A notary public typically earns their income by charging fees for their services. Specific costs, however, depend on many important factors, such as the type of notarial act performed, state law and the notary’s experience level.

An established notary working with highly sensitive legal documents may charge their state’s maximum fee, while a newer notary with less first-hand knowledge might choose to charge less.

There may be no simple answer to how much a notary charges, but we can still help. In this article, we'll define common notary services, describe the different costs and outline the state fees.

Pricing for Notary Services

Notaries can charge for each service they perform. However, because notaries are state-appointed public officials, many states set limits on fees in an effort to keep pricing fair.

Broadly speaking, the prices for notary services could be fixed, follow a state-approved notary fee schedule or have no limitations.

Common Services Defined

Here are simple definitions for common services to help you understand what we show in our pricing table.

Acknowledgments: This is when a notary verifies a signer’s identity before they sign any documents. They also make a signer acknowledge that they understand what they are signing and are doing so of their own free will.

Verbal Oaths and Affirmations: When a client stands in front of a notary and gives a verbal promise to a higher power or on their own honor that they are being truthful. This can sometimes be used in place of a signature.

Jurats: This usually takes the form of an oath, when a signer appears in front of a notary and swears or affirms that the contents of the document are true and accurate.

RON: Stands for remote online notarization. It allows individuals to connect with a notary over the internet. Authorized online notaries work with electronic documents for clients located anywhere in the country over a secure audio-video connection.

Notary Fees by State

Here's a breakdown of the maximum amounts a notary may charge in each state. Keep in mind that RON often has a separate fee.

If a state is not listed, it means there is no established fee limit. But those states still have some requirements that we cover after the table.

Always check your state's regulations for accurate and up-to-date information.

How Notaries Can Legally Increase Their Income

You may live in a state that limits what you can charge per notarization, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find more ways to earn.

Here are a few different ways you can offer additional services and legally increase your income.

Become a Signing Agent

A signing agent is a notary who completes a training course on working with complex loan documents like mortgages. Once you become certified, notarizing loans is a great way to avoid state fee restrictions.

The extra knowledge and training come at a premium; signing agents are independent contractors and can earn between $75 and $200 per signing appointment.

This increased earning potential comes from charging a client for additional services like guiding them through a loan contract, printing loan documents, mailing the loan package and transportation expenses (if applicable).

Charge a Travel Fee

A mobile notary travels to their clients to perform their duties instead of working from a fixed location. This way, you can charge additional fees based on traveling to your customers.

States typically assess travel fees in two ways: by the mile or by the total time spent traveling.

Some general best practices for determining travel fees include keeping them separate from notarization costs and disclosing all travel-related fees in advance.

As always, check your state's official notary handbook or current notary legislation to find specific figures and guidelines.

If a specific state isn't listed below, that means it doesn’t regulate travel fees or it allows notaries to set their own fees within reason.

States that have maximum travel fees:

States with mileage-based fee rates:

Mileage rates can change every year; check your state’s laws!

States with general fee guidelines:

These states have no specific fee limitations, but many have basic requirements, such as requiring a signer to agree to any travel-related charges beforehand.

Price Transparency

The best way to avoid frustrated customers is to answer all their price-related questions upfront. It’s so important, in fact, that some states require it!

Whether you need to or not, we recommend creating a professional fee schedule. Think of it like a food menu: include the name, a short summary of the service, and a price. Then, post the finalized schedule on your website, social media profile or any other platform where potential clients can easily access it.

That way, they will know exactly how much your notary services cost and can make a faster, more informed decision about hiring you.

Additional Resources

A notary makes most of their income collecting fees for completing their services, and most states set limits on those fees. Understanding your state’s limitations (or lack thereof) is vital to maintaining a successful notary business.

For more information on earning income as a notary, check out some of our other articles:

• How to Start a Notary Business From the Ground Up
• Learn how to become a commissioned notary, set up your business legally and start attracting paying clients.
• Become a Part-Time Notary
• Curious about part-time work? Find out how to price your services and earn extra income on your own schedule.
• Ways to Make More Money as a Notary
• See how specializing in a niche can elevate your earnings.