What does South Carolina call proof of service?
Certificate or affidavit
Document Guides
South Carolina affidavit of service
The current circuit form is a reason to send the unsigned page for a notarial act. A commercial-delivery affidavit and a printer's publication affidavit are different documents. A subpoena certificate is not this jurat.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
What proof does South Carolina use, and does it explicitly require a notary?
Certificate or affidavit. The current circuit form is a reason to send the unsigned page for a notarial act. A commercial-delivery affidavit and a printer's publication affidavit are different documents. A subpoena certificate is not this jurat.
A traditional notarial act is explicit for the private-server path described on this page. Send the unsigned form before scheduling.
Proof at a glance
| Question | This jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Proof name | Certificate or affidavit |
| Private server | Notary jurat on SCCA 402 CP |
| Officer | Sheriff certificate |
| Traditional notary explicit? | Yes, on the current form |
| Perjury alternative? | No |
| Recipient acceptance of remote notarization | No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed. |
Current controlling rule
South Carolina proof is controlled, for this guide, by SCRCP 4(g) and 4(h). The current circuit form is a reason to send the unsigned page for a notarial act. A commercial-delivery affidavit and a printer's publication affidavit are different documents. A subpoena certificate is not this jurat.
The date stored for the current text is 2022-05-02. A later amendment is not described as current.
What this jurisdiction calls the proof
The opened materials call it: Certificate or affidavit. Classification used in the authority record: affidavit explicit oath.
Private process server
Any other person files an affidavit. Form SCCA 402 CP, revised April 2026, prints a notary jurat. Rule 4(g) says affidavit and does not itself name the officer.
Sheriff, officer, or other listed server
A sheriff or deputy files a certificate.
Is an oath or notary explicitly required?
The current official form or rule names an oath officer or prints a jurat for the private-server path described above.
No penalty-of-perjury alternative was identified for this proof path.
Current official form
Affidavit of Service (SCCA 402 CP), revision 04/2026. Signature block: jurat.
When a different kind of process uses different proof
out of state: Rule 4(h), last amended by order dated May 2, 2022, requires an out-of-state affidavit before a listed officer, including a notary who affixes a seal. The rule does not mention remote appearance.
subpoena: Subpoena proof under Rule 45 is a certificate, not the SCCA 402 CP affidavit.
Remote online notarization and court acceptance
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. When the commission is a Florida commission, Florida's remote online notarization statute governs the notarial act. The court or other recipient still decides whether to accept the return.
If the unsigned page prints a jurat, a commissioned U.S. online notary can complete that notarial section. That is not a ruling that service was valid.
Start when the page prints a jurat
Need a proof-of-service affidavit notarized? Start an online notary request.
What to send iRemoteNotary
- The unsigned proof, return, or affidavit
- The court, and that the case is connected to South Carolina
- The form number and revision if one is printed
- Whether the signature block is a jurat or a perjury declaration
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Process-serving companies and law firms
A coordinator can submit the request. The signer is the person named on the certificate. There is no organization account, dashboard, volume price, or court-filing service.
One signer and one notarization is $25 domestically. Each additional notarization is $15. An additional signer is $10. A witness is $15. An international session coordination fee of $25 applies when a signer is outside the United States. An international session commonly starts at $50 for one signer and one notarization.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sheriff or officer use the same signature block?
A sheriff or deputy files a certificate.
Is a penalty-of-perjury declaration an alternative?
No alternative of that kind was identified for this proof path.
Did the official materials expressly accept remote notarization of the proof?
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Related pages
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
South Carolina Rule of Civil Procedure 4(opens in a new tab)
South Carolina
Accessed October 7, 2026
SCCA 402 CP(opens in a new tab)
South Carolina
Accessed October 7, 2026
Send the unsigned page
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.