A notary public is a person who is appointed or commissioned by a state to act as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. Notary public appointments are usually handled by a state’s Secretary of State’s office and require a potential notary to meet eligibility requirements, take a notary training course, and pass a state notary exam.

Many different types of legal documents may need to be notarized—such as an affidavit, contract, will, trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for health care, divorce papers, deed, mortgage, or deed of trust.

In South Dakota, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. To become a notary in South Dakota, one must meet certain eligibility criteria such as being at least 18 years old, a resident of South Dakota or a resident of a bordering state who is regularly employed or conducts business in South Dakota, and not having a record of a felony conviction that has not been pardoned. No specific training course or state notary exam is required in South Dakota, which differs from some other states. However, applicants must complete an application, pay a fee, and obtain a notary bond to protect the public from any misconduct. Once commissioned, South Dakota notaries are authorized to notarize documents such as affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. The notary's role is to verify the identity of the signers, ensure they understand the document and are signing of their own free will, and to witness the signing process.