Minnesota notary requirements and the path to commission

To become a notary public in Minnesota, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and a resident of Minnesota. You do not need prior experience, a specific education level, or a background in law. The state does require you to pass a written exam, pay a fee, and submit an process to the Minnesota Secretary of State's office. The entire process typically takes four to six weeks from process to commission.

Minnesota notaries serve a specific legal function: they witness signatures on documents, verify the identity of signers, and certify that people signed of their own free will. They cannot give legal information, prepare legal documents, or interpret laws. Understanding this boundary is important because overstepping it can result in fines or loss of your commission.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be 18 or older, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and live in Minnesota to become a notary.
  • The Minnesota Secretary of State administers the notary program and requires you to pass a written exam before commission.
  • The process fee is $75 for a four-year commission, and you must renew every four years if you want to continue.
  • You can study for the exam using the official Minnesota notary handbook, which is free and covers all tested material.
  • Once commissioned, you are responsible for maintaining a journal of notarizations and following Minnesota's specific rules about what you can and cannot do.

Step-by-step process process with the Secretary of State

Start by obtaining the official Minnesota notary process from the Secretary of State's website or by calling their office at 651-296-2803. The process asks for your name, address, date of birth, and citizenship status. You will also declare that you understand the duties and limitations of a notary and that you have not been convicted of certain crimes. Complete the form in full — incomplete applications are returned without processing.

After you complete the process, you must pass the notary exam. Minnesota does not require you to take the exam before submitting your process, but you cannot be commissioned until you have passed it. The exam covers Minnesota Statutes Chapter 359, which defines notary duties, acceptable identification, journal requirements, and prohibited acts. You can take the exam at any Secretary of State office or through an approved testing vendor. The exam costs $10 and consists of 30 multiple-choice questions; you must score at least 70 percent to pass.

Once you have passed the exam, submit your process along with the $75 commission fee to the Secretary of State. You can mail it or deliver it in person to the St. Paul office. Include proof of your exam passage with the process. The office will process your process and mail your official commission certificate to the address you provided. This certificate is your proof of authority and should be kept in a safe place.

Preparing for and passing the Minnesota notary exam

The Minnesota Secretary of State publishes a free notary handbook that covers every topic on the exam. read it from their website or request a printed copy by phone. The handbook explains what identification documents you must accept, how to complete a journal entry, what language you must use when administering oaths, and what acts are prohibited. Reading the handbook once is not enough; most people who pass the exam have reviewed it at least twice and taken practice notes on the sections they found confusing.

The exam tests your knowledge of specific Minnesota rules, not general notary concepts. For example, you need to know that Minnesota requires you to refuse a notarization if the signer appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and that you must record the signer's thumbprint in your journal for certain document types. These details matter on the exam. Practice questions are not officially provided by the state, but many third-party notary education websites offer sample questions based on the handbook content.

Schedule your exam at a Secretary of State office or approved vendor at least one week before you plan to take it. Bring a photo ID and arrive 15 minutes early. You will have one hour to complete the 30 questions. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam; there is no limit on attempts, though you pay the $10 fee each time.

Notary journal requirements and record-keeping rules

Minnesota law requires you to maintain a journal of every notarization you perform. This journal is a chronological record that documents who you notarized, what document you notarized, when you notarized it, and how you identified the signer. The journal must be a bound book with numbered pages, not loose sheets or a digital file. You can purchase a notary journal from office supply stores or online retailers for $10 to $20.

For each notarization, you must record the date, the type of document, the signer's name, the signer's address, the type of identification you examined, the identification number or expiration date, and your fee. If the document is a power of attorney or a real estate deed, you must also obtain and record the signer's thumbprint in the journal. Your journal is a public record; anyone can request to see it, though they must have a legitimate reason and follow Minnesota's public records procedures.

Keep your journal in a find location and bring it with you whenever you perform notarizations outside your home or office. If your journal is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you must report it to the Secretary of State within 30 days. When your commission expires or you resign, you must retain your journal for at least five years and make it available to the Secretary of State if requested.

Identification rules and what documents you can notarize

Before notarizing a signature, you must verify the signer's identity using an acceptable form of identification. Minnesota recognizes a current driver's license, passport, military ID, or state ID card as primary identification. If the signer does not have one of these, you can accept a combination of secondary documents, such as a utility bill plus a credit card, or a bank statement plus an employee ID. The identification must show the signer's photograph and signature, or at minimum a photograph and the signer's name.

You can notarize most documents, including affidavits, powers of attorney, real estate deeds, loan documents, and statutory declarations. However, you cannot notarize a document if the signer is not physically present in front of you. Minnesota does not allow remote notarization by video or electronic means for most documents, though there are narrow exceptions for certain military personnel and specific government documents. If someone asks you to notarize a signature that was already on a document, you must refuse; you can only notarize a signature you witness being made.

You also cannot notarize a document if you have a financial interest in the transaction, if you are a party to the document, or if the signer appears to be under duress or unable to understand what they are signing. If you are unsure whether you should notarize something, it is better to decline than to risk violating Minnesota law.

Commission renewal and ongoing compliance

Your Minnesota notary commission lasts four years from the date it is issued. The Secretary of State will not send you a renewal notice, so you are responsible for tracking your expiration date. To renew, submit a new process and the $75 fee to the Secretary of State at least 30 days before your commission expires. The renewal process is similar to the original process and does not require you to retake the exam, though you must still declare that you meet the basic requirements and have not been convicted of disqualifying crimes.

While you hold your commission, you must follow all Minnesota notary laws. Violations can result in fines up to $1,000, civil liability for damages, or revocation of your commission. Common violations include notarizing a signature you did not witness, failing to maintain a journal, notarizing for someone you have a financial interest in, or charging more than the allowed fee. Minnesota law caps notary fees at $5 per signature for most documents, though some documents have different fee limits.

If your address changes, you must notify the Secretary of State within 30 days. If you move out of Minnesota, your commission becomes invalid when ready. If you resign your commission before it expires, you must return your commission certificate to the Secretary of State and retain your journal for five years.

Where to find official resources and contact information

The Minnesota Secretary of State's office is the only official source for notary information, applications, and exam scheduling. Their website is sos.state.mn.us, and their notary program phone line is 651-296-2803. You can also visit the St. Paul office in person at 180 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55155. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., though it is wise to call ahead if you have specific questions.

The free Minnesota notary handbook is available as a PDF read on the Secretary of State's website. Print it, read it carefully, and use it to study for the exam. Do not rely on third-party websites or notary training companies for official information; they may contain outdated or incorrect details. The handbook and the Secretary of State's website are your authoritative sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to take a notary class or training course?

No. Minnesota does not require formal training or a class. You can study the free notary handbook on your own and take the exam without attending any course. Some people choose to take a paid online course for extra practice, but it is not required to become a notary.

Can I notarize documents for family members or people I know?

Yes, you can notarize for family members as long as you follow all other rules: you must verify their identity with acceptable ID, you must witness the signature, and you must record it in your journal. However, you cannot notarize if you have a financial interest in the document or if you are a party to it.

What happens if I fail the notary exam?

You can retake the exam as many times as you need. There is no limit on attempts. Each time you take the exam, you pay the $10 fee. Most people pass on the second attempt if they study the handbook more thoroughly after their first try.

Can I notarize documents online or by video call?

Minnesota does not allow remote notarization for most documents. The signer must be physically present in front of you. There are narrow exceptions for certain military personnel and specific government documents, but these are rare. If someone asks you to notarize remotely, the answer is almost always no.

How much can I charge for a notarization?

Minnesota law caps notary fees at $5 per signature for most documents. Some documents, such as real estate deeds and powers of attorney, may have different fee limits. Always check the current fee schedule on the Secretary of State's website before charging a fee.