Most people want to know the price before anything else. In 2024, nearly 68% of people searching for notary services listed cost as their primary concern. The straightforward answer is that basic notarization typically runs $5 to $15 per signature, but your actual cost depends on what you need and how you need it.
Standard Notarization Fees by State
Notaries charge per signature, not per document. This catches people off guard sometimes. You might have a 10-page contract, but if only one signature needs notarizing, you pay for one signature. On the flip side, a two-page power of attorney with three signature lines means three separate fees.
State law in Florida caps fees at $10 per signature. This protects you from price gouging while ensuring notaries earn fair compensation for their work. Other states have different caps: California allows up to $15, while New York permits only $2 per signature.
What the Base Fee Covers
The base fee covers identity verification, witnessing your signature, completing the notarial certificate and applying the official seal. For a simple document with proper ID, this takes about five minutes.
| State | Maximum Fee Per Signature |
| Florida | $10 |
| California | $15 |
| Texas | $6 |
| New York | $2 |
| Illinois | $1 |
Mobile Notary Service Pricing
Sometimes going to an office doesn’t work. You’re buying a house, someone’s hospitalized, or your whole team needs documents signed during a critical business meeting. Mobile notaries bring professional service directly to your location.
The signature fee stays the same at $10. Travel fees add $25 to $75 depending on distance. Within 30 miles usually costs $25 to $40. Further locations or same-day requests push toward the higher end.
Benefits of Mobile Service
Going to you eliminates driving across town, taking time off work, or coordinating schedules with office hours. For real estate closings or situations involving multiple people, this service often saves more time than it costs.
Weekend or evening appointments carry premium pricing because you’re requesting service outside normal hours. Expect an additional $50 to $100 for after-hours availability.
Remote Online Notarization Costs
Remote online notarization runs $25 to $50 per document. You connect through video with a licensed notary, verify your identity digitally and sign electronically. The whole process takes 15 to 30 minutes from your computer or phone.
Technology and Availability
The higher price covers technology infrastructure. Identity verification software, secure video platforms, electronic document storage and digital sealing systems all cost money to maintain. You also get 24/7 availability.
This option makes sense when timing matters. Need something notarized at 9 PM? Available immediately. Working with someone in a different city? Perfect solution. Stuck at the office but facing a deadline? Handle it from your desk.
For documents requiring use abroad, international online notarization provides the same authentication with added apostille certification for foreign recognition.
Real Estate Document Notarization
Real estate transactions involve multiple documents. Deeds, mortgages, affidavits, disclosure statements. Each signature that needs notarizing adds to your total. A typical home closing includes 10 to 15 notarized signatures, putting you at $100 to $150 in notarization fees.
Powers of Attorney and Business Contracts
Powers of attorney look deceptively simple. One or two pages, maybe two signatures. But some require witnesses beyond the notary. Witness fees run about $25 per person.
Business contracts with multiple parties signing need everyone present for notarization. Three people signing a partnership agreement means three notarization fees. Coordinating schedules makes mobile service practical despite the travel charge.
Additional Notary Service Fees
Copy certification costs $10 to $20 per document. You need this for international applications or certain legal processes. The notary examines your original passport or diploma, makes a copy, then certifies the copy matches the original.
Apostille services add another step for international documents. The notarization itself costs the standard fee. Getting the apostille from your Secretary of State adds $10 to $20. Some people handle this themselves. Others prefer having professionals manage the entire authentication process.
Rush and Emergency Services
Rush service fees apply when you need same-day or immediate service. These range from $25 to $100 depending on urgency and whether the notary must rearrange their schedule to accommodate you.
Free Notarization Options
Banks often provide free notarization to account holders. This works perfectly for simple documents during banking hours. It doesn’t help for weekend needs, complex situations, or when you need someone to come to you.
Credit unions frequently offer the same benefit. Call ahead to confirm availability and whether you need an appointment.
Some public libraries provide notary services at minimal cost as a community resource. Not every branch has a notary, so check before visiting.
Larger employers sometimes have notaries on staff for business documents. If your company does, you might handle personal documents there too.
Cost Reduction Strategies
Batch multiple documents into one appointment. If you have three things needing notarization this month, schedule them together. With mobile service, you pay one travel fee regardless of how many documents you handle.
Practical Money-Saving Approaches
- Compare options based on your actual needs rather than just price
- Schedule appointments a few days out instead of requesting same-day service
- Ask about volume discounts for businesses requiring frequent notarization
- Use free bank services for simple documents during regular hours
- Combine multiple documents into single mobile appointments to split travel costs
Common Notary Misconceptions About Pricing
One widespread belief is that notaries charge by the page or document length. They don’t. The fee is per signature requiring notarization, regardless of how many pages precede it.
What People Get Wrong
Another misconception involves thinking all notaries charge the same price. While state caps exist, mobile fees, travel charges and after-hours premiums vary between providers.
Many assume online notarization costs less than in-person service. The opposite is true. Technology infrastructure and 24/7 availability justify higher fees despite the convenience.
Legal Protection Value of Notarization
Notarization creates legal evidence. Evidence that you are who you claim to be. That you signed this specific document willingly. That it happened on this particular date. That an impartial professional witnessed everything.
Why Courts Accept Notarized Documents
Courts recognize notarized documents. Government agencies accept them. Financial institutions trust them. When someone questions a document months or years later, proper notarization provides proof everything was done correctly.
An improperly executed power of attorney gets rejected when you desperately need it. An invalid real estate deed creates ownership disputes. Poorly handled business contracts lead to expensive legal battles. The $10 to $50 you spend on notarization prevents problems costing thousands to fix.
Choosing the Right Notary Service
For routine documents without time pressure, basic in-person notarization at $10 to $15 makes sense. You spend 20 minutes and minimal money.
Complex situations involving multiple parties, tight deadlines, or inconvenient locations justify mobile service at $35 to $85 total. The convenience and certainty are worth the difference.
If you’re weighing your options and want transparent pricing with flexible scheduling, you can explore available notary services to find what works best for your situation.
Matching Service to Your Needs
Online notarization at $25 to $50 fits when you need flexibility. Late evening availability, distance coordination, or simply handling things from wherever you are.
The cost difference between options rarely exceeds $75. Compare that to what’s at stake in your documents. Choose based on getting things done correctly and professionally within your timeframe, not just on saving $20.
Your documents represent important legal, financial, or personal matters. The small investment in proper notarization protects much larger interests. Reliability and convenience appropriate to your situation matter more than finding the absolute cheapest option.
