Notary Renewal Requirements in South Carolina

The South Carolina Secretary of State (SOS) sends automatic renewal reminders, so you know when to reapply for a notary commission. If your commission expires, you must apply as a new applicant. To avoid this, the SOS recommends submitting a renewal application between eight and 12 weeks before your term expires.

That will provide enough time for your legislative delegation and the SOS to process the application. Since your notary commission lasts for 10 years, no one would blame you if you don't remember the renewal process. Luckily, the notary renewal requirements are essentially the same as the initial application!

This page provides all the information you need to continue acting as a notary public. It explains how to renew and answers frequently asked questions.

The Notary Renewal Process

Assuming you still meet the state's eligibility requirements, follow these steps to renew.

1. Print and Complete the Paper Application

The SOS still requires applicants to print a paper application, but the way to find it may have changed in the past decade. Visit the SOS Notary webpage and look for the Notary Public Application and Renewal Application PDF.

Add your personal information and leave the bottom section blank so your legislative delegation can complete it. You'll also need your voter registration number. If you do not know or remember it, call your County Board of Elections and Voter Registration or visit the South Carolina Election Commission website.

Sign your application in ink in front of a commissioned notary. The notarization date must match your signature date.

Please include a $25 application fee, made payable to the SOS, and mail it to your county delegation office. A list of offices is on the last page of the application.

If there is no delegation office in your county, the House of Representatives will accept your application. In this case, mail your application to:

SC House of Representatives
P.O. Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211-1867

2. Get Your New Notary Commission

When the state approves your application and sends you your renewed commission, you must enroll it with your county's Clerk of Court. You should do so within 15 days of being commissioned pursuant to S.C. Code §26-1-50; however, there is no penalty for late enrollment.

When enrolling, you are usually asked to provide photo identification and must pay a $5.00 fee.

If your new commission misspells your name, cross out the incorrect spelling, clearly write a correction and send it back to the SOS so they can mail you a newly corrected commission.

3. Acquire New Supplies

You will need a new stamp with an updated seal for your new commission. The seal must include your name, the words “notary public” and the words “State of South Carolina.” Stamps purchased from Notaries.com also display the expiration date.

We have served notaries since 1965. We carry self-inking rubber stamps and embosser seals that come in a variety of colors. If you purchase a stamp from us, email a copy of your commission to info@notaries.com so we can create it.

Choosing between an embosser seal or stamp comes down to personal preference. The SOS says rubber stamps appear more clearly on scanned documents. However, if you prefer the raised seal look an embosser provides, a seal inker is a must-have.

A record-keeping journal is not required by law, but we and the SOS strongly recommend it. Keeping a detailed record of your work will provide helpful evidence if you are ever accused of making a notarization mistake.

From stamps to finger printers to gold foil labels, our supplies store has everything you need for new your commission!

South Carolina Renewal FAQs