South Carolina Notary Cost in 2026: $5 Fee Cap and $20 Online Option

In South Carolina, a commissioned notary may charge up to $5 per signature for an acknowledgment, jurat, or signature witnessing. Oaths without a signature are capped at $5 per person, and verification of fact is capped at $5 per certificate. A separately agreed travel fee may be added. Electronic notarization has its own $10-per-signature maximum and is an in-person process under South Carolina's current system.

South Carolina Notary Fee Limits

South Carolina Code & 26-1-100 sets maximum fees for notarial acts performed by a South Carolina notary. The notary may charge less or waive the fee.

• Acknowledgment: up to $5 per signature
• Jurat: up to $5 per signature
• Signature witnessing: up to $5 per signature
• Oath or affirmation without a signature: up to $5 per person
• Verification of fact: up to $5 per certificate

These are maximums, not required prices. A notary who charges must display or provide a fee schedule. See the South Carolina Code, & 26-1-100.

Can a South Carolina Notary Charge a Travel Fee?

Yes. A notary may charge a travel fee when traveling to perform a notarial act if both parties agree to it in advance. The notary must explain that the travel fee is separate from the statutory notarial fee and is not set or required by law. Ask for the full amount before confirming an appointment.

Does South Carolina Allow Online Notarization?

South Carolina recognizes electronic notarization, but its Secretary of State describes the state's electronic notarization process as an in-person process: the notary and signer must be physically present together while using electronic records and signatures. South Carolina electronic notaries may charge up to $10 per signature for electronic notarial acts under & 26-2-70.

That in-person electronic process is different from remote online notarization (RON), where the signer and notary meet by live audio-video. A signer in South Carolina may be able to use a notary commissioned in another state for a RON session, depending on that notary's law and the document's requirements. Before paying, ask the receiving agency, court, employer, or mailbox provider whether it accepts the specific RON certificate and electronic format.

Read the South Carolina Secretary of State's electronic notarization guidance and Title 26, Chapter 2 of the South Carolina Code for details.

Where to Find a Notary in South Carolina

You can check with banks, credit unions, shipping or office-service stores, local law offices, and mobile notaries. These are possibilities, not guaranteed statewide services. Availability, appointment rules, and total charges can differ by location, so call first and ask whether the notary can perform the exact act your document needs.

• Ask whether the notary is available at your preferred time.
• Confirm the fee per signature and any travel or appointment charge.
• Bring current identification and leave the document unsigned if the notarial act requires signing in the notary's presence.
• Check whether witnesses are required and whether you need to bring them.

South Carolina Notary Cost vs. a $20 Online Option

For eligible documents, Notary20 offers remote online notarization for a flat $20 per document. The South Carolina statutory fee caps above describe fees for South Carolina notarial acts; they are not a direct price comparison for every remote session completed under another state's notary commission. Check the provider's total price and confirm that the document and recipient accept RON before proceeding.

For a broader comparison of online notary pricing, see our cheapest online notary guide.

How to Choose the Right Option

• Choose a local South Carolina notary when you need a paper notarization or the recipient specifically requires an in-person act.
• Ask about a mobile notary when travel is difficult, and agree on the travel fee in advance.
• Consider RON when the document is eligible and the receiving party confirms it accepts the format and certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a South Carolina notary free?

No fee is required by law, and a notary may waive it. If a fee is charged for a paper notarial act, the statutory maximums generally apply as listed above.

Is the $5 limit per document?

For acknowledgments, jurats, and signature witnessing, the law sets the maximum per signature. A document with multiple notarized signatures can therefore have a higher notarial fee than one with a single signature.

Can a South Carolina notary notarize a document electronically from a video call?

South Carolina's electronic notarization process requires the signer and the South Carolina electronic notary to be physically present together. A remote video session is a separate RON process and may involve a notary commissioned in a different state. Confirm the applicable rules and recipient acceptance before choosing it.

Does a mobile notary's travel fee count toward the $5 cap?

South Carolina law treats an agreed travel fee separately from the statutory notarial fee. The fee must be agreed to in advance and explained as separate and not mandated by law.

Start an Online Notarization

If your document is eligible for remote online notarization and the recipient accepts it, Notary20 offers a flat $20 per document. Submit your document and identification for review before proceeding.