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Notary Fees and Remote Notarization in South Dakota

South Dakota sets no maximum fee for a notarization, and remote online notarization of electronic records is authorized under SDCL 18-1-11.2 (SL 2024, ch 71).

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

South Dakota at a glance

Maximum fee per acknowledgment
No statutory maximum
A notary may charge a fee for each instrument notarized, but no fee for notarizing a request for an absentee ballot.
Remote online notarization
Yes
Since 2019, SDCL 18-1-11.1 has also allowed video notarization of paper documents when the notary personally knows the signer.
RON law and effective date
SDCL 18-1-11.2 (SL 2024, ch 71)
Video notarization of tangible documents under SDCL 18-1-11.1 dates from SL 2019, ch 100 (amended SL 2021, ch 89).

Sources

Last checked

The rules in South Dakota

What is the maximum notary fee for an acknowledgment in South Dakota?

Maximum fee per acknowledgment in South Dakota: No statutory maximum. A notary may charge a fee for each instrument notarized, but no fee for notarizing a request for an absentee ballot.

Is remote online notarization allowed in South Dakota?

Yes. Remote online notarization in South Dakota: yes. Since 2019, SDCL 18-1-11.1 has also allowed video notarization of paper documents when the notary personally knows the signer.

Which law authorizes remote online notarization in South Dakota, and when did it take effect?

RON law and effective date in South Dakota: SDCL 18-1-11.2 (SL 2024, ch 71). Video notarization of tangible documents under SDCL 18-1-11.1 dates from SL 2019, ch 100 (amended SL 2021, ch 89).

Where do the South Dakota notary requirements come from?

The rules above come from SDCL 18-1-9, SDCL 18-1-11.1 and SDCL 18-1-11.2. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

SDCL 18-1-9 was last amended by SL 2025, ch 91.

What this means in practice

A statutory fee limit is a ceiling on the notarial act itself. Travel fees, convenience charges, and technology fees for online sessions may be governed by separate rules or not regulated at all, so it helps to ask for the full price before the appointment.

Bring a current government-issued photo ID and leave the document unsigned until the notary is watching, unless the notary says otherwise. A notary generally cannot notarize a document in which they have a personal interest and cannot give legal advice about what the document means.

A document notarized remotely is usually accepted like one notarized in person, but the receiving party, such as a county recorder, title company, or foreign authority, may have its own requirements. Checking with the recipient before choosing an online session can avoid a rejected filing.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.