South Carolina has a 10-year commission term — among the longest in the nation. There's no bond, no exam, and no course. The catch is the application routing: it goes through your county legislative delegation before reaching the Secretary of State, and notaries are appointed by the Governor.
Under South Carolina Code Title 26, the requirements are:
South Carolina is one of the cheapest states for notary entry — the $25 application fee is the main cost, and there's no bond, exam, or course.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State application fee | Required | $25 |
| Notary stamp/seal (ink stamp or embosser) | Required | $15–$35 |
| Notary journal | Optional but recommended | $10–$25 |
| Surety bond | Not required | $0 |
| Education course | Not required | $0 |
| Written exam | Not required | $0 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $40–$85 |
South Carolina has a distinctive application routing: you mail your completed application to your county's legislative delegation office (or to the House of Representatives if your county has no delegation office) — NOT directly to the Secretary of State. Notaries are appointed by the Governor. You must also be a registered SC voter, which is a hard prerequisite. South Carolina does NOT currently allow RON — all notarizations must be in person.
South Carolina's process has a distinctive routing through your county legislative delegation.
South Carolina requires notary applicants to be registered SC voters. If you're not registered, register to vote first — it's a hard prerequisite.
Fill out the South Carolina notary application. The Secretary of State highly recommends (but doesn't require) attending a notary workshop.
Sign the application in pen and ink, and have it acknowledged (notarized) by a person authorized to administer oaths.
Mail the completed application to your county's legislative delegation office (or to the House of Representatives if your county has no delegation office). This is the distinctive SC routing step.
Pay the $25 fee to the SC Secretary of State by check, money order, or electronic payment via an emailed link.
Notaries are appointed by the Governor. Once your commission is issued, get a South Carolina-compliant stamp (your name, "Notary Public," "State of South Carolina," and optionally the expiration date). Then you're ready.
South Carolina notaries can perform these acts statewide under SC Code Title 26:
South Carolina caps notary fees at $5 per traditional act ($10 for electronic):
Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville are the main markets. Charleston's strong real estate market (and its popularity as a wedding destination) is notable — South Carolina notaries can solemnize marriages, which is a meaningful income opportunity in the Charleston area. Greenville's growing economy and the Myrtle Beach coastal market add demand.
South Carolina does NOT currently authorize Remote Online Notarization. All notarizations must be performed in person:
Your South Carolina commission is valid for 10 years — among the longest standard terms in the nation.
The 10-year term is a significant advantage — minimal renewal overhead. Renewal follows the same process, including the county legislative delegation routing and the $25 fee. You must notify the SOS within 45 days of any name or address change via a Change of Status Request. If your commission lapses, you reapply as new.
South Carolina has a distinctive process: notary applications go to your county's legislative delegation office (or the House of Representatives if there's no delegation office) before reaching the Secretary of State, and notaries are formally appointed by the Governor. It's a historical structure tied to SC's political system. The practical effect: mail your application to the delegation, not directly to the SOS.
South Carolina requires notary applicants to be registered South Carolina voters. Since voter registration requires U.S. citizenship and SC residency, this requirement effectively bundles citizenship and residency into one check. If you're not registered to vote in SC, you must register before applying.
Yes. South Carolina's 10-year commission term is among the longest in the country (tied with Arkansas; only Indiana's 8 years comes close among the others, and Louisiana's is lifetime). A 10-year term means you rarely deal with renewals — a real advantage for long-term notaries.
Yes. South Carolina notaries can solemnize marriages. In the Charleston area especially — a major wedding destination — this is a meaningful income opportunity, with officiant fees typically $100-$300+ per ceremony.
No. As of 2026, South Carolina does not authorize full remote online notarization. Electronic notarization (with the signer physically present) is allowed at a $10 fee cap, but you cannot notarize for a signer in a different location. If a remote notary practice is essential to your plans, SC is not currently the right state.
Yes. Your commission is statewide once issued.
South Carolina's 10-year term is one of the strongest advantages of any state — minimal renewal overhead. Charleston's real estate and wedding markets are particularly strong for notary work. We're recruiting founding-cohort South Carolina notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
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