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Notary · General

Can a notary charge more than the state-set fee for their notarial services?

Correct answer

No — most states set a maximum fee per notarial act; charging more is a violation of notary law and can result in disciplinary action against the commission

  1. A Yes — fees are always negotiable
  2. B No — most states set a maximum fee per notarial act; charging more is a violation of notary law and can result in disciplinary action against the commission
  3. C Yes, if the client agrees in writing
  4. D Only for remote online notarizations

Why this is the answer

STATE-SET FEE SCHEDULES limit what notaries can charge per notarial act. Examples: California — $15 per signature notarized; Texas — $6 per acknowledgment; Florida — $10 per act. These are MAXIMUM fees — notaries can charge less or nothing. Charging above the maximum is a violation of state notary law, can result in commission suspension or revocation, and may subject the notary to civil liability. KEY DISTINCTION: Notary Signing Agents can charge for TRAVEL TIME, WAITING TIME, and general SIGNING AGENT SERVICES separately from notarial acts — the state fee schedule applies specifically to the notarial act component (acknowledgment, jurat) not to the entire loan signing appointment. This is how NSAs charge $75-$200 for a signing while the actual notarial fees within that appointment are technically $20-$60.
Source: Notary Exam, Fee Schedule

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State-specific guides

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Notary Public Handbook: Principles, Practices & Cases

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