SC Notary - South Carolina Notary Prohibited Acts for Notaries Questions and Answers

Question 1

A South Carolina notary is asked by their brother to notarize a vehicle title transfer, where the brother is selling a car to a third party.
The notary has no financial stake in the sale.
Which of the following is the most accurate statement regarding this situation?

Accepted Answer

The notary should notarize the document, as they are not a party to the transaction and have no beneficial interest.

Answer

The notary is strictly prohibited from notarizing for any family member, regardless of the circumstances.

Answer

The notary can only notarize for a family member if a credible witness is present.

Answer

The notary must refuse because notarizing for relatives is always a conflict of interest.

Question 2

A client asks a South Carolina notary which notarial certificate to use on their document: an acknowledgment or a jurat. How should the notary respond?

Accepted Answer

Advise the client to seek guidance from an attorney or the document's receiving agency.

Answer

Explain the differences between the two and recommend the one that seems most appropriate.

Answer

Choose the acknowledgment, as it is the most common type of notarization.

Answer

Refuse the notarization because the document is incomplete without the certificate.

Question 3

Which of the following acts is explicitly prohibited for a South Carolina notary public?

Accepted Answer

Using the term 'Notario Publico' in an advertisement.

Answer

Notarizing a document that is written in a foreign language.

Answer

Charging a travel fee in addition to the standard notarial fee.

Answer

Keeping a journal of notarial acts.

Question 4

A signer brings a two-page contract to a notary. The first page is fully completed, but the second page contains several blank lines where financial details are supposed to be filled in later. The signature line is on the first page. What must the notary do?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to notarize the document until all blank spaces are filled in or crossed out.

Answer

Notarize the signature, as the signature page itself is complete.

Answer

Instruct the signer to write 'N/A' in the blank spaces and then proceed with the notarization.

Answer

Proceed with the notarization but make a note in the journal that the document was incomplete.

Question 5

A South Carolina notary performs a single acknowledgment for a client. According to state law, what is the maximum fee the notary can charge for this specific notarial act, excluding any travel fees?

Accepted Answer

$5.00

Answer

$15.00

Answer

$10.00

Answer

$25.00

Question 6

A notary's close friend, who is also a notary, has an expired commission. The friend asks to borrow the notary's seal 'just for one quick notarization' for a trusted client. Which statement correctly identifies the prohibited act?

Accepted Answer

Allowing another person to use one's official notary seal.

Answer

Notarizing for a friend, which could be a conflict of interest.

Answer

Failing to record the act in a notary journal.

Answer

Charging the client less than the statutory fee.