Notary Commission Registration

​​​To become a notary, you must contact the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Register in county of residence

You must register your commission​ with your county of residence. You must be a Dakota County resident unless you are a resident of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin and list Dakota County for registering your commission.

Failure to register with your resident county could result in a civil penalty fee (usually larger than the county recording fee) imposed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, who is responsible for enforcing notary misconduct.

Locations (see business hours)

• Administration Center – Hastings         
• Northern Service Center – West St. Paul
• Western Service Center – Apple Valley

Make an appointment

​Reserve your appointment 

Drop box available

Paper work can be submitted via drop boxes at each location.

Walk-ins available

Service and license centers are open for walk-ins. However, making an appointment is encouraged.

​Fees

$20, payable by cash or check only. Make checks payable to: Dakota County.

Register in person

To register in person, go to any of the three locations. Bring the necessary fees, a current driver’s license and the Notary Commission certificate.

Register by mail

You must send:

• Your signed and notarized notary commission certificate. The commission certificate must include two signatures, one exactly as the name shows on the commission certificate and one as you normally would sign.​
  
• A check or money order payable to Dakota County for $20 to record your notary commission.

Send these items to: