Do you need a bond to be a notary in South Carolina?

No. South Carolina does not require a surety bond. Errors and omissions insurance is optional and only protects the notary, not the public.

Is there an exam or course to become a South Carolina notary?

No. The state requires neither an exam nor a training course, though the Secretary of State offers voluntary notary seminars.

How long does the application take to process?

Usually two to twelve weeks, depending on your county legislative delegation, since the delegation must endorse the application before the Secretary of State processes it.

What if my county has no legislative delegation office?

Mail your application to the South Carolina House of Representatives at P.O. Box 11867, Columbia, SC 29211-1867, which accepts applications for those counties.

Do you have to be a U.S. citizen?

In effect, yes. The law requires you to be a registered South Carolina voter, and voter registration requires U.S. citizenship and state residency.

How to Become a Notary in South Carolina (2026): Steps, Cost & Requirements

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. Rules and fees can change, so confirm everything with the South Carolina Secretary of State before you apply. We link to the official application; we never sell or submit it for you.

Quick answer: To become a notary in South Carolina you must be a registered South Carolina voter who can read and write English. You complete the Secretary of State application, have it notarized, and mail it with the $25 fee to your county legislative delegation, which endorses it before the Governor appoints you. There is no exam, no course, and no bond, and the commission lasts ten years. Use the checklist below to total your real cost.

Open the cost checklist ↓

What does it cost to become a notary in South Carolina?

Becoming a South Carolina notary is cheap compared with most states, usually $40 to $70, because there is no bond and no education fee. The only state charge is the $25 application fee. The rest is your seal, the small fee to have your application notarized, and the county recording fee when you enroll your commission with the clerk of court. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in South Carolina?

You become a South Carolina notary by filing an endorsed application through your county's legislative delegation. The steps, in order, are:

Confirm you are a registered South Carolina voter. You must be registered to vote in the state and able to read and write English; this is the core eligibility rule.
Complete the official Secretary of State application. Add your personal details and voter registration number, and leave the bottom section blank for the legislative delegation.
Sign it before a notary. Sign in ink in front of a commissioned notary, and make sure the notarization date matches your signature date.
Mail it with the $25 fee to your county legislative delegation. If your county has no delegation office, send it to the South Carolina House of Representatives. The delegation verifies your voter registration and endorses the application.
Receive your commission and enroll it. After the Governor's appointment the Secretary of State mails your commission; enroll it with the clerk of court in your county within 15 days and obtain your seal.

Why does South Carolina require you to be a registered voter?

South Carolina is one of the only states that ties the notary office to voter registration, which in effect limits it to U.S. citizens who live in the state. Being a registered South Carolina voter is the central qualification in Section 26-1-15 of the state code, and the county legislative delegation checks your registration as part of endorsing your application. If you are not registered, you must register to vote first; there is no separate residency or citizenship form because voter registration already establishes both.

What are the requirements to become a South Carolina notary?

The requirements are short and among the least demanding in the country. You must be a registered South Carolina voter, be able to read and write English, and submit a truthful application with no material omissions. There is no minimum number of years of residency, no exam, no training course, and no surety bond. A notary seal is required to perform acts, and while a record journal is not mandated, the Secretary of State strongly encourages keeping one.

How long does a South Carolina notary commission last?

A South Carolina notary commission lasts ten years from the date the Secretary of State processes it, one of the longest terms in the nation. The state does not send expiration warnings as a guarantee, so you are responsible for tracking your own date and renewing before it lapses. Because the term is so long, it is easy to forget, and a lapsed commission means you cannot notarize until you reapply.

How do you renew a South Carolina notary commission?

You renew by repeating the original process: complete the application, check the "renew" box, have it notarized, and mail it with another $25 fee to your county legislative delegation. The Secretary of State does send renewal reminders, but the responsibility to renew on time is yours. Once the renewed commission arrives, enroll it again with your county's clerk of court, and update your seal if your name changed or your old seal showed the expiration date.

Can you be a mobile or online notary in South Carolina?

Yes. A mobile notary is a commissioned South Carolina notary who travels to clients and may add an agreed travel fee on top of the per-act fee, which is currently capped at $5 per notarial act; a 2025 bill proposing to raise that cap to $10 remained pending in the legislature. To notarize remotely by audio-video, you first hold a traditional commission and then register as an electronic notary with the Secretary of State under the state's Electronic Notary Public Act.

Becoming a South Carolina notary: frequently asked questions

Do you need a bond to be a notary in South Carolina?: No. South Carolina does not require a surety bond. Errors and omissions insurance is optional and only protects the notary, not the public.
Is there an exam or course to become a South Carolina notary?: No. The state requires neither an exam nor a training course, though the Secretary of State offers voluntary notary seminars.
How long does the application take to process?: Usually two to twelve weeks, depending on your county legislative delegation, since the delegation must endorse the application before the Secretary of State processes it.
What if my county has no legislative delegation office?: Mail your application to the South Carolina House of Representatives at P.O. Box 11867, Columbia, SC 29211-1867, which accepts applications for those counties.
Do you have to be a U.S. citizen?: In effect, yes. The law requires you to be a registered South Carolina voter, and voter registration requires U.S. citizenship and state residency.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: South Carolina Secretary of State, Notary Public; South Carolina Code of Laws Title 26, Chapter 1 (sections 26-1-15, 26-1-20, 26-1-30, 26-1-50). Confirm current fees and steps on the South Carolina Secretary of State website before applying.