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Minnesota Secretary of State

Become a notary in Minnesota

Notaries in Minnesota are commissioned by the Minnesota Secretary of State. Apply there first. StampSide is a public page after you have used their process. Look up a commission with Find A Notary.

Official Minnesota registerRegister on StampSide

Where to register

Applications go to the Minnesota Secretary of State. Open their page for the current application, not a StampSide form.

Requirements

What the official page states. If a topic is missing here, that page did not spell it out.

Age and place
At least 18. Minnesota resident, or a resident of a county in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin who lists the Minnesota county of filing. Non-resident applicants must designate the Secretary of State as agent for service of process (application PDF).
Fee (as posted)
$120 non-refundable commission fee, check or money order to OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. Do not send cash. County recording is a separate $20.
Term
The application PDF: commissions expire on January 31 of the fifth year following the year of issue. Renewals may be submitted 6 months before expiration.
Stamp
Minnesota Statutes 359, as the SOS FAQ quotes it: official notarial stamp with the seal of the state, the name as on the commission, “Notary Public,” and the commission expiration. A notary who fails to affix the stamp has not properly notarized.

How to get started

  1. Mail the Notary Application and $120

    The SOS become-a-notary page is for a new commission only if you have not held a previous commission that expired. If a commission expired, check Re-appointment on the application and mail it. The certificate is sent by US mail to your residential address.

  2. Register the commission with your county of residence

    The SOS says you must register with the county; contact information is on the certificate. County recording fee $20. Failure to register may bring a civil penalty from the Commissioner of Commerce, usually larger than the recording fee.

  3. Buy the stamp after the certificate arrives

    The application PDF says to purchase a notary stamp upon receipt of the commission. The stamp must match the name on the certificate; you may sign with your normal signature if it differs.

  4. Register on StampSide

    After you use the Minnesota Secretary of State site, create a public page: photo, where you work, and how clients reach you. Share the URL on emails and invoices. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

Tools after you apply

Official pages and named suppliers already listed in this product. Checkout is on their site — StampSide does not sell stamps.

  • Stamp or seal

    Minnesota requires an official notarial stamp meeting Minn. Stat. 359 as the SOS FAQ describes it. Buy it after the certificate arrives so the name and expiration match.

    Named suppliers on StampSide

  • Journal

    The SOS become-a-notary page lists a journal entry among important points when you notarize, if you use a journal.

    Notary Rotary

  • More suppliers

    Notary Rotary, Notary.net, and the National Notary Association are on the supplies list. State-specific seals only.

    StampSide supplies list

More official pages

Register, then getting started

StampSide does not commission you — the Minnesota Secretary of State does, on the official site above. Register here for a public page. After you sign up, getting started walks through a photo, your commission when you have it, and an email signature for cards and mail. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

RegisterCreate your page

After you are commissioned

Create the page you share. Closers still confirm standing on the official site.

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