Secretary of State Mark Hammond announced that his office will be providing a free, in-person notary public seminar in Lexington County this August.

There are also two others in Greenville County and in Charleston County and according to a press release from Hammon’s office, these seminars will provide comprehensive information for South Carolina notaries and those interested in becoming a notary, as well as information on electronic notarization.

Each seminar will begin at 6 p.m. and will likely end at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

The one in Lexington County will be on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 at Midlands Technical College - Airport campus, located at 1260 Lexington Dr. in the Academic Center Auditorium’s room 116.

The registration link is https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-free-notary-public-seminar-lexington-county-tickets-917336537277?aff=oddtdtcreator and can also be found at sos.sc.gov.

“Attendees are welcome to register for and attend any notary seminar convenient to them regardless of their county of residence or the location of the seminar,” the press release read. “If you are unable to attend a seminar in person, please take advantage of the South Carolina Notary Public Reference Manual and the Notary Webinar found on the Notaries page of the Secretary of State’s website. Please note that notaries are not required to attend an in-person seminar, and that the seminars are intended to provide general information on South Carolina law governing notarization and notaries public.”

There is also an online payment option for those seeking to become a notary public or renew their notary commission.

“I am pleased to offer this option for notary applicants who would prefer the convenience of paying online, rather than submitting a check or money order with their application,” Hammond said in the press release.

The notary public application can be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s website, and applicants may select the option of paying the $25.00 application fee when submitting the form to their legislative delegation for approval.

South Carolina notaries are public officials who serve as impartial witnesses and protect against fraud. Once commissioned, it is the responsibility of the notary to maintain the level of training necessary to perform the duties of the position as required by law. The full text of South Carolina’s notary public law can be found on the State House Website. The South Carolina Electronic Notary Public Act is available online as well.

For additional information, visit the Secretary of State’s website or contact the Notaries Division at notaries@sos.sc.gov.