S.C. Code Ann. § 26-3-20
This is the official text of S.C. Code Ann. § 26-3-20, part of South Carolina’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of South Carolina, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
SECTION 26-3-20. "Notarial acts" defined; notarial acts performed outside of State.
Official statutory text
For the purposes of this chapter, "notarial acts" means acts which the laws and regulations of this State authorize notaries public of this State to perform, including the administering of oaths and affirmations, taking proof of execution and acknowledgments of instruments, and attesting documents. Notarial acts may be performed outside this State for use in this State with the same effect as if performed by a notary public of this State by the following persons authorized pursuant to the laws and regulations of other governments in addition to any other person authorized by the laws and regulations of this State: (1) A notary public authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed; (2) A judge, clerk or deputy clerk of any court of record in the place in which the notarial act is performed; (3) An officer of the foreign service of the United States, a consular agent or any other person authorized by regulation of the United States Department of State to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed; (4) A commissioned officer in active service with the Armed Forces of the United States and any other person authorized by regulation of the Armed Forces to perform notarial acts if the notarial act is performed for one of the following or his dependents: a merchant seaman of the United States, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any other person serving with or accompanying the Armed Forces of the United States, and, further, such commissioned officers and other authorized persons, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed by this chapter, also may perform notarial acts inside this State for use in this State with the same effect as if performed by a notary public of this State; (5) Any other person authorized to perform notarial acts in the place in which the act is performed.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in South Carolina?
Find a South Carolina lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.