How much does a notary charge depends on what you’re having notarized and how you want it done. For a single signature at a bank, storefront, or notary’s office, expect $2 to $25 per notarial act under your state’s fee cap. Add travel, and a mobile notary will usually tack on $25 to $75. A remote online session layers a platform fee on top of a higher per-act maximum. And a real estate closing, where a specialized signing agent handles dozens of documents at once, commonly runs $75 to $200 or more.
The Per-Act Fee Your State Allows
Most states cap what a notary can charge for a single notarial act, meaning one signature witnessed, one oath administered, or one acknowledgment taken. Caps generally run from $2 to $25. Georgia and New York sit at the low end at $2 per act. Connecticut, Delaware, and Idaho are among the states that cap at $5. California, Colorado, Nevada, and Washington allow up to $15. Rhode Island tops the standard range at $25 per act.
Roughly ten states, including Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, and Massachusetts, don’t set a statutory maximum. Notaries there set their own rates but are generally expected to charge reasonably and disclose the fee before performing the service.
The per-act fee covers the notarial act itself: verifying your ID, confirming you’re signing willingly, and applying the seal. One point that trips people up is that the fee applies per act, not per document. If your paperwork needs two signatures notarized, you may be charged twice. Some states set a lower rate for each additional signature on the same document.
Mobile Notary and Travel Charges
A mobile notary comes to you, which is common for hospital signings, home visits, and anyone who can’t easily get to an office. The per-act fee stays the same, but the travel charge is where the bill climbs. Mobile notaries typically add $25 to $75 or more, depending on distance and local cost of living.
State rules on travel fees vary. A few states set specific mileage rates; most either provide loose guidelines or leave the amount to the notary. Some charge a flat trip fee, others bill by the mile, and a few use hourly rates. Expect to pay more for evenings, weekends, and holidays. These travel and convenience charges generally aren’t subject to the state’s per-act cap, so confirm the total before the notary heads out.
Remote Online Notarization
Remote online notarization lets you connect with a notary over a live video call. As of 2025, 44 states and the District of Columbia permit it for real estate and other transactions.1Mortgage Bankers Association. RON Adoption Map States that allow it typically set a higher per-act maximum than for in-person work. A state that caps in-person notarizations at $10 might allow $25 for the same act online.
The convenience is real, but the costs layer. The technology platform hosting the video session often charges its own fee, sometimes $25 or more per session. Some platforms bundle the notary fee and platform fee into a single price; others break them out. When comparing quotes, ask whether the price includes the platform charge or just the notary’s statutory fee.
Real Estate Closings and Loan Signings
If you’re closing on a home purchase or refinance, the notary handling your paperwork is typically a loan signing agent, a notary with specialized training in mortgage documents. A signing package involves dozens of documents and multiple notarizations in one sitting, and the fee reflects the time, expertise, and liability.
Signing agents commonly charge $75 to $200 per appointment, with complex or high-value transactions sometimes running higher. The title company or lender usually arranges and pays the signing agent, folding the cost into your closing fees, where you’ll see it itemized on your closing disclosure. In most transactions the buyer pays the notary-related closing costs, though that’s negotiable between buyer and seller. On a refinance, the lender typically wraps the signing agent fee into the loan costs.
Free and Low-Cost Notary Options
For routine documents like a simple affidavit or a permission form, you can often pay nothing. Banks and credit unions are the most reliable free source. Bank of America offers notarizations at no charge in many branches, though you need to schedule an appointment, bring valid ID, and have all required signers present.2Bank of America. Notary Services Most banks extend this to account holders, so check your own bank first.
Public libraries in many communities also offer free or very low-cost notary services, often for cardholders. Availability depends on whether a staff member holds a commission, so call ahead. AAA offices, insurance agencies, and shipping stores provide notary services as well, though these locations typically charge the state maximum rather than offering it free. The UPS Store offers notarizations at many locations and charges a per-signature fee that varies by state.
The trade-off with free options is flexibility. A bank notary works banking hours and may not handle complex documents or ones requiring witnesses you didn’t bring. For a time-sensitive or unusually complicated signing, a paid mobile notary or a remote online session can be worth the cost to avoid a wasted trip.
What to Do If You’re Overcharged
Charging more than the state-allowed maximum violates the notary’s commission. In states with fee caps, the remedy starts with a complaint to the office that commissioned the notary, usually the Secretary of State or a similar agency. That office can investigate, warn, suspend, or revoke the commission. Some states treat fee violations as misdemeanors carrying fines.
Getting your money back is a separate matter. Most states don’t create an automatic right to sue a notary for overcharging, so recovering a few extra dollars isn’t usually worth a lawsuit. The practical move is to know your state’s cap before the appointment, ask for the fee in writing, and refuse the service if the number doesn’t match. If you’ve already been overcharged, file a complaint with your state’s commissioning authority and dispute the charge with your credit card company if you paid by card.
Getting an Accurate Quote
Total cost depends on more than the per-act fee, so a vague “how much do you charge?” call won’t get you a useful answer. Tell the notary exactly what you need notarized, how many signatures the document requires, where you need it done, and when. That lets them quote the per-act fee, any travel charge, and any convenience surcharge as a single number.
For straightforward documents, check with your bank first. If you need a mobile notary, get quotes from at least two, since travel fees vary more than the regulated per-act charges. For a real estate closing, the title company arranges the signing agent, but you can ask your closing agent for an itemized estimate of notary-related costs before signing day. Your state’s Secretary of State website usually publishes the official fee schedule, which is the best tool for spotting an overcharge before it happens.