Notary costs by states 2024: How much does a notary cost?
Are you creating a legal document, such as a real estate deed or business contract? If yes, you will likely need the professional services of a notary public in your state. If you need something notarized, you may be worried about notary costs.
It is important to consider notary cost or fees whether you would like to notarize a legal document, a letter, or a financial document. So, what does a notary public cost?
The cost of a notary public varies considerably depending on where you live. This means that the fee for notarizing the same document may differ in New York and California. You should take a close look at the information regarding the notary fee and ensure you understand how this works.
Commissioned by the US government, a notary public ensures that the document, such as a trust deed, has a valid signature, one that was not coerced or made under duress. After that, they add an official notary stamp to your contract or document as proof. Keep in mind that notarization is vital if you want your legal document to hold weight in court.
However, notaries can’t legally charge fees beyond the maximums or caps set by the state in which they operate or are licensed. Notaries have the right to charge any fee up to the maximum amount allowed under their state’s notary fee schedule.
When are notary public fees applicable?
Notary cost or notary fees are the expenses associated with getting a document notarized and will vary considerably from one state to another. Fees for notary services apply anytime you need a contract, property deed, living will, or other legal document notarized.
A notary fee may be required or apply in a variety of scenarios. In general, you might need to get important papers notarized, such as loan documents or legal documents. The validity and truthfulness of all the information on the paperwork must be attested by a notary public. You might have to pay a notary fee if the document needs to be signed in front of a notary public.
Notary costs by state
Notarizations also represent significant milestones in your life. You may, for example, need a notary to finalize the paperwork for adopting a child, buying a home, getting married, or preparing your trust or will.
This is why you should know the notary fee in your state. The costs of notary services tend to vary depending on the state. States can set a maximum notary fee that notaries can charge. Many notaries charge on a per signature basis.
Did you know that a handful of US states don’t regulate the fee? This means that the notary public can set their own fees, but the highest notary fee in states that regulate it is $20.
Notary costs for Acknowledgments, Jurats, and Verbal Oath/Affirmation
| State | Acknowledgments | Jurats | Verbal Oath/ Affirmation |
| Alabama | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Alaska | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Am. Samoa | $10 ‡ | $10 ‡ | $20 ‡ |
| Arizona | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Arkansas | No fee schedule, but signer must agree to it in advance | No fee schedule, but signer must agree to it in advance | No fee schedule, but signer must agree to it in advance |
| California | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| Colorado | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Connecticut | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Delaware | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| DC | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Florida | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Georgia | $2 | $2 | $2 |
| Guam | $10 ‡ | $10 ‡ | $10 |
| Hawaii | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Idaho | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Illinois | $1 | $1 | $1 |
| Indiana | $10 ‡ | $10 ‡ | $10 ‡ |
| Iowa | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Kansas | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Kentucky | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Louisiana | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Maine | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Maryland | $4 | $4 | $4 |
| Massachusetts | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Michigan | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Minnesota | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Mississippi | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Missouri | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Montana | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Nebraska | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Nevada | $15 | $15 | $7.50 |
| New Hampshire | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| New Jersey | $2.50 / $15** | $2.50 / $15** | $2.50 / $15** |
| New Mexico | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| New York | $2 | $2 | $2 |
| North Carolina | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| North Dakota | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Northern Marianas | $2 | $2 | $2 |
| Ohio | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Oklahoma | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Oregon | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Pennsylvania | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Puerto Rico | Fees vary depending on the act | Fees vary depending on the act | Fees vary depending on the act |
| Rhode Island | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| South Carolina | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| South Dakota | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Tennessee | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Texas | $6 | $6 | $6 |
| US Virgin Islands | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Utah | $10 ‡ | $10 ‡ | $10 ‡ |
| Vermont | No fee schedule | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Virginia | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Washington | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| West Virginia | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Wisconsin | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Wyoming | $10 | $10 | $10 |
Notary costs for travel fees and Remote Online Notarization (RON)
| State | Travel Fees (set by) | RON |
| Alabama | – | N/A |
| Alaska | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Am. Samoa | – | N/A |
| Arizona | Dept. of Admin | $10 |
| Arkansas | No fee schedule, but signer must agree to it in advance | N/A |
| California | Not set † | N/A |
| Colorado | – | N/A |
| Connecticut | $0.35 per mile | N/A |
| Delaware | – | N/A |
| DC | Not set † | Not set † |
| Florida | – | $25 |
| Georgia | Not set † | N/A |
| Guam | – | N/A |
| Hawaii | – | $25 |
| Idaho | $5 | Not set |
| Illinois | – | N/A |
| Indiana | US General Services Admin | $25 |
| Iowa | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Kansas | No fee schedule | N/A |
| Kentucky | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Louisiana | No fee schedule | N/A |
| Maine | No fee schedule | N/A |
| Maryland | IRS ($5 max.) | $4 |
| Massachusetts | No fee schedule | N/A |
| Michigan | Not set † | $10 |
| Minnesota | – | $25 |
| Mississippi | Not set † | N/A |
| Missouri | Not set † | $5* |
| Montana | IRS | $10 per signature |
| Nebraska | Dept. of Admin Services | $25 |
| Nevada | $15 – $30 per hour † | $25 |
| New Hampshire | $0.20 per mile | $25 |
| New Jersey | N/A | Not set |
| New Mexico | $0.30 per mile | $25 |
| New York | – | N/A |
| North Carolina | Prohibited | N/A |
| North Dakota | Not set † | $5 |
| Northern Marianas | – | N/A |
| Ohio | Not set † | $25 |
| Oklahoma | – | $25 |
| Oregon | Not set † | $25 |
| Pennsylvania | – | N/A |
| Puerto Rico | Fees vary depending on the act | Fees vary depending on the act |
| Rhode Island | IRS | $5* |
| South Carolina | Not set † | N/A |
| South Dakota | – | $10 |
| Tennessee | No fee schedule | $25 |
| Texas | – | $25 + regular Notary fee |
| US Virgin Islands | – | N/A |
| Utah | – | $25 |
| Vermont | No fee schedule | No fee schedule |
| Virginia | Not set † | $25 |
| Washington | Not set † | $25 |
| West Virginia | – | N/A |
| Wisconsin | – | $25 |
| Wyoming | IRS † | $5* |
For example, all notarization in California is subjected to the California Government Code Section 8211. It is worth noting that amendments and changes were made to the Notaries Public through Stats. 2016, and were made effective from Jan 1, 2017. This also means that California law has placed a cap on the maximum fees that a notary may charge.
On the other hand, Connecticut law states that the notary public can charge a maximum fee of $5 per notarial act and 35 cents for each mile traveled.
States in which notary fees are not set by the law
The following table lists the US states in which notary fees aren’t set by the law.
| State | Acknowledgments, Jurats, Verbal Oath/Affirmation, Travel Fees |
| Alaska | No fee schedule |
| Arkansas | No fee schedule, but signer must agree to it in advance |
| Iowa | No fee schedule |
| Kansas | No fee schedule |
| Kentucky | No fee schedule |
| Louisiana | No fee schedule |
| Maine | No fee schedule |
| Massachusetts | No fee schedule |
| Puerto Rico | Fees vary depending on the act |
| Tennessee | No fee schedule, but $25 for RON |
| Vermont | No fee schedule |
The state where you reside plays a vital role in determining how much a specific online notary will charge for specific services, such as notarizing loan papers. Some of the most common notary services that a notary may charge include travel fees, acknowledgments, verbal oaths, and Jurats.
You should be familiar with how much these notaries may charge for their various services. That way, you’ll understand how much money you need to pay to get a document notarized.
Ways to save money on notary fees
You should know that notary public fees are often hard to avoid. This is because you’re paying for a legal service from a licensed and reputable individual.
Usually, you have no or little control over the costs of notary services. This is true, for example, when you are closing a mortgage. You will be pleased to know that since you don’t frequently purchase homes, you won’t incur these costs more than a few times throughout your lifetime. In contrast, it’s a good idea to look for ways to reduce notary fees if you occasionally require documents notarized.
Here are some tips you can use to reduce notary fees:
- Ask your local bank or credit union what notary services they offer account holders. In many cases, they may be able to refer you to a branch that notarizes documents, such as loan papers or wills, for little to no cost.
- You can check with your friends or family members for a connection within your network. This is another way to lower or avoid notary fees.
- If you want to get multiple important documents signed at the same time, you might be able to qualify for a discount on notary services. This way, you can get a bulk rate rather than paying for each individual legal document.
- You can also call your local government offices or departments before visiting a commercial establishment or business to get your documents notarized. For instance, your local sheriff’s office might offer notary services.
Notarize your documents with PandaDoc Notary
If you want to get legal or personal documents notarized, look no further than PandaDoc Notary. The platform provides the flexibility and efficiency of online notarizations and safe electronic document signing. The platform works well through any web-enabled desktop or a laptop computer with a webcam.
PandaDoc Notary three-step process only takes a couple of minutes, and it is cheaper than other platforms. You can easily upload your document, such as a trust deed, and connect with your notary to confirm your identity. After that, the notary will electronically sign your documents and apply the eNotary seal. It is that simple!
Step 1
You can take a picture of your legal document or loan paperwork or upload a PDF file from your computer. You can also upload from a cloud storage service, such as Dropbox.
No matter the time of day or location, or device, PandaDoc Notary allows you to complete all your online notarizations!
Step 2
Now, you just have to confirm your identity with the PandaDoc Notary verification process. The platform uses identification verification technology in order to verify government-issued photograph IDs and passports.
Step 3
You can connect to your live notary anytime and confirm your identity on a secure call or face-to-face on a webcam. Connect easily with your professional and licensed electronic notary public over live video to sign and notarize your important documents. The notary will confirm your identity and witness your signature, assisting you throughout the process.
FAQ’s
How much does it cost to get an affidavit notarized?
The average fee to get an affidavit notarized is $5. In some states, notaries may charge $10 or $15. PandaDoc Notary eliminates the hassle and inconvenience of an in-person notarization by allowing you to connect securely with a notary public online
How much does it cost to get a will notarized?
Notarizing a will may be free in some states but can cost about $15, depending on where you live.
Where can you get documents notarized?
Many financial services firms, like credit unions, banks, thrifts, tax preparation firms, real estate firms, or insurance companies, commonly have notaries and provide that service to clients at no charge. You will also find notaries at law offices and local clerk of court offices.
What can you get notarized?
You can get many documents notarized, such as the power of attorney, trust deed, or last will and testament, in the presence of a notary.
Where can you get a document notarized for free?
Going to someone you know, such as your friend, will give you the best chance of getting a free notary service. For example, a buddy who is a notary public might offer the service without charging you.