in your work. Order it with the same name and expiration date your commission shows.
What if your name or address changes?
You have 60 days to report either change to the North Dakota Secretary of State. That window is more generous than most states give, but it is still a deadline to put in your calendar.
A name change affects the stamp, because the name on the face has to match your commission exactly. An address change does not touch the face, since no address is among the required items.
How long does a North Dakota commission last?
Four years. The commission ends at midnight on its expiration date, a cutoff worth keeping in mind when you book appointments near the end of a term.
The expiration date on your stamp ties it to one term. When the next commission issues with a new date, the old stamp no longer shows your expiration date exactly as your commission does.
What does renewing involve?
You can file for the next commission up to 60 days before the current one expires. You also need a surety bond of $7,500 and a signed oath.
Filing early leaves time to receive the new commission and then order a stamp that carries its expiration date. Our walkthrough on becoming a notary in North Dakota and getting supplies covers the commission steps in order.
What should you supply when ordering?
Your name and your commission expiration date, both exactly as your commission shows them, plus your choice of round or rectangular. The words State of North Dakota and Notary Public and the border are fixed for everyone.
State the shape clearly and ask for a size within the limit for that shape. Our shopping guide to North Dakota notary public seals is a useful cross-check before you submit an order.
How do you check a new stamp before first use?
Stamp a blank sheet and measure it. A round impression should be no wider than 1 5/8 inches; a rectangular one no larger than 7/8 by 2 5/8 inches. Then confirm the border runs all the way around.
Read each line against your commission: both fixed phrases, your name letter for letter and the expiration date digit for digit. Our overview of North Dakota notary stamp law for working notaries covers day-to-day use.
Frequently asked questions
Is a stamp smaller than the limits acceptable?
Yes. The sizes are maximums, so a round stamp under 1 5/8 inches or a rectangle under 7/8 by 2 5/8 inches stays within the rule, provided the text is still readable.
Will a rectangle 1 inch tall work?
No. The short side of a rectangular stamp tops out at 7/8 inch, so a face 1 inch tall exceeds the limit even if its length is within 2 5/8 inches.
Can the stamp be oval or another shape?
The size rule names two shapes, circular and rectangular, and gives a limit for each. An oval is neither, so it sits outside the options the rule describes.
Should the stamp show a commission number or a county?
Neither is among the items N.D. Cent. Code § 44-06.1-16(1) lists, so order the stamp with the listed items: the two fixed phrases, your name, your expiration date and the border.
Who can witness my renewal oath?
Another notary. The oath that goes with a renewal filing is signed before a notary other than you, so arrange that appointment before you file.
When your commission is in hand, pick a round or rectangular stamp from our North Dakota stamps and seals collection.
