Quick answer: A notary can only charge up to the maximum fee your state sets by statute and those caps vary enormously, from $2 per act in New York to $15 in California, with most states landing between $5 and $10 per notarial act. For remote online notarization (RON), many states allow a separate, higher cap commonly $25 per online act. Any travel, printing, or platform fee is charged on top of the statutory notarial fee and must be disclosed and agreed to in advance.
Most people assume a notary can charge whatever they want. They can’t.
Every U.S. state sets a legal maximum on the fee a notary public can charge for each official act, written directly into state statute. Charging more than that cap is a violation that can cost a notary their commission. Understanding that number protects you whether you’re the one paying or the one stamping.
Here’s exactly how notary fees work, what your state allows, and where the real costs actually come from.
What counts as a “notarial act” you get charged for?
The fee cap applies per notarial act not per document.
A notarial act is a single official duty, one acknowledgment, one jurat, one oath, or one copy certification. If you bring three documents that each need an acknowledgment, that’s three acts, not one. If one document needs two signers notarized, that’s usually two acts.
This matters because a “$10 notary” is really “$10 per signature notarized.” A closing package with eight notarized signatures hits the statutory ceiling eight times. If you’re unsure which act your document needs, our guide to what a jurat is breaks down the difference between an oath-based jurat and a standard acknowledgment.
How much can a notary charge in each state?
The table below shows verified statutory maximums for common states. Figures are per notarial act unless noted.
| State | Traditional max fee | Remote online (RON) fee | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $15 | $15 (RON caps at $15 too) | Gov. Code §8211 |
| Florida | $10 | Up to $25 per online act | §117.05 / §117.275 |
| Texas | $10 (+$1 each add’l signature) | Up to $25 extra per online act | Gov. Code §406.024 |
| New York | $2 | Up to $25 per electronic act | Exec. Law §136 |
| Virginia | $5 | Up to $25 per electronic act | §47.1-19 |
| Arizona | $10 | Set by rule (travel billed by mile) | A.R.S. §41-316 |
| North Carolina | $10 | $10 electronic (recently raised) | §10B-31 |
| Pennsylvania | $5 | Follows fee schedule | 57 Pa.C.S. |
| Illinois | $5 | Up to $25 per online act | 5 ILCS 312 |
| Washington | $15 | $15 | RCW 42.45 |
| Ohio | $5 | $10 online | R.C. §147.08 |
| Georgia | $2 | Set by rule | O.C.G.A. §45-17-11 |
New York’s $2 cap is the lowest fixed maximum in the country and hasn’t been meaningfully updated in decades, which is exactly why the state authorized a separate $25 ceiling for electronic notarizations. For every other state and the full 50-state picture, cross-check our state notarization requirements guide, which tracks laws, fees, and RON rules together.
Why does remote online notarization cost more than $2 or $10?
Because you’re not just paying the notarial fee.
When you use an online notary service, the price bundles three things: the statutory notarial act fee, the platform’s technology cost (identity verification, encrypted video, the tamper-evident electronic seal), and the notary’s time. States recognized this — which is why 30-plus RON states set a higher, separate cap, usually $25 per online act, instead of forcing an online notary to work for a $2 or $5 traditional fee.
So a $25 online notarization isn’t overcharging. It’s the legally authorized RON rate in most states, and it’s frequently cheaper than the alternatives once you factor in travel.
What extra fees are legal on top of the cap?
The notarial fee cap is a hard ceiling on the notarial act but notaries can legally charge for related services separately, as long as those are itemized and agreed to upfront.
The most common add-on is travel or convenience fees. A mobile notary who drives to you can charge a travel fee, often $25 to $75+ depending on distance, in addition to the per-act statutory fee. Some states cap travel fees or require the signer to agree in writing first; others leave it to the market.
Printing, scanning, and after-hours availability can also carry legitimate charges. What a notary cannot do is disguise those as the notarial fee itself or exceed the per-act cap and call it “the notary charge.” If a quote doesn’t separate the statutory act fee from the service fee, ask for the breakdown before you agree.
What this means if you’re getting a document notarized
Know your state’s per-act cap before you pay, and count your acts.
If someone quotes you far above the statutory maximum and calls it the “notary fee,” that’s your signal to ask what’s the notarial fee versus what’s the travel or service fee. A single acknowledgment in Texas is $10 at the stamp, anything beyond that is a service charge you’re entitled to see itemized.
For a one-off document, compare your three real options: a free notary at your bank (many offer it to account holders), a mobile notary who charges travel on top of the act, or an online session for a flat, capped rate. Our breakdown of where to notarize a document lays out the trade-offs. For anything where you’d otherwise have to drive, take time off, or coordinate multiple signers in different places, remote online notarization at the capped $25 rate is usually the lowest total cost.
What this means if you’re a new notary setting rates
Charge up to your state cap, not a dollar over and build your income on the legal add-ons.
The per-act fee is not where notaries make money; the statutory caps are deliberately low. Travel, mobile availability, and volume are where a signing business earns. If you’re weighing whether to offer remote work, note that RON states let you charge the higher $25 online cap, which changes the math entirely. Before you commission, confirm exactly who is authorized to notarize and under which act types in your state.
Conclusion
A notary’s fee isn’t arbitrary, it’s capped by statute, ranging from $2 in New York to $15 in California, with most states between $5 and $10 per act and a separate ceiling near $25 for remote online notarization. Everything above that line is a disclosed service or travel fee, not the notarial fee itself. Knowing the difference means you never overpay and, if you’re a notary, never risk your commission by overcharging.
If you’d rather skip the travel fees and the math entirely, BlueNotary connects you with a commissioned online notary in minutes at a flat, state-compliant rate your document notarized from anywhere, no per-mile surprises. Get your document notarized online with BlueNotary today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a notary legally charge?
A notary can charge up to the maximum fee set by state statute, commonly $5 to $15 per notarial act, with New York the lowest at $2 and several states allowing up to $25 per remote online act.
Is the notary fee per document or per signature?
It’s per notarial act, which usually means per signature notarized, one document with three notarized signatures is charged three times.
Why does an online notarization cost $25 when my state cap is $10?
Most RON states set a separate, higher statutory cap (often $25) for online acts because the fee also covers identity verification, encrypted video, and the electronic seal.
Can a notary charge a travel fee on top of the notarial fee?
Yes, travel and convenience fees are legal in most states as long as they’re separate from the statutory act fee and agreed to in advance; some states cap them.
What happens if a notary charges more than the legal maximum?
Overcharging beyond the statutory cap is a violation of notary law and can result in fines or loss of the notary’s commission.
Where can I find my exact state’s notary fee limit?
Check your state’s Secretary of State or notary regulating agency, or see BlueNotary’s state-by-state notarization requirements guide for current caps.
