South Carolina Notary Fees at a Glance
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South Carolina notaries are bound by a specific fee structure set out in state statute. Here, that means a statutory maximum of $5 per notarial act. That figure is the ceiling for a single notarial act — a signature witnessed, an oath administered, or a jurat completed — not a flat fee for an entire document, so a document requiring several notarizations (a power of attorney with multiple signers, for example) can cost more than the per-act number suggests.
South Carolina's per-act fee places it among the cheaper states in the country for notary fees — see the full 50-state ranking on our cheapest states for notary page. Max $5 per notarial act (S.C. Code §26-1-120). Keep in mind that the statutory cap only covers the notarization fee itself; it doesn't include separate charges like mobile travel fees, printing, or after-hours surcharges, which are unregulated in every state and layered on top.
South Carolina Notary Fee Cap: What the Law Says
South Carolina caps notary fees by statute at $5 per notarial act (S.C. Code §26-1-120). It's a hard ceiling, not a suggestion — South Carolina's notary commissioning statute ties the fee directly to the notarial act itself, separate from any travel or convenience charges a mobile notary might add.
For documents that need more than one notarial act — a real estate closing with several signers, for instance — the per-act cap applies to each act separately. Our real estate notary fee guide and power of attorney notary fee guide break down exactly how that adds up for those document types in South Carolina.
Mobile Notary Costs in South Carolina
Mobile notaries — the ones who travel to your home, office, or hospital room — are a different pricing story entirely. Travel fees are unregulated in all 50 states, South Carolina included, so a mobile notary here typically charges $25 to $100 on top of the standard per-act fee just for showing up.
Where you land in that $25–$100 range depends mostly on geography. Dense urban areas — and South Carolina is no exception — tend to sit at the higher end because of traffic, parking, and demand, while rural signings often come in near the low end. Last-minute or after-hours requests usually push the fee higher still. Use the calculator above to plug in your own numbers and see a real total for your South Carolina appointment.
Remote Online Notarization (RON) in South Carolina
South Carolina permits Remote Online Notarization, meaning you can get a document notarized entirely over a live video call rather than driving to an office or waiting for a mobile notary. Expect to pay $25–$50 per session on platforms like Notarize or Proof.
RON is fast — most sessions wrap up in under 15 minutes — and available outside normal business hours, which makes it a strong option for straightforward documents like affidavits, consent forms, and many powers of attorney. It's not universally accepted, though: some real estate closings, court filings, and certain state-specific documents still require a wet-ink, in-person signature, so it's worth confirming acceptance with the receiving party before you book a RON session. See our online notary cost comparison for a full RON-vs-mobile breakdown.
South Carolina Notary Fees vs. Neighboring States
Here's how South Carolina's per-act notary fee and mobile travel range compare to nearby states.
| State | Per-Act Fee | Mobile Travel |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (this page) | $5 | $25–$100 |
| North Carolina | $10 | $25–$100 |
| Georgia | $2 | $25–$100 |
"Per-act fee" shows the statutory maximum where one exists, or the typical market range where the state sets no cap.
Is South Carolina's Notary Fee High or Low?
Where does South Carolina fall nationally? At #15 out of 51 states plus D.C., which makes it among the cheaper states in the country for notary fees. The $5 per act, capped by statute structure here is worth knowing in context — Wisconsin anchors the low end at just $0.50 per act, while Louisiana's fee-unregulated civil-law notaries anchor the high end.
Ranking aside, the number that actually matters is what you'll pay for your specific document in South Carolina. Statutory caps only apply to the notarization itself — travel, printing, and RON session fees are separate line items everywhere, South Carolina included. Use the calculator at the top of this page, or the full 50-state comparison tool, to get a real total.
Common Documents That Need Notarization in South Carolina
Notarization comes up more often than most people expect. In South Carolina, the documents that most commonly require a notary's signature and seal include powers of attorney, real estate deeds and mortgage documents, vehicle title transfers, affidavits and sworn statements, parental consent and travel authorization letters, and loan or estate paperwork.
Each of these document types can involve more than one notarial act, so it's worth checking the specifics before you budget. Our real estate notary fee guide covers deed and closing costs, and our power of attorney notary fee guide covers POA-specific witness rules and pricing in South Carolina and beyond. For anything not covered by a fixed fee — like affidavits or title transfers — the calculator above gives you a fast South Carolina-specific estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions — South Carolina Notary Fees
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How much do mobile notaries charge in South Carolina?
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Is South Carolina's notary fee higher or lower than North Carolina's?
Do I need a notary for a power of attorney in South Carolina?
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