SC Notary - South Carolina Notary General Duties and Responsibilities Questions and Answers

Question 1

A South Carolina notary public's primary responsibility is to:

Accepted Answer

Verify the identity of the person signing the document and witness the signing.

Answer

Provide legal advice to the signers of a document.

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Ensure the terms of the document are fair and equitable for all parties.

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Draft legal documents for members of the public.

Question 2

A person comes to you with a document that has already been signed. They state they signed it yesterday and just need you to notarize it now. As a South Carolina notary, what is the appropriate course of action?

Accepted Answer

You must refuse to notarize the signature unless the person acknowledges their signature in your presence.

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You can proceed with the notarization as long as you can verify their identity.

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You can notarize the document, but you must backdate the notarial certificate to the day they signed.

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You should have them sign the document again above their original signature.

Question 3

Which of the following acts is a South Carolina notary public authorized to perform?

Accepted Answer

Administering an oath or affirmation.

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Certifying a copy of a birth certificate.

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Notarizing their own signature on a document.

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Providing an opinion on the legality of a contract.

Question 4

Regarding a notary journal, what is the requirement in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

South Carolina law does not require notaries to keep a journal, but it is strongly encouraged.

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A notary must maintain a journal and submit it to the Secretary of State annually.

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A journal is mandatory and must be kept in a locked, fireproof safe.

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A notary only needs to keep a journal for real estate transactions.

Question 5

A South Carolina notary public changes their legal name during their 10-year commission. What is their responsibility?

Accepted Answer

File a Change of Status Request with the Secretary of State's Office within 45 days.

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Continue notarizing under their old name until the commission expires.

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Wait for their commission to expire and then reapply with the new name.

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Inform their employer of the name change, which is sufficient.

Question 6

Under South Carolina law, a notary public may not perform a notarial act if they:

Accepted Answer

Are individually a party to or beneficiary of the record being notarized.

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Are an employee of a corporation that is a party to the document.

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Will receive a fee of $5.00 for the notarial act.

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Reside in a different county than where the notarization takes place.