Minnesota (MN)
Automated Lookup
Operational
Research Minnesota notary commissions. NotaVeri can automatically cross-reference Minnesota notary details against the official state database.
Visit Minnesota Official Notary Database
How to Research a Minnesota Notary
1. Go to https://notary.sos.state.mn.us/search/searchfornotary
(or https://notary.sos.mn.gov/search/searchfornotary)
2. Enter the notary's first and/or last name, commission number, or business name.
3. Optionally select a county from the dropdown and check 'Include Inactive' to search expired commissions.
4. Click GO and review the results.
5. Click on a notary's name to view detailed commission information including expiration date and commission history.
Contact: Minnesota SOS at (651) 296-2803 or notary.sos@state.mn.us
(or https://notary.sos.mn.gov/search/searchfornotary)
2. Enter the notary's first and/or last name, commission number, or business name.
3. Optionally select a county from the dropdown and check 'Include Inactive' to search expired commissions.
4. Click GO and review the results.
5. Click on a notary's name to view detailed commission information including expiration date and commission history.
Contact: Minnesota SOS at (651) 296-2803 or notary.sos@state.mn.us
How to Verify a Minnesota Notary's Signature
Minnesota notaries file their oath of office with the Secretary of State. The SOS maintains commission records but signature specimens are not publicly accessible online.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the Minnesota Secretary of State's office at (651) 296-2803 to confirm the notary's commission status.
2. The SOS can verify whether a person holds or held a valid commission at the time of notarization.
3. For greater Minnesota, call toll-free: 1-877-551-6767.
Email: notary.sos@state.mn.us
Reference: Minn. Stat. Ch. 358, Ch. 359
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the Minnesota Secretary of State's office at (651) 296-2803 to confirm the notary's commission status.
2. The SOS can verify whether a person holds or held a valid commission at the time of notarization.
3. For greater Minnesota, call toll-free: 1-877-551-6767.
Email: notary.sos@state.mn.us
Reference: Minn. Stat. Ch. 358, Ch. 359
Verifying Older Minnesota Documents
The Minnesota SOS notary search includes an 'Include Inactive' option to find expired commissions.
1. Search the Minnesota SOS notary database and check 'Include Inactive' to include expired commissions in results.
2. If not found online, contact the Minnesota Secretary of State at (651) 296-2803 for historical commission records.
3. Provide the notary's name and the approximate date of notarization.
Address: 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, St. Paul, MN 55101
Commission term: 5 years (expires January 31 of the 5th year).
1. Search the Minnesota SOS notary database and check 'Include Inactive' to include expired commissions in results.
2. If not found online, contact the Minnesota Secretary of State at (651) 296-2803 for historical commission records.
3. Provide the notary's name and the approximate date of notarization.
Address: 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, St. Paul, MN 55101
Commission term: 5 years (expires January 31 of the 5th year).
Minnesota Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
Minnesota requires every notary to use an official notarial stamp on all notarized documents.
Stamp requirements (Minn. Stat. ss. 358.08):
- Shape: Rectangular, not more than 3/4 inch vertically by 2-1/2 inches horizontally, with a serrated or milled edge border
- Must include: The seal of the State of Minnesota, the notary's name exactly as on the commission, "Notary Public" (or "Notarial Officer" for ex officio notaries), "My commission expires" with the expiration date
- Must be capable of being legibly reproduced
- Minnesota notaries are commissioned statewide; the county of registration is recorded but does not limit jurisdiction
Stamp requirements (Minn. Stat. ss. 358.08):
- Shape: Rectangular, not more than 3/4 inch vertically by 2-1/2 inches horizontally, with a serrated or milled edge border
- Must include: The seal of the State of Minnesota, the notary's name exactly as on the commission, "Notary Public" (or "Notarial Officer" for ex officio notaries), "My commission expires" with the expiration date
- Must be capable of being legibly reproduced
- Minnesota notaries are commissioned statewide; the county of registration is recorded but does not limit jurisdiction
Contacting a Minnesota Notary
The following is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
We make no warranty regarding its accuracy or completeness.
Consult a qualified attorney before taking action.
Minnesota — Contacting the Notary for Verification
Minnesota does not require traditional notaries public to maintain a journal of notarial acts, though the Minnesota Secretary of State strongly encourages it as best practice. Remote online notaries are required to maintain a secure electronic journal of all remote online notarizations (Minn. Stat. § 358.645).
Right to inspect:
- Because Minnesota law does not mandate a notary journal for traditional notarizations, there is no statutory right to inspect a journal that may not exist.
- If a notary voluntarily maintains a journal and agrees to provide access, the requestor would need to contact the notary directly and request access voluntarily.
- The journal and seal are the notary's personal property and are exempt from execution (Minn. Stat. Chapter 358).
- If the notary refuses voluntary access, a subpoena or court order may be necessary to compel production.
What can be requested:
- The Minnesota Secretary of State recommends that voluntary journals include: date and time, type of notarial act, description of the document, signature and printed name and address of each document signer, how the signer proved their identity, county where the notarization occurred, and any fee charged.
- For remote online notarizations, electronic journals must be maintained for at least 10 years after the date of the transaction (Minn. Stat. § 358.645).
- Thumbprint: Minnesota does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
Key considerations:
- Since journal-keeping is optional for traditional notarizations, many Minnesota notaries may not maintain journals at all.
- Minnesota notary commissions last 5 years, expiring on January 31 of the fifth year after the issue year.
- The journal and seal are the notary's personal property, and there is no requirement to deposit journals with the state upon commission expiration.
- If seeking verification of a notarization, it may be more productive to request an affidavit or sworn statement from the notary regarding their recollection of the notarial act, or to subpoena the notary for deposition.
- Contact: Minnesota Secretary of State, Notary Division — (651) 296-2803 or toll-free 1-877-551-6767
Relevant statutes: Minn. Stat. Chapter 358; Minn. Stat. § 358.645
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.
Minnesota does not require traditional notaries public to maintain a journal of notarial acts, though the Minnesota Secretary of State strongly encourages it as best practice. Remote online notaries are required to maintain a secure electronic journal of all remote online notarizations (Minn. Stat. § 358.645).
Right to inspect:
- Because Minnesota law does not mandate a notary journal for traditional notarizations, there is no statutory right to inspect a journal that may not exist.
- If a notary voluntarily maintains a journal and agrees to provide access, the requestor would need to contact the notary directly and request access voluntarily.
- The journal and seal are the notary's personal property and are exempt from execution (Minn. Stat. Chapter 358).
- If the notary refuses voluntary access, a subpoena or court order may be necessary to compel production.
What can be requested:
- The Minnesota Secretary of State recommends that voluntary journals include: date and time, type of notarial act, description of the document, signature and printed name and address of each document signer, how the signer proved their identity, county where the notarization occurred, and any fee charged.
- For remote online notarizations, electronic journals must be maintained for at least 10 years after the date of the transaction (Minn. Stat. § 358.645).
- Thumbprint: Minnesota does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
Key considerations:
- Since journal-keeping is optional for traditional notarizations, many Minnesota notaries may not maintain journals at all.
- Minnesota notary commissions last 5 years, expiring on January 31 of the fifth year after the issue year.
- The journal and seal are the notary's personal property, and there is no requirement to deposit journals with the state upon commission expiration.
- If seeking verification of a notarization, it may be more productive to request an affidavit or sworn statement from the notary regarding their recollection of the notarial act, or to subpoena the notary for deposition.
- Contact: Minnesota Secretary of State, Notary Division — (651) 296-2803 or toll-free 1-877-551-6767
Relevant statutes: Minn. Stat. Chapter 358; Minn. Stat. § 358.645
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.