How Much Does a Notary Charge? Maximum Costs by State

How much does a notary cost? You may need to hire a notary to witness a signature on a legal document, such as a will, real estate document, power of attorney or contract. This service is usually affordable. Most notaries charge by either the document or signature, at a rate of anywhere from $1 to $20. Some states cap the maximum amount a notary can charge.

What Does a Notary Do?

A notary checks your ID to ensure it matches the name on the legal document. Then, they watch you sign the document and provide a stamp and signature to affirm that they served as a witness. Once this process occurs, the document has been "notarized."

How Much Does a Notary Cost?

These are the established maximum charges by state according to the National Notary Association:

• $1: Illinois
• $2: Georgia, New York
• $2.50: New Jersey
• $4: Maryland
• $5: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming
• $6: Texas
• $10: West Virginia, Washington, Utah, South Dakota, Oregon, New Hampshire, Montana, Michigan, Indiana, Florida and Arizona
• $15: California

States that aren't listed allow notaries to set their own fees. They haven't established a maximum notary charge.

Some notary services cost extra. For example, you can hire a notary who will travel to your home or office instead of meeting you at their location. In this case, the person usually charges a per-mile travel fee. Some states cap the amount of this fee. In addition, notaries may add clerical or administrative fees to the final bill. 

Electronic notarization tends to cost more than traditional notary services. So far, most states don't limit the amount an electronic notary can charge. It's important to note that not every state accepts this type of document. 

Some locations have free notary services. Check with libraries, credit unions and banks in your area to get more information. If you have a friend, colleague or family member who is a notary, they may agree to notarize your document without charging a fee.