2014 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 26 - Notaries Public and Acknowledgements
CHAPTER 1 - NOTARIES PUBLIC
SECTION 26-1-230. Issuance of certificate of authority or Apostille.

(A) The Secretary shall not issue a certificate of authority or an Apostille for a document if the Secretary has cause to believe that the certificate is desired for an unlawful or improper purpose. The Secretary may examine not only the document for which a certificate is requested, but also any documents to which the previous seals or other certifications may have been affixed by other authorities. The Secretary may request any additional information that may be necessary to establish that the requested certificate will serve the interests of justice and is not contrary to public policy, including a certified or notarized English translation of document text in a foreign language.

(B) The Secretary shall not issue a certificate of authority or an Apostille if:

(1) a seal or signature cannot be authenticated by either the Secretary or another official;

(2) the seal or signature is of a foreign official; or

(3) the document is a facsimile, photocopy, photographic, or other reproduction of a signature or seal.

(C) The Secretary may not include within the certificate of authority or Apostille any statement that is not within the Secretary's power or knowledge to authenticate. The Secretary may not certify that a document has been executed or certified in accordance with the law of any particular jurisdiction or that a document is a valid document in a particular jurisdiction.

HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 185 (S.356), Section 1, eff June 2, 2014.