How Much Does It Cost to Notarize a Document?
Some institutions offer notarization services for free. However, there are also professionals who charge a fee for notarizing documents. If you want to ensure you have the correct information to budget accordingly, join us in the article below.
We will discuss how much it costs to notarize a document so that you are not surprised by the fees when it’s time to complete the task.
Let’s get started!
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Standard Notarization Fees
Generally, when notarizing a letter or document, the fees will be based on the following factors:
- The state or country in which you get your document notarized.
- The type of document you need to notarize.
- Whether you require special services, such as requesting the public notary visit your office instead of traveling to them.
By understanding how much it costs to get a document notarized, your business can set aside the exact amount of money to get the job done and avoid wasting resources. Additionally, if a company does not have enough funds to pay for the notarization fees, they will at least have the information to plan, save, borrow, or make other financial solutions for this task.
Recognizing these costs ensures a smooth ride when notarizing your documents. For an explanation of why notarizing a document is important, check out our article, “Example of a Notarized Document.”
Average Notary Fees by Document Type
Although notary fees can vary based on numerous factors, we can provide you with some general notary fees for documents in the U.S. market to give you an idea of costs. Please remember that these fees could change based on your notary public’s discretion.
| Document | Notary Fees |
|---|---|
| Affidavit | $5 – $15 per signature |
| Deed | $10 – $25 per signature |
| Power of Attorney | $10 – $20 per signature |
| Will | $10 – $25 per signature |
| Business Contract | $5 – $15 per signature |
State-Regulated Notary Fee Limits
The table above shows that different document types have varying fees. State-regulated notary fee limits will prevent these prices from escalating faster than they should.
These limits are laws set by the different U.S. states, and they govern the maximum amount a notary public can charge for services in their location.
How State-Regulated Notary Fee Limits Work
The rules for notary fees vary depending on the state you reside in in the U.S. For example, there are strict limits in some states compared to others, which are more relaxed.
However, notary fees are determined by each notarized signature on a document. The type of document is also taken into account. Please refer to our table above that will give you a breakdown of average prices per document type.
Nevertheless, notaries cannot charge clients more than the fee cap set in their state. For example, a notary public in California can charge $15 per signature for acknowledgments, whereas a notary public operating in Texas can only charge $6 per signature for acknowledgments.
These rules do not necessarily apply to mobile public notaries or professionals who travel to a client and offer their notary services. This is because mobile notary public services are not regulated. For this reason, their fees might be more than the fee cap, as it could include travel expenses.
We suggest looking at the notary fee limits in your state so you can budget accordingly for your needs.
Additional Charges for Multiple Signatures or Copies
Another point to consider when notarizing documents is that your fees for these services will rise when you require more signatures and copies.
As we learned earlier, states allow notaries to charge per signature instead of per document. So, if a document that contains two signatures needs to be notarized in California, the total fee would be $30 since the state has a fee cap of $15 per signature.
But what about multiple copies of a document? If these documents need to be notarized separately, then yes, you will need to pay additional fees. These fees could be anywhere from free to notaries requesting a small fee. Speak to your notary public to know exactly how much you will pay for additional notary services.
Factors That Affect Notarization Costs
Whether you are getting an affidavit signed or need a deed notarized, many factors can affect the price of notary services. Let’s look at three common factors affecting notarization costs so you can rest assured you are getting fair prices when planning your budget.
1. Location and State Regulations
There are local regulations that cap the cost of notarization fees. Each state will have a different notary fee limit. These laws are set so that notaries cannot overcharge clients for their services. Here is a short list of the notarization fees in a few states in the U.S. to give you an example:
| State | Notary Fee Limits |
|---|---|
| California | $15 per signature for acknowledgments and jurats |
| Texas | $6 per signature for acknowledgments |
| Florida | $10 per notarial act |
| New York | $2 per signature |
Even though there is a state fee limit, it’s important to check the geographic location within the state, as it can increase or decrease notary fees.
For example, urban areas are known to have higher fees for notarizing documents compared to rural areas. This is simply down to the demand for services and any competition in the area.
2. Type of Notarial Act
The next common factor affecting notarization fees is the different notarial acts, which include acknowledgment, jurat, or oath services.
An acknowledgment service is needed when a signer must confirm their identity and willingness to sign a document. On the other hand, a jurat is required when a signer needs to swear an oath on a document. A notarial act, like an oath, will also have its own fee structure.
It’s important to understand which notarial services you need, as the acts all have different prices.
3. In-Person vs. Remote Online Notarization (RON) Fees
The last factor we would like to mention is Remote Online Notarization. This service has been on the rise recently, which has resulted in more flexible fee structures.
How it works is that RON services give clients the opportunity to electronically sign their documents with an e-signature solution while the notary public verifies the identity of the signer through a video call.
Even though RON services are convenient, their costs can be higher than those of in-person notarization services. This is because RON services can run outside of business working hours and need advanced and secure technology or platforms to complete tasks.
The Cost of Different Notarization Methods
In the United States, the cost of notarizing documents will vary across the 50 states. We covered some of the factors affecting the cost of notarization earlier in the article. Let’s now examine the different notarization method fees.
1. Bank and Credit Union Notary Fees
A common question from readers is, “How much does it cost to get a document notarized at a bank?” To be honest, financial service institutions, like Bank of America and Delta Community Credit Union, offer free notary services to their customers. However, not all banks and credit unions offer this complimentary service.
Therefore, we recommend calling your bank or credit union in advance to check their prices for notarizing documents. You can also inquire about the times they offer notary services. Financial institutions usually provide notary services on their premises during regular business hours.
When you decide to visit a bank or credit union, remember to take your government-issued photo identification document and the other documents you want to notarize.
If additional participants or witnesses need to sign the document, they will also need to accompany you to the bank or credit union.
Good luck!
2. Mobile Notary Services and Their Pricing
There are companies that offer notary services to clients on-site. These mobile notary service companies will charge clients for the following items:
- A base fee for notarizing documents.
- More complicated documents might have higher fees.
- Notaries in urban areas have higher operational costs and, therefore, will have more expensive fees than those in rural areas.
- Cost per mile traveled to a location. This fee will be similar to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standard mileage rate. Since 2024, it has been 65.5 cents per mile.
- Toll fees accumulated via crossing borders.
- Parking expenses while the vehicle is waiting for the notary service to be performed.
- A fee for travel time, especially if a notary has to arrive at a distant location.
- Additional fees for a faster notary service.
3. Online Notary Services and Subscription Costs
Some companies offer online notary services with fees per notarization. This cost is usually up to $25 for one document with one notary seal. The costs will increase if your document has multiple seals or requires witnesses. The cost of this service could look something like this:
- $25 to notarize a document.
- $10 for extra notary seals.
- $10 for each witness.
Other companies have dedicated platforms that offer businesses the opportunity to sign up for subscription-based notary services. The price for these services will vary, as each business has its own pricing model. For example, some companies might charge a flat rate, whereas others might have a tiered pricing structure.
If you are a notary public interested in offering your services online, we can recommend our Titan CLM software as your RON platform for seamless signing workflows. With Titan, you can sign and deliver documents in minutes, and everything is tracked in Salesforce.
Find us on the Salesforce AppExchange marketplace. We have a stellar 4.96 rating out of 5 stars!
4. Free or Low-Cost Notarization Options
As we mentioned earlier, the Bank of America is an option for free notary services. A local post office is another institution you could try for free or low-cost notarization services. However, make sure to call the post office first and ask if they have notary services on offer for free.
Some states in the U.S. have pre-determined fee limits for notary services that the post office might follow.
Final Thoughts on the Cost of Notarization
Thanks for reading our article. We believe knowing how much it costs to have a document notarized is important. The financial information will allow you to budget accordingly and plan where you get your documents notarized. This strategy will ensure you have no delays in your business operations.
Modern Notary Service Solutions for Salesforce with Titan
Whether you are looking for a digital solution to manage contracts, sign agreements, or connect your workflows to Salesforce, Titan can support your notary services every step of the way with no-code.
Our powerful platform has various apps that all integrate with Salesforce, providing flexible options to pick and choose what you need for custom business and notary service solutions.
Disclaimer: The comparisons listed in this article are based on information provided by the companies online and online reviews from users. If you found a mistake, please contact us.
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