Both states would want you to declare residency in that state. You are a resident of the state that you write on your federal income tax form. You can be a notary in that state and not the other one. You could be an exception to this rule if you have a business address in the other state and that state allows people to become a notary for business purposes. Carefully check that rule before applying in the second state.
Regardless who paid for the commission, the commission certificate, stamp and recordbook belong to the notary. If you leave your place of employment you must take these things with you.
No. South Carolina notaries public are not issued an identifying number. They are identified by their name and commission expiration date.
Attorneys are not automatically notaries public. They must apply and be commissioned like any other member of the public.
South Carolina notaries public are not required to be bonded.
South Carolina notaries public are not required to keep notary journals. However, it is STRONGLY encouraged. It is a good idea to have a record of all notarial acts performed in case questions arise related to the execution of a document.
The South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office is not authorized to investigate or penalize notaries public. There are several actions prohibited by law that are misdemeanors. Therefore, these activities should be reported to local law enforcement. If a notary public is convicted of one of the misdemeanors set forth in Title 26, Chapter 1 of the S.C. Code of Laws, the notary public will forfeit his or her commission at that time and not be issued another commission.
Yes, you can. Your impartiality has to do with the person you are notarizing for and the transaction involved. You would be able to be impartial.
A notary public’s jurisdiction extends throughout the State of South Carolina, but does not extend beyond its borders (§26-1-80). Jurisdiction is limited to the physical borders of South Carolina and notarial acts cannot be performed outside of the state. However, documents for use in another state may be notarized in South Carolina so long as the notarization physically takes place within the borders of the state. South Carolina law does not allow out-of-state residents to become South Carolina notaries public, even if they are employed within the State of South Carolina.
Some states have detailed laws prohibiting a notary from performing a notarial act for relatives, including a spouse. Other states do not mention notarizing for family. No matter your state’s laws, we strongly recommends you not notarize for immediate family members. The notary has to be impartial. Notarizing the signature of a spouse for a business that brings money into the household impairs the notary’s impartiality.
‘Notarial Certificate’ means the portion of a notarized record that is completed by the notary, bears the notary’s signature and seal, and states the facts attested by the notary on that record. When notarizing a document, a South Carolina notary public MUST always use a statement to confirm that the signing party is physically in their presence. For example, “Sworn and Subscribed before me on this __ day of __, 20__.”
