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South Dakota notary journal requirements

South Dakota requires recordings of remote acts. We found no journal requirement for in-person acts. US Notary Journal is an electronic notary journal that asks for exactly what South Dakota expects in each entry.

We could not fully confirm this summary from primary sources. Check with the South Dakota commissioning office before relying on it.

Journal required?

Not required (recommended)

Electronic journal allowed?

Yes. An electronic journal is allowed when it is tamper-evident.

How long to keep it

No period found in statute. Keeping it at least 10 years is common practice.

Thumbprint

Optional

Source

SDCL 18-1-11.3

Recommended entry fields for South Dakota notaries

• Date and time of the act
• Type of notarial act
• Document type or description
• Signer name
• Signer address
• How identity was proven (ID type)
• ID issue and expiration dates
• Fee charged
• Signer signature
• Location of the act

An electronic notary journal for South Dakota

Choose South Dakota as your commission state and US Notary Journal sets up the entry form above, warns you about the South Dakota fee cap where one applies, and locks each finished entry so it cannot be altered. Use it on your phone at the signing and on your computer at the office.

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Last checked 2026-10-25. General information, not legal advice.