New York. New York has one of the toughest tests to become a Notary. The Empire State requires Notary applicants to take and pass an exam in order to receive a commission. However, the state does not require any training so applicants are on their own to learn the material covered in the exam.
The commission states the notary's name and term expiration date. The application process can take anywhere from 2-12 weeks, depending on the county in which the applicant resides.
The short answer is yes, notary publics are legally allowed to notarize documents from any state as long the notarial act is conducted within the geographical boundaries of the notary's state of commission.
To apply to become a South Carolina Notary Public or renew your notary commission, you must complete the paper application Notary Public Application and Renewal Application (PDF) to mail to your county delegation office or the House of Representatives if you do not have a delegation office in your county.
California. California has some of the most stringent application requirements for Notaries in the U.S. — including a required education course and background check — and the mandatory exam is among the most challenging in any state.
One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.
In 2022, South Carolina passed Senate Bill 631, recognizing and regulating RON. Regulations focus on security, user verification, and protecting user data. Notaries must register with the Secretary of State and use approved technology with multi-factor authentication.
The South Carolina Electronic Notary Public Act was signed into law in May 2021, and regulations for electronic notarization were finalized in June 2022.
There are no exemptions to the “personal appearance” golden rule. The signer must be physically in the presence of the notary, face-to-face, in the same room at the time of the execution of the notarization. This very important rule also applies to the execution of an electronic notarization.