The bill amends several sections of South Dakota law regarding bond requirements for notaries public and personal representatives. It specifies that each notary public must take an oath and obtain a bond of five thousand dollars, which must be approved by the attorney general. Additionally, the bill clarifies that each notary must obtain an official seal and file an impression of it along with their oath in the Office of the Secretary of State.

For personal representatives, the bill modifies the conditions under which a bond is required, stating that a bond is not necessary unless certain conditions are met, such as explicit requirements in a will or waivers from heirs. It also outlines the process for determining the bond amount based on the estimated value of the estate and allows for adjustments to the bond amount based on the value of assets deposited with financial institutions. Furthermore, the bill repeals a previous requirement for plaintiffs to execute a bond of indemnity in certain legal actions, streamlining the process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/29/2025: 18-1-2, 18-1-3, 29A-3-603, 29A-3-604, 21-41-24