North Dakota (ND)
Automated Lookup
Operational
Research North Dakota notary commissions. NotaVeri can automatically cross-reference North Dakota notary details against the official state database.
Visit North Dakota Official Notary Database
How to Research a North Dakota Notary
North Dakota provides an online notary search, but it requires a JavaScript-enabled browser.
To verify a North Dakota notary commission:
1. Go to https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/notary
2. Enter the notary's name in the search field.
3. Review the results to confirm the commission status and expiration date.
4. Alternatively, call the Accounting/Notary Unit at (701) 328-2901, or toll free at (800) 352-0867.
5. You may also email sosaccnot@nd.gov.
Reference: https://www.sos.nd.gov/notary-apostille
To verify a North Dakota notary commission:
1. Go to https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/notary
2. Enter the notary's name in the search field.
3. Review the results to confirm the commission status and expiration date.
4. Alternatively, call the Accounting/Notary Unit at (701) 328-2901, or toll free at (800) 352-0867.
5. You may also email sosaccnot@nd.gov.
Reference: https://www.sos.nd.gov/notary-apostille
How to Verify a North Dakota Notary's Signature
North Dakota notaries file their commission with the Secretary of State. The notary stamping device verification is also filed with the Secretary of State.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Search for the notary at https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/notary to confirm active commission status.
2. Contact the Accounting/Notary Unit at (701) 328-2901 or (800) 352-0867 to request signature verification.
3. The Secretary of State maintains a "Verification of Notary Stamping Device" form with an imprint of each notary's seal.
Reference: NDCC 44-06.1
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Search for the notary at https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/notary to confirm active commission status.
2. Contact the Accounting/Notary Unit at (701) 328-2901 or (800) 352-0867 to request signature verification.
3. The Secretary of State maintains a "Verification of Notary Stamping Device" form with an imprint of each notary's seal.
Reference: NDCC 44-06.1
Verifying Older North Dakota Documents
The North Dakota SOS online notary search may include both active and expired commissions.
1. Search at https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/notary -- expired commission data may still appear.
2. If not found online, contact the Accounting/Notary Unit at (701) 328-2901 or (800) 352-0867 for historical commission records.
3. Provide the notary's name and approximate date of notarization.
Address: Secretary of State, 600 E Boulevard Avenue, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500
Commission term: 4 years.
1. Search at https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/notary -- expired commission data may still appear.
2. If not found online, contact the Accounting/Notary Unit at (701) 328-2901 or (800) 352-0867 for historical commission records.
3. Provide the notary's name and approximate date of notarization.
Address: Secretary of State, 600 E Boulevard Avenue, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500
Commission term: 4 years.
North Dakota Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
North Dakota requires every notary to have an official stamping device (seal) that must be verified with the Secretary of State.
Seal requirements (NDCC 44-06.1-13):
- Must include: "Notary Public", "State of North Dakota", the notary's name exactly as commissioned, and the commission expiration date
- Must be surrounded by a border (plain rectangular or circular) with no other words, numbers, symbols, or images
- Size limits: Round stamps up to 1-5/8 inches diameter; rectangular stamps up to 7/8 inch high by 2-5/8 inches long
- Must produce a clear, legible, reproducible impression
- A "Verification of Notary Stamping Device" form with an imprint must be sent to the Secretary of State
- North Dakota notaries have statewide jurisdiction
Seal requirements (NDCC 44-06.1-13):
- Must include: "Notary Public", "State of North Dakota", the notary's name exactly as commissioned, and the commission expiration date
- Must be surrounded by a border (plain rectangular or circular) with no other words, numbers, symbols, or images
- Size limits: Round stamps up to 1-5/8 inches diameter; rectangular stamps up to 7/8 inch high by 2-5/8 inches long
- Must produce a clear, legible, reproducible impression
- A "Verification of Notary Stamping Device" form with an imprint must be sent to the Secretary of State
- North Dakota notaries have statewide jurisdiction
Contacting a North Dakota 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.
North Dakota — Contacting the Notary for Verification
North Dakota requires notaries to maintain a journal only for notarial acts performed for remotely located individuals. For traditional and electronic notarizations performed in-person, a journal is not required but is strongly recommended by the North Dakota Secretary of State (NDCC § 44-06.1-16.1).
Journal requirements:
- Remote notarizations: A journal is mandatory for all notarial acts performed for remotely located individuals. Both the audiovisual recordings and the journal must be saved for 10 years.
- Traditional/electronic notarizations: Not required, but recommended.
- Journal format: If maintained in a tangible medium, it must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. If maintained in electronic format, it must be in a permanent, tamper-evident format complying with the Secretary of State's rules (NDCC § 44-06.1-16.1).
- A notary may maintain only one journal at a time for tangible records and one or more journals for electronic records.
Right to inspect:
- North Dakota law does not specify public access provisions for notary journals.
- Access to a notary's journal would typically require the notary's consent or a court order or subpoena duces tecum.
What can be requested (if journal is maintained):
- Recommended journal entries include: date and time of the notarial act, type of notarial act, description of the record, full name and address of each individual for whom the act is performed, identification method (personal knowledge, credential description, or credible witness), and signature of the individual.
Key considerations:
- Retention period: Journals and audiovisual recordings for remote notarizations must be retained for 10 years.
- Journal security: A notary is responsible for the security of the journal and must keep it in a secure area under the notary's sole control. Journals may be surrendered or destroyed only as authorized by statute, rule, court order, or at the direction of the Secretary of State (NDCC § 44-06.1-16.1).
- Commission cancellation: A notary commission may be canceled by resignation, death, suspension, revocation, loss of North Dakota residency, loss of U.S. citizenship, or (for nonresidents) cessation of North Dakota employment or practice.
- Thumbprint: North Dakota does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
- Contact: North Dakota Secretary of State Notary Unit — (701) 328-2901, Toll-free: (800) 352-0867 ext. 328-2901, sosaccnot@nd.gov
Relevant statutes: NDCC §§ 44-06.1-16.1, 44-06.1-13.1
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.
North Dakota requires notaries to maintain a journal only for notarial acts performed for remotely located individuals. For traditional and electronic notarizations performed in-person, a journal is not required but is strongly recommended by the North Dakota Secretary of State (NDCC § 44-06.1-16.1).
Journal requirements:
- Remote notarizations: A journal is mandatory for all notarial acts performed for remotely located individuals. Both the audiovisual recordings and the journal must be saved for 10 years.
- Traditional/electronic notarizations: Not required, but recommended.
- Journal format: If maintained in a tangible medium, it must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. If maintained in electronic format, it must be in a permanent, tamper-evident format complying with the Secretary of State's rules (NDCC § 44-06.1-16.1).
- A notary may maintain only one journal at a time for tangible records and one or more journals for electronic records.
Right to inspect:
- North Dakota law does not specify public access provisions for notary journals.
- Access to a notary's journal would typically require the notary's consent or a court order or subpoena duces tecum.
What can be requested (if journal is maintained):
- Recommended journal entries include: date and time of the notarial act, type of notarial act, description of the record, full name and address of each individual for whom the act is performed, identification method (personal knowledge, credential description, or credible witness), and signature of the individual.
Key considerations:
- Retention period: Journals and audiovisual recordings for remote notarizations must be retained for 10 years.
- Journal security: A notary is responsible for the security of the journal and must keep it in a secure area under the notary's sole control. Journals may be surrendered or destroyed only as authorized by statute, rule, court order, or at the direction of the Secretary of State (NDCC § 44-06.1-16.1).
- Commission cancellation: A notary commission may be canceled by resignation, death, suspension, revocation, loss of North Dakota residency, loss of U.S. citizenship, or (for nonresidents) cessation of North Dakota employment or practice.
- Thumbprint: North Dakota does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
- Contact: North Dakota Secretary of State Notary Unit — (701) 328-2901, Toll-free: (800) 352-0867 ext. 328-2901, sosaccnot@nd.gov
Relevant statutes: NDCC §§ 44-06.1-16.1, 44-06.1-13.1
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.