No — a notary public cannot take your fingerprints as a notarial act. Fingerprinting is not on any state’s list of authorized notary duties. The confusion is understandable: a few states require notaries to collect a thumbprint in their journal for certain transactions, and some notaries separately hold a fingerprinting license and offer that service on the side. Neither makes fingerprinting part of the notary commission itself.
Why the Answer Is No
A notary public is a state-commissioned official with a narrow, statute-defined set of duties. Those duties center on verifying signer identity and witnessing signatures: acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, copy certifications, and signature witnessings. That short list is essentially the full scope of a notary commission. Notaries cannot give legal advice, draft documents for others, or perform services their state has not specifically authorized.
Fingerprinting appears nowhere on any state’s list of authorized notarial acts. It is a separate function governed by the state agency that oversees criminal background checks, not the office that commissions notaries.
The Journal Thumbprint Is Not Fingerprinting
Here is where most of the confusion starts. A handful of states require notaries to collect a single thumbprint in their own journal when notarizing certain high-value documents, most commonly deeds, deeds of trust, and powers of attorney affecting real property. The signer presses a thumb into the notary’s journal alongside the other record-keeping entries.
That thumbprint stays in the notary’s journal. It is not submitted to the FBI, a state agency, or any database. Its only purpose is to create a biometric record tying the signer to that transaction on that date, in case the signer’s identity is later disputed. If the right thumb is unavailable, the notary typically uses the left thumb or another finger and notes the substitution.
This is fundamentally different from what fingerprinting providers do. A journal thumbprint is a private record kept by the notary. A fingerprinting service captures a full set of prints for submission to law enforcement or a licensing agency. Different purpose, different process, different legal framework.
Notaries Who Also Offer Fingerprinting
You will find businesses that advertise both notary and fingerprinting services. Do not read that as evidence that fingerprinting is a notarial act. Those providers hold a notary commission and, separately, have obtained whatever certification their state requires to operate as a fingerprinting technician. They are wearing two hats, and each hat comes with its own rules.
Requirements for fingerprint technicians vary by state, but they generally involve an application, a background check, and certification fees, with certain law enforcement and government personnel exempt. Standards for equipment and training are set by the state agency responsible for criminal background checks.
Where to Actually Get Fingerprinted
If you need fingerprints for a background check, professional license, or employment screening, several options exist depending on what your requesting agency accepts.
Law Enforcement Agencies
Many police departments and sheriff’s offices offer fingerprinting to the public by appointment. These agencies usually provide ink-on-card fingerprinting, where a technician rolls your fingers in ink and presses them onto an FBI-standard card. Often the most affordable route, though not every local agency offers it and hours can be limited.
Live Scan Providers
Live scan is the digital alternative. An electronic scanner captures your prints and transmits them directly to the requesting agency, cutting processing time from weeks to days. Your state’s department of justice or equivalent maintains a list of approved live scan locations. Hospitals, shipping stores, and dedicated fingerprinting businesses all commonly serve as approved sites. One practical advantage: the technician can see image quality in real time and retake a print on the spot if it comes out unclear.
FBI-Approved Channelers
For federal background checks, the FBI maintains a list of approved channelers — contractors authorized to accept fingerprint submissions, forward them to the FBI, and return the results. Only entities authorized by federal or state statute can request a fingerprint-based background check on someone else; individuals can request their own records through a separate departmental process.1FBI. Channeler FAQs
Mobile Fingerprinting Services
Mobile providers travel to your home, office, or another location to take prints. Convenient for people with mobility limitations, tight schedules, or employers who need to fingerprint a group on-site. Expect a travel fee on top of the standard service charge. Most mobile providers offer both ink and live scan, depending on their equipment.
What It Costs
Total cost depends on the method, the provider, and any government processing fees your submission triggers.
- Ink-on-card rolling fee: typically $20 to $50 at a law enforcement agency or private provider. Some sheriff’s offices charge as little as $35 for up to three cards.
- Live scan rolling fee: usually $10 to $50, with wide variation by provider and location.
- Government processing fees: paid on top of the rolling fee. State-level fees are commonly around $30, and the FBI processing fee is typically around $17. Not every submission requires both.
- Mobile service surcharge: varies by provider and distance. Call ahead for a quote.
A straightforward live scan for a state and federal background check usually lands between $50 and $100. Government processing fees are generally non-refundable even if your prints are rejected and have to be resubmitted, so choosing an experienced technician with well-maintained equipment matters.
Biometric Privacy
Fingerprints are biometric data, and a growing number of states regulate how businesses collect, store, and use that information. These laws generally require the collecting entity to tell you why prints are being taken, how long they will be stored, and to get your written consent before proceeding. Some jurisdictions impose significant penalties for skipping those steps.
For most people getting fingerprinted, this works in your favor. A legitimate provider will walk through consent paperwork and explain retention as part of intake. If a provider skips the consent forms or cannot answer basic questions about what happens to your data, treat that as a reason to walk away.