ANDERSON, SC - Secretary of State Mark Hammond is offering a free notary public seminar July 26, 2007, for all current South Carolina notaries and those interested in become a notary public. The seminar will address state laws governing notaries, notary responsibility and liability, and penalties.

The Anderson County seminar will be held at the County Council Chambers, 101 S. Main Street, Anderson. Registration at the seminar will begin at 6:00 pm and the course will conclude by 7:30 pm. Contact Pat Hamby of the Secretary of State’s Office at (803) 734-2512 or phamby@sos.sc.gov to pre-register.

For a complete listing of seminars offered across South Carolina, visit our Notary Webpage at http://www.scsos.com/notary_seminar.htm.

According to the Secretary's website, the Office of the Secretary of State is responsible for the commissioning of Notaries Public for South Carolina and keeping the original copies of the Oath of Office on file. This office also provides state authentication.

Each Notary Public has the power to: administer oaths; take depositions and affidavits; take protests for non-payment of bonds, notes, drafts and bills of exchange; take acknowledgements and proofs of deeds and other instruments required by law to be acknowledged; perform all other acts provided by law. A notary public cannot certify copies.