ND Notary Notary Appointment and Commission Requirements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How long is the term of a notary public commission in North Dakota?
- 2 years
- 4 years
- 6 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
Correct answer: 6 years
North Dakota law sets the notary public commission term at 6 years under NDCC Chapter 44-06.
Question 2: Who has the authority to appoint notaries public in North Dakota?
- The Governor
- The Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- The State Supreme Court
- County Clerks
Correct answer: The Secretary of State
The North Dakota Secretary of State is the appointing authority for notaries public in the state.
Question 3: What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a North Dakota notary public commission?
- 16 years old
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 21 years old
- 25 years old
Correct answer: 18 years old
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to qualify for a North Dakota notary commission.
Question 4: Which residency requirement must an applicant meet to obtain a North Dakota notary commission?
- Must be a North Dakota native
- Must be a resident of North Dakota OR regularly employed in the state (Correct answer)
- Must reside in North Dakota for at least 5 years
- Must own property in North Dakota
Correct answer: Must be a resident of North Dakota OR regularly employed in the state
An applicant must either reside in North Dakota or be regularly employed within the state to qualify for a commission.
Question 5: What geographic area may a North Dakota notary public perform notarial acts within?
- Only in the county where they reside
- Only in counties where they are registered
- Statewide throughout North Dakota (Correct answer)
- In any state that has reciprocity with North Dakota
Correct answer: Statewide throughout North Dakota
A North Dakota notary commission grants statewide jurisdiction, allowing notarial acts to be performed anywhere within the state.
Question 6: What happens to a North Dakota notary commission if the notary permanently relocates outside of North Dakota and is no longer employed there?
- The commission continues until its expiration date
- The commission is automatically vacated (Correct answer)
- The notary has 90 days to transfer the commission
- The commission can be renewed remotely
Correct answer: The commission is automatically vacated
Because a commission requires the notary to be a resident or employee of North Dakota, permanently leaving the state vacates the commission.
Question 7: Which of the following is a step a newly appointed North Dakota notary must complete before performing any notarial acts?
- Complete 40 hours of classroom training
- Take and file an oath of office (Correct answer)
- Register with the county sheriff
- Publish notice of appointment in a local newspaper
Correct answer: Take and file an oath of office
A new notary must take and file an oath of office before performing any notarial acts, as required by North Dakota law.
ND Notary Notary Appointment and Commission Requirements 1
How long is the term of a notary public commission in North Dakota?