What does a notary charge in 2026?
The cost of a notary public in the United States is set by state statute, and it varies more than people realize: a single acknowledgment costs $1 in Illinois, $2 in New York, $10 in Florida and Texas, and $15 in California and Nevada. Mobile notaries add travel fees on top — typically $25 to $75 depending on distance — and loan signing agents handling real estate closings bill $75 to $200 per appointment for the full package, not per signature. For the simplest document notarization at a bank or UPS Store, expect to pay $0 to $15.
This calculator pulls together three fee layers: the statutory maximum per notarial act in your state, the mobile travel surcharge if applicable, and the loan signing package rate if you are closing on a mortgage, refinance, HELOC, or real estate transaction. Use it to budget, to dispute an overcharge, or to quote yourself out accurately if you are a commissioned notary.
State-by-state maximum notary fees
Almost every state caps what a notary can charge per notarial act. The notary is free to charge less, or nothing, but the statutory maximum is the ceiling:
- $1 per act: Illinois.
- $2-$2.50 per act: New York, New Jersey.
- $4-$5 per act: Maryland, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Minnesota, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Connecticut.
- $7.50 per act: Kansas for some acts.
- $10 per act: Florida, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, Washington, Arizona, Massachusetts, Indiana, Louisiana, Oregon, Arkansas, Utah.
- $15 per act: California, Nevada.
A “notarial act” means each individual signature or certificate, not each document. A deed with two signatures needing acknowledgment counts as two acts. A four-page agreement with one signature and one jurat is two acts. This matters: it is how a $10 state like Florida ends up charging $40 for a real estate document with four signatures.
The three main notarial acts and when each is used
Acknowledgment
The signer appears before the notary and acknowledges that they signed the document voluntarily. The signer does not have to sign in front of the notary — they can bring a pre-signed document. Used for deeds, powers of attorney, and most contracts. This is the most common act.
Jurat (sworn statement)
The signer swears or affirms that the contents of the document are true, and signs in the notary’s presence. The notary administers an oath (“Do you solemnly swear...”) before the signature. Used for affidavits, depositions, and sworn statements. Cannot be backdated or signed in advance.
Signature witnessing
The notary watches the signer sign and certifies that the signature was made in their presence. Simpler than an acknowledgment in some states; equivalent in others. Not a sworn act.
Some states also recognize copy certifications, oaths, and protest of negotiable instruments — each counts as its own notarial act for fee purposes.
Mobile notary travel fees
When a notary travels to your home, hospital, office, jail, or anywhere other than their own office, they charge a travel fee in addition to the statutory per-act fee. Travel fees are separately regulated in about half the states. California caps travel fees at “reasonable” and requires explicit disclosure; Florida allows travel fees but requires them in writing and agreed upon in advance; most other states leave the amount to the market.
Typical mobile notary travel rates in 2026:
- Base appointment fee: $25 to $50 for showing up.
- Per-mile rate: $0.67 to $2.00 per mile round trip (the IRS standard mileage rate is the common floor).
- After-hours / weekend premium: $25 to $75 extra for evenings, weekends, or holidays.
- Hospital, jail, or nursing home visits: $50 to $100 extra because of security, wait time, and the need to assess signer competency carefully.
- Cancellation or no-show fee: $25 to $50 typical; disclose in advance.
Loan signing agent rates for mortgages and real estate closings
Notary signing agents (NSAs) specialize in mortgage loan document packages. They are not just notaries — they walk borrowers through 100-plus page loan packages, ensure every signature and initial is in the right place, and ship the package back to title or the lender. Because of the specialization, NSAs charge package rates rather than per-act fees:
- Refinance closing: $100-$150 typical, $75 on the low end from signing services that take a cut, $200+ from an independent NSA hired direct.
- Purchase closing: $125-$200, reflecting more documents and stricter timelines.
- HELOC: $75-$125 — shorter package, simpler review.
- Reverse mortgage: $150-$250. Longer appointment, sensitive client demographic, extra care required.
- Seller package: $50-$100. Just the seller documents, usually a 15-20 minute appointment.
- Commercial closings, construction loans, or structured settlements: $200-$500+ based on complexity.
If you are hiring your own notary signing agent for a closing rather than letting the title company assign one, you can sometimes save $25-$50 by going direct. But coordinate with the title company — they may still charge a courier or shipping fee either way.
When you do not need to pay anything for a notary
Many banks and credit unions offer free notarization to account holders. UPS Stores, AAA locations, and some pharmacies offer notary services at flat rates around $10 per act. Public libraries in several states (including Ohio and Wisconsin) have free notary services. Military members can access free notary service at JAG offices. Hospital patients often get free notary help from social workers or chaplains.
The catch: these options do not travel, they have limited hours, and they will decline anything complex — real estate documents, powers of attorney, immigration documents, or anything where the signer appears confused or pressured. For those, you need a paid mobile notary or attorney.
Remote online notarization (RON) pricing
Remote online notarization — where you appear before a notary via video call — is now authorized in 45+ states. RON providers like Notarize, OneNotary, and DocVerify charge $25 per notarial act on their platforms, which is higher than most state per-act maximums because the platform fee is considered technology rather than notary fees. For a single document with one signature, RON typically costs $25 all-in, no travel fee, available 24/7.
How to dispute an overcharge
If a notary charged more than the state maximum, file a complaint with your state’s notary commissioning authority — usually the Secretary of State or Department of State. Most states treat overcharging as grounds for commission revocation, and several treat it as a misdemeanor. Before filing, check whether the extra amount was a properly disclosed travel fee (which sits outside the per-act cap) or a separate service fee like document preparation.
Related calculators
- Power of attorney calculator — POAs are one of the most common notarized documents.
- Estate planning cost — wills and trusts often require multiple notarizations.
- Attorney fee calculator — when you need more than just a notary.
- Contract value calculator — most commercial contracts include notarized signatures.
- Small claims guide — affidavits for small claims court require a jurat.