A notary public is a person who is appointed or commissioned by a state to act as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. Notary public appointments are usually handled by a state’s Secretary of State’s office and require a potential notary to meet eligibility requirements, take a notary training course, and pass a state notary exam.

Many different types of legal documents may need to be notarized—such as an affidavit, contract, will, trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for health care, divorce papers, deed, mortgage, or deed of trust.

In South Carolina, a notary public is an individual commissioned by the state to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. The process of becoming a notary public in South Carolina is overseen by the Secretary of State's office. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain requirements, which typically include being at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the state, and able to read and write English. Applicants are also required to complete a notary training course and pass a state-administered exam. Once commissioned, notaries in South Carolina are authorized to notarize various legal documents such as affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney (including those for health care), divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust. It is important for notaries to perform their duties with diligence, as they play a crucial role in the legal process by verifying the identity of signers and ensuring that documents are signed willingly and without duress.