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Please read this first We work to keep state commissioning information current, but requirements, fees, and forms can change faster than we can update this page. Confirm every step with the South Carolina Secretary of State using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice. |
Overview
South Carolina has not legalized remote notarization. The Secretary of State’s Registration Now Open for Electronic Notaries Public announcement states that electronic notarization (IPEN) requires the notary and the signer to be in each other’s physical presence. Traditional notaries are appointed for ten-year terms after a paper application through the county legislative delegation.
Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow the Secretary of State’s current instructions if anything here differs from the official site.
For a U.S. overview of remote online notary authorization, see the National Notary Association’s How to Become a Remote Online Notary. Follow the South Carolina Secretary of State’s instructions if anything differs.
Who Can Apply
To be commissioned as a South Carolina notary public, you must meet all of the following:
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Start Here: County Delegation, Then Clerk of Court Enrollment
There is no remote-online commissioning path on the official SOS site. Complete the traditional ten-year commission. Electronic notary registration, if you pursue it, still requires the signer in your physical presence.
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Read the official notary pages Open Notaries, Notary Public Application and Renewal Application, and South Carolina Notary Public Reference Manual. |
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File the traditional application through your legislative delegation Use Notary Public Application and Renewal Application. Do not email the SOS the original application in place of the delegation routing. |
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If you already hold a South Carolina commission, confirm it is current Commissions last ten years. There is no separate RON profile. Electronic notary registration is in-person electronic only. |
Part 1: Traditional South Carolina Notary Commission
Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired South Carolina notary commission. Remote online commissioning is not available on the official SOS site.
Checklist
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Review the official how-to Notaries, Notary Public Application and Renewal Application, and South Carolina Notary Public Reference Manual. |
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Complete traditional notary education Not listed on the official application as a required pre-commission course. The SOS offers free notary seminars; they are not described as a substitute for the paper application (Notaries). |
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Obtain a surety bond Not listed on the official SOS notary application as a statewide notary bond requirement. |
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Submit the traditional application Complete Notary Public Application and Renewal Application with original signatures, indicate $25 payment method, and mail all pages to the county legislative delegation listed on the form. Processing can take 2–12 weeks depending on the county (South Carolina Notary Public Reference Manual). |
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Enroll with the Clerk of Court After the commission is mailed to you, enroll it with the Clerk of Court in your county of residence. Bring photo identification; the clerk may charge a fee. Enroll within 15 days under S.C. Code § 26-1-50; the manual states there is no penalty for late enrollment. |
Part 2: Online (RON) Commission
Not applicable as a current SOS remote-online commissioning process. Keep this section so you can re-check the official site if the law changes. Electronic notary registration, if you use it, is in-person electronic notarization (IPEN) only.
Have these ready
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Checklist
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Read the official online-notary instructions Not applicable for RON. Recheck Notaries and Registration Now Open for Electronic Notaries Public before you rely on a third-party claim that South Carolina RON is open. E-notary registration uses the Online Notary Portal, an educational video, a test, and an approved IPEN vendor. |
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Complete online notary education Not applicable for RON. The e-notary portal video and test, if you register as an electronic notary, are for in-person electronic acts. |
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Start the online commission application Not applicable. There is no SOS remote-online commission application. |
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Sign with a digital certificate Not applicable for RON. |
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Upload your electronic seal Not applicable for RON. |
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Pay and submit Not applicable. There is no SOS RON filing fee. Any e-notary portal fee is not printed as a RON amount on the notaries page. |
After You Are Commissioned
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There is no separate remote-online commission to renew. Electronic notary registration does not authorize a remotely located signer.
Fees Listed by the Secretary of State
Amounts below are from Notary Public Application and Renewal Application and South Carolina Notary Public Reference Manual. Confirm clerk-of-court enrollment fees with your county.
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| Traditional notary education | Not listed on the official application as a required course fee |
| Online notary education | Not applicable for RON |
| Traditional application (new or renewal) | $25.00 (plus $1.43 SC.GOV card fee if you pay by credit/debit) |
| Online (RON) application | Not applicable |
| Surety bond | Not listed on the official SOS notary application |
Official South Carolina Links
| Resource | Where to go |
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| Notaries | sos.sc.gov/services-and-filings/notaries |
| Notary Public Application | sos.sc.gov/.../NP_Application_3.18.26.pdf |
| Electronic notary announcement | sos.sc.gov/news/2022-11/registration-now-open-electronic-notaries-public |
Common Questions
Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?
A: No. South Carolina has not legalized remote notarization. Apply only for a traditional commission through your legislative delegation. Electronic notary registration still requires the signer in your physical presence.
Q: Does South Carolina approve a list of RON platforms?
A: No. The SOS does not authorize remote online notarization. Electronic-notary technology vendors register for in-person electronic notarization, not RON.
Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?
A: Recheck Notaries and Notary Public Application and Renewal Application. Ask your county legislative delegation and Clerk of Court about local routing and enrollment fees.
Last Updated: August 26, 2026 | Author: Customer Success Team | Version: v1.0
