How to become a notary in South Carolina
Eligibility, the application, fees and the oath, in the order you'll do them — from the South Carolina Secretary of State (notaries appointed by the Governor).
Step by step
- Check that you qualify — 18+, Must be a registered voter in South Carolina at the home address on the application, which in practice means an SC resident; no non-resident commission; Able to read and write English; application with no significant misstatement or omission of fact (S.C. Code § 26-1-15); application must be endorsed by the county legislative delegation.
- Apply to the South Carolina Secretary of State (notaries appointed by the Governor) — Pay the $25 state fee. Other fees: $1.43 SC.GOV service fee if paying by card; the applicant's signature/oath must be notarized (up to $5); the county clerk of court may charge to enroll the commission (amount varies by county); $10 Change in Status form; $50 electronic notary registration.
- Take the oath and file it — Sign the oath printed on the application before a South Carolina notary, then mail all pages with original signatures (and payment if not by card) to your county legislative delegation office. The delegation endorses it (delegation chair or secretary, your senator and House member, or at least half the delegation) and forwards it to the Secretary of State, which issues the Governor's commission. Within 15 days of being commissioned, show the commission to the clerk of court in your county of residence and be enrolled (S.C. Code § 26-1-50).
- Get your seal and journal — Seal: Required: seal of office (stamp or embosser) affixed to every notarial act, with the commission expiration date written below the notary's signature (S.C. Code § 26-1-60). Journal: Recommended (required only for electronic notarizations, which use an electronic journal).
Notary packages & supplies
- National Notary Association — state packages: bond, seal, journal and any required training
- Notaries.com — lower-cost state packages with bond, stamp and supplies
Bond, stamp and journal in one order; check that the package matches South Carolina's rules. Some links may be affiliate links.
South Carolina notary requirements
| Commissioned by | South Carolina Secretary of State (notaries appointed by the Governor) |
| Who can apply | 18+ · Must be a registered voter in South Carolina at the home address on the application, which in practice means an SC resident; no non-resident commission |
| Course | Not required No mandatory course; the Secretary of State offers the free SC Notary Public Reference Manual and a notary webinar |
| Exam | Not required No exam for a regular commission (electronic notary registration requires an online test) |
| State fee | $25 |
| Other fees | $1.43 SC.GOV service fee if paying by card; the applicant's signature/oath must be notarized (up to $5); the county clerk of court may charge to enroll the commission (amount varies by county); $10 Change in Status form; $50 electronic notary registration |
| Surety bond | None No bond required in South Carolina |
| E&O insurance | Optional |
| Background check | None |
| Term | 10 years |
| Oath / filing | Sign the oath printed on the application before a South Carolina notary, then mail all pages with original signatures (and payment if not by card) to your county legislative delegation office. The delegation endorses it (delegation chair or secretary, your senator and House member, or at least half the delegation) and forwards it to the Secretary of State, which issues the Governor's commission. Within 15 days of being commissioned, show the commission to the clerk of court in your county of residence and be enrolled (S.C. Code § 26-1-50). |
| Seal | Required: seal of office (stamp or embosser) affixed to every notarial act, with the commission expiration date written below the notary's signature (S.C. Code § 26-1-60) |
| Journal | Recommended (required only for electronic notarizations, which use an electronic journal) |
| Max fee per notarization | $5 per signature for acknowledgments, jurats and signature witnessings, $5 per person for oaths, $5 per certificate for verifications of fact; electronic notarizations up to $10 per signature |
| Remote online notary | Not authorized South Carolina has no remote online notarization law. Under the 2021 Electronic Notary Public Act, commissioned notaries may register as electronic notaries ($50 fee, online education video and test, approved technology vendor), but the signer must still be physically present. |
| Renewal | Renew with the same application/renewal form and $25 fee, endorsed again by the county legislative delegation; file a Change in Status form first if your name or address changed (not needed if already expired or within 30 days of expiring) |
SC is unusual: you must be a registered voter, and your application goes through your county's legislative delegation, not straight to the state. If your county has no delegation office on the list, mail it to the SC House of Representatives. The 10-year term is one of the longest in the U.S. The Secretary of State's website blocks some non-U.S. traffic, so we checked details against the statute and the June 2024 official application form (copy on a county site). A March 2025 revision of the form exists.
Sources: S.C. Code Title 26, Chapter 1 – Notaries Public and Acknowledgments · S.C. Code Title 26, Chapter 2 – Electronic Notary Public Act · SC Secretary of State – Application/Renewal for Notary Public (rev. June 2024, Beaufort County copy) · SC Secretary of State – Application/Renewal for Notary Public (rev. March 2025) · SC Secretary of State – Notary fees table for the House Legislative Oversight Committee (2020). Checked 2026-10.
Earn more as a loan signing agent
Many notaries add mortgage closings: title and escrow companies pay signing agents per loan package. It needs a notary commission plus signing-agent training and a background screening.
- Loan Signing System — loan signing agent training to earn from mortgage closings ($347)
- NNA Notary Signing Agent certification — the certification and background screening title companies ask for
- Notaries.com signing agent course — budget signing agent course ($109)
Some links may be affiliate links.
Get a South Carolina notary checklist and renewal reminder
A printable checklist of every step and an email before your commission expires. Free.
Notary course and exam rules across the US
Other South Carolina licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All South Carolina insurance licenses · Mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
Questions
How much does it cost to become a notary in South Carolina?
The state fee is $25, plus $1.43 SC.GOV service fee if paying by card; the applicant's signature/oath must be notarized (up to $5); the county clerk of court may charge to enroll the commission (amount varies by county); $10 Change in Status form; $50 electronic notary registration. Add a seal and a journal.
How long does it take to become a notary in South Carolina?
Usually a few weeks from application to commission.
Do I need to take a class or exam to be a notary in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina requires no course or exam, though a short course helps you avoid mistakes.
How much can a notary charge in South Carolina?
$5 per signature for acknowledgments, jurats and signature witnessings, $5 per person for oaths, $5 per certificate for verifications of fact; electronic notarizations up to $10 per signature.
Can I be an online notary in South Carolina?
South Carolina hasn't authorized its notaries to perform remote online notarizations (South Carolina has no remote online notarization law. Under the 2021 Electronic Notary Public Act, commissioned notaries may register as electronic notaries ($50 fee, online education video and test, approved technology vendor), but the signer must still be physically present.).