Free Practice Questions for South Carolina Notary
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Key Facts: South Carolina Notary Exam
10 years
South Carolina notary commission term
S.C. Code 26-1-10
$5.00
Maximum fee per notarial act for a paper notary
S.C. Code 26-1-100
$0
Surety bond required in South Carolina
SC Secretary of State Notary Public Reference Manual
No state exam
South Carolina does not require a written exam for a regular notary commission
SC Secretary of State notary requirements
Not permitted
Remote online notarization for South Carolina notaries (signer must personally appear)
S.C. Code Title 26; Electronic Notary Public Act (2021)
$25
Application and renewal fee payable to the Secretary of State
S.C. Code 26-1-30
A South Carolina notary commission lasts ten years, is appointed by the Governor and issued by the Secretary of State, and requires no surety bond. The maximum fee is $5.00 per notarial act under S.C. Code 26-1-100, and the application fee is $25. There is no mandatory written state exam for a regular notary, signers must always personally appear, and remote online notarization is not permitted, though in-person electronic notarization is authorized under the 2021 Electronic Notary Public Act.
Sample South Carolina Notary Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the South Carolina Notary exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Who appoints notaries public in South Carolina?
2How long is a South Carolina notary public commission term?
3Which state agency or official issues (commissions) a South Carolina notary public?
4Which of the following is a qualification to become a notary public in South Carolina under Section 26-1-15?
5Does South Carolina require an applicant to pass a written notary exam to receive a regular notary commission?
6Can a person who lives in Georgia but works in South Carolina become a South Carolina notary public?
7What is the application fee for a new South Carolina notary commission (and for renewal)?
8After the Governor appoints and before the Secretary of State commissions a notary, who endorses the application?
9Within how many days of being commissioned should a South Carolina notary enroll the commission with the clerk of court?
10Is a surety bond required to become a notary public in South Carolina?
About the South Carolina Notary Exam
South Carolina notaries public are appointed by the Governor and commissioned by the Secretary of State for ten-year terms, one of the longest notary terms in the country. South Carolina requires no surety bond and no written state exam for a regular commission, but an applicant must be a registered South Carolina voter and obtain a county legislative delegation endorsement. This practice test covers South Carolina notary law under S.C. Code of Laws Title 26.
Exam sponsor: South Carolina Secretary of State (commissions and administers notaries); the Governor appoints, the county legislative delegation endorses, and the county clerk of court enrolls the commission. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
No timed state exam (a notary-law practice test you can take at your own pace)
Passing Score
No official passing score; aim for 90%+ on this practice test to be confident with South Carolina notary law
Exam / Certification Fees
$25 application/renewal fee payable to the Secretary of State (no surety bond required)
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Qualifications & Commissioning
Becoming and renewing a notary: registered South Carolina voter, ability to read and write English, South Carolina residency, the ten-year term, Governor appointment, county legislative delegation endorsement, the $25 fee, the oath of office, and clerk-of-court enrollment within 15 days.
Authorized Notarial Acts
Acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, attestations and jurats, signature witnessing, verifications/proof, statewide jurisdiction, solemnizing marriages in South Carolina, and the copy-affidavit method for photocopies.
Identification, Certificates & Seal
Mandatory personal appearance, confirming identity by personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence, complete English-only certificate wording, signing by hand in ink after the act, and the three required seal elements plus the expiration date.
Fees, Bond & Liability
The $5.00 per-act statutory cap, optional travel fees agreed in advance, the required fee-schedule display, South Carolina's no-bond rule, personal liability, and optional errors-and-omissions coverage.
Electronic Notarization & RON
The 2021 Electronic Notary Public Act, $50 registration, the mandatory course and exam, the electronic journal, the $10 electronic fee cap, the wills-and-trusts exclusion, and why remote (audio-visual) notarization is not authorized for South Carolina notaries.
Prohibited Acts, UPL & Discipline
Self-notarization, blank or incomplete documents, conflicts of interest, certifying vital records, the unauthorized practice of law and notario fraud, misdemeanor penalties up to $500 or 30 days, and forfeiture of the commission on conviction.
Preparing for the South Carolina Notary Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No official passing score; aim for 90%+ on this practice test to be confident with South Carolina notary law
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: No timed state exam (a notary-law practice test you can take at your own pace)
- Exam / certification fees: $25 application/renewal fee payable to the Secretary of State (no surety bond required) Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 200 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
South Carolina Notary: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pass an exam to become a notary in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina does not require a written exam or education course for a regular notary commission. You must be a registered South Carolina voter, submit an application with a county legislative delegation endorsement, take the oath of office, and pay the $25 fee. Only notaries who want electronic-notary authority must complete a course and pass an exam.
How long does a South Carolina notary commission last?
A South Carolina notary commission lasts ten years, one of the longest terms in the nation. There are no automatic renewals or reminders, so you should reapply 8-12 weeks before your expiration date using the same application and the same $25 fee.
Does South Carolina require a surety bond for notaries?
No. South Carolina notaries are not required to be bonded. Because there is no bond, notaries are personally liable for their own errors and misconduct, so many carry optional errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance for protection.
How much can a South Carolina notary charge per notarial act?
Under S.C. Code 26-1-100, the maximum fee is $5.00 per notarial act (per signature, per person, or per certificate depending on the act). Charging a fee is optional, but if you charge you must conspicuously display a fee schedule. An agreed-upon travel fee may be added separately, and electronic notaries may charge up to $10 per signature.
Can South Carolina notaries perform remote online notarization (RON)?
No. South Carolina does not authorize its notaries to perform remote online notarization; the signer must always physically appear, even for an electronic notarization. South Carolina does, however, recognize valid RON performed by notaries commissioned in states that authorize it.
What must appear on a South Carolina notary seal?
The seal or stamp must include the notary's name, the words 'notary public', and the words 'State of South Carolina'. The commission expiration date may be added but is optional in the seal, and you should indicate it below your signature. Either a rubber stamp or an embosser seal is acceptable.