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.
The answer generally is “no” — Notary commissions are not transferable between states. If you are relocating to another state, you need to resign your current commission and apply for a Notary commission in your new state.
Can a Notary Legally Notarize Out-of-State Documents? Yes, a notary public can legally notarize documents from any state as long as the notarial act occurs in the state in which they were commissioned.
To become a notary in multiple states, you must follow each state's requirements individually. This typically involves: Meeting each state's eligibility criteria. This usually means being a resident of the state, being over 18 years of age, having no felony convictions, and having a high school diploma or equivalent.
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.
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.
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.