A notary public is a state-commissioned official who acts as an impartial witness when important documents are signed, confirming each signer’s identity and willingness in order to deter fraud. The role is narrow and procedural: a notary verifies who you are, watches you sign, and completes a short certificate on the document. Fees are usually capped by state law somewhere between $2 and $25 per act, and a commission typically runs four to ten years.
What a Notary Public Does
A notary follows the same fixed steps for every signer, regardless of what the document says or who benefits from it. This is sometimes called a “ministerial” role. A notary is not a judge or an attorney and does not interpret the document, review its terms, or decide whether signing it is a good idea.
At the appointment, the notary checks your identity using a government-issued ID such as a passport or driver’s license. They also watch for whether you appear to understand what you are signing and are acting voluntarily, not under pressure or obvious confusion. If something looks wrong, the notary can refuse to complete the notarization. Those few steps create a trustworthy record that the right person signed the right document of their own free will.
Acknowledgments and Jurats
Most notarizations fall into one of two categories, and the document itself usually tells the notary which one is required.
In an acknowledgment, you appear before the notary and confirm that the signature on the document is yours and that you signed voluntarily. You are not placed under oath. Acknowledgments show up frequently on deeds, powers of attorney, and other property documents.
In a jurat, the notary puts you under oath or affirmation, and you swear that the contents of the document are true. Because you are testifying to the truthfulness of what the document says, a false statement in a jurat can expose you to perjury. Jurats are common on affidavits and sworn statements.
The short version: in an acknowledgment you are saying “this is my signature,” and in a jurat you are saying “this document is true.”
What a Notary Can and Cannot Do
Notaries operate within tight boundaries, and knowing those boundaries helps you avoid misunderstandings at the appointment.
- No legal advice. A notary who is not also a licensed attorney cannot explain a document’s legal effect, tell you how to fill in blank spaces, or advise you on which option to pick. If you need that kind of help, you need a lawyer, not a notary.
- No self-interest. A notary cannot notarize their own signature or notarize a document in which they have a direct financial interest. The point of the role is neutrality.
- No misleading titles. In many states it is illegal for a nonattorney notary to advertise as a “notario público” or use similar foreign-language terms. In several Latin American countries, a notario público is a licensed legal professional with broad authority, and the confusion has led to widespread consumer fraud, especially in immigrant communities. States that ban these terms can impose civil penalties reaching $1,000 or more per violation.
A notary who ignores required procedures or knowingly certifies a false statement can face fines, loss of commission, and in many states misdemeanor charges. A notary who harms someone through a careless notarization can be sued personally, and in states that require a surety bond, the injured party can also claim against the bond.
What You’ll Pay
Most states cap what a notary can charge for each notarial act. The statutory maximum for a traditional in-person notarization typically runs from $2 to $25 per signature or act. Several states set the cap at $5; others allow $10 or $15. A small number of states set no statutory maximum and leave the fee to the market.
Remote online notarizations often carry higher allowable fees than in-person ones because of the technology involved. If you ask a mobile notary to come to you, expect a separate travel or convenience charge on top of the per-act fee. Whether that travel charge is regulated depends on the state.
Getting a Document Notarized Remotely
Remote online notarization, usually called RON, lets you appear before a notary over a live audio-video connection instead of in person. As of early 2025, 45 states and the District of Columbia have enacted permanent laws authorizing RON.
A RON session is more structured than an ordinary video call. States that authorize RON generally require the platform to verify your identity through knowledge-based authentication or credential analysis, keep the audio-video session continuous and recorded, and apply tamper-evident electronic signatures to the finished document. The notary is typically required to retain the recording for a set period, often ten years.
Congress has repeatedly considered versions of the SECURE Notarization Act, which would set minimum nationwide standards for RON and let notaries perform remote notarizations across state lines for interstate transactions. The most recent version, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2025, was introduced in the 119th Congress.1Congress.gov. S.1561 – SECURE Notarization Act of 2025 If enacted, it would create baseline federal technology and identity-verification rules and could preempt weaker state RON laws.
Using a Notarized Document in Another State
A document notarized in one state is generally valid in other states. The Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, developed by the Uniform Law Commission to standardize notarial procedures, supports this cross-border acceptance, and roughly 28 states have adopted some version of it. Even in states that have not, long-standing legal tradition means a properly executed notarization from another state is rarely rejected.
If you need something notarized for use elsewhere, have it notarized in your own state following your state’s procedures. As long as the notary holds a valid commission and follows the correct steps, the receiving state should accept it.
How Someone Becomes a Notary
Every state sets its own rules, but the baseline is similar. Applicants generally must be at least 18, live or do business in the state where they are applying, and in most states be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. A clean criminal history matters: most states disqualify applicants with felony convictions or convictions involving dishonesty, though some allow exceptions for expunged or older convictions.
From there, the path varies. Some states require all of these steps; others require only a few:
- A state-approved training course, sometimes around six hours for an initial commission with a shorter refresher at renewal.
- A written exam on notary law and procedures, usually administered through the Secretary of State’s office or an approved vendor.
- Fingerprinting and a criminal background check.
- A surety bond, with amounts ranging from $500 to $25,000 depending on the state.
- An official seal or rubber stamp that meets state design requirements.
- An oath of office filed with the county clerk or commissioning authority, often along with the bond.
The commissioning authority is usually the Secretary of State, though some states route applications through the governor’s office or the court system. State application fees generally fall between $10 and $60, though total out-of-pocket costs rise once you add the bond, education, and supplies. A standard commission lasts four years in most states, with terms running from two to ten years. Louisiana is unique in granting lifetime commissions.
One point worth knowing if you plan to earn income this way: notary fees are taxable income and are reported on Schedule C if you operate as a sole proprietor,2Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Schedule C (Form 1040) but under Internal Revenue Code Section 1402(c)(1) they are exempt from federal self-employment tax. You still owe regular income tax on them, but not the additional Social Security and Medicare self-employment tax. Other self-employment income you earn is taxed as usual.3Internal Revenue Service. Persons Employed in a U.S. Possession/Territory – Self-Employment Tax