Notarizing a document in the United States typically costs between $2 and $25 per signature for standard in-person service, and most states cap the fee somewhere between $5 and $15. What you actually pay depends on your state, how many signatures the document needs, and whether you want the notary to travel to you, meet you online, or handle a full mortgage closing. Banks, libraries, and military legal offices often provide the service for free.
State Maximum Fees for In-Person Notarization
Every state except a handful sets a statutory ceiling on what a notary can charge for a basic in-person act. Common maximums for a single acknowledgment or jurat break down like this:
- $2 per signature: New York, Georgia
- $5 per signature: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina
- $10 per signature: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming
- $15 per signature: California, Colorado, Nevada, Washington
- $25 per signature: Rhode Island
California law limits the charge for taking an acknowledgment or proof of a deed to fifteen dollars per signature, and that ceiling covers the notary’s seal and written certificate.1California Legislative Information. California Government Code 8211 Florida caps the fee at ten dollars for any single notarial act.2Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 117 Section 05
Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, and Maine do not set a statutory cap. Notaries in those states can charge what the market supports, but they are generally required to disclose the fee to you before performing the act.
Per Signature or Per Act
Most states charge per signature or per notarial act rather than per document or per page. A single document signed by three people can trigger three separate fees. One person who signs but needs both an acknowledgment and a sworn jurat may owe two.
A few states calculate differently. Ohio prices its fee per notarial act, so a document with multiple signatures notarized together still costs one fee, capped at five dollars for in-person work.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 147 Before you sit down with a notary, ask how they count. It changes the math on any document with more than one signer.
Remote Online Notarization Fees
If you meet a notary through a live video call instead of in person, the caps are higher. The most common statutory maximum for a remote notarial act is $25, which applies in more than a dozen states including Colorado, Florida, Indiana, New York, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Ohio allows up to $30 per remote act plus a separate technology fee of up to $10 for the secure video platform.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 147
Several states split the remote fee into two parts: the regulated notarial act fee and a technology or platform surcharge. New Mexico sets its base fee at $5 but allows up to $25 in additional technology charges. Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming also authorize a technology surcharge on top of the standard per-act fee.
Not every state has authorized remote online notarization, and some that permit it default to the same cap as in-person acts. Confirm your state recognizes the service and ask the provider for a breakdown of the notarial fee plus any platform charges before you book.
Mobile Notary and Travel Fees
When a notary comes to your home, office, or hospital, the per-signature fee stays regulated but travel time and mileage are extra. Those surcharges are usually not capped as tightly as the notarial act itself, and they often exceed the cost of the signature. A mobile notary visit commonly runs $50 to $150 or more depending on distance and time of day.
Some states do regulate travel charges. Nevada caps travel at $15 per hour between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. and $30 per hour between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., with a two-hour minimum, and the hourly rate must be agreed to in advance. The notary must also explain that the travel charge is separate from the notarization fee and is not required by law.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes 240.100 – Fees for Services, Additional Fees for Travel Expenses
Even where travel fees are not specifically capped, notaries are generally required to disclose the charge and get your agreement before heading out. Ask for a written quote that separates the notarization fee from the travel surcharge.
Mortgage Closings and Loan Signing Agents
A real estate closing package can run 100 pages or more with multiple notarized signatures. Rather than paying per signature at the state maximum, lenders usually hire a loan signing agent, a notary who specializes in walking borrowers through the stack.
Signing agents generally charge $75 to $200 per appointment, depending on whether they come through a signing service or work directly with the lender or title company. Borrowers rarely pay this out of pocket. It is typically rolled into the closing costs shown on your Closing Disclosure, where it usually appears as a “notary fee” line item.
Some states set flat rates for real estate work. New Jersey allows a notary to charge $15 per transaction for notarizations tied to a property transfer and $25 per transaction for mortgage financing, regardless of how many signatures are involved.
Where to Find Low-Cost or Free Notarization
Plenty of places will notarize a document for free or close to it. Banks and credit unions are the most common. Most branches have a commissioned notary on staff and will notarize for account holders at no charge. Call ahead, because not every branch employee has an active commission.
- Public libraries often keep a notary on staff and charge a small fee or nothing at all.
- County clerk offices, courthouses, and some city halls offer notarization for a low administrative charge.
- UPS Store, FedEx Office, and similar retailers provide walk-in service, typically at or near the state maximum per signature.
Free Notarization for Military Members
Active-duty service members, their dependents, and others eligible for military legal assistance can get documents notarized at no cost. Federal law authorizes judge advocates, legal assistance attorneys, and designated military personnel to perform notarial acts, and prohibits any fee from being charged or received for the service.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 1044a – Authority to Act as Notary You can find your nearest military legal assistance office through Military OneSource or your installation’s legal office.
What to Do if a Notary Overcharges
Charging more than the state maximum is a serious violation. Depending on the state, consequences can include fines, suspension of the commission, or permanent revocation. Ohio law specifically lists charging a fee greater than the amount prescribed by law as a prohibited act, and the secretary of state may revoke the commission on evidence of official misconduct.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 147
If you think you were overcharged, file a complaint with your state’s commissioning authority, usually the secretary of state’s office. Keep your receipt showing the amount and the type of notarial act performed. Overcharging alone does not automatically invalidate the notarized document.