South Carolina notary surety bond

A South Carolina notary surety bond is a promise, backed by a surety company, that helps pay a person who is harmed by a mistake or by misconduct of a notary. The bond is for the public. It is not for the notary. If the surety pays a claim, the notary usually has to pay the surety back.

South Carolina notary bond at a glance

Commission term

Ten years

Commissioned by

South Carolina Governor (commissions administered by the Secretary of State; applications require county legislative delegation endorsement)

South Carolina does not require a notary bond. Applicants need endorsement from their county legislative delegation before the Governor commissions them.

A notary bond does not replace notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. The bond pays the public. E&O protects you.

State rules change. Always check with the South Carolina commissioning authority for the current requirements before you apply. Details on this page were last checked on 2026-08-13.

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A notary bond protects the public. E&O insurance is intended to protect you, the notary, against a claim that comes from an error, a mistake or alleged misconduct in your notarial work. Many South Carolina notaries add an E&O policy next to the bond.