How Much Does a Notary Cost?
We often get asked, “How much does a notary cost?” The answer is that the California Secretary of State regulates pricing for the notarial act, but other related fees may apply, depending on your notary needs.
The maximum fee allowed by the State of California for most notarial acts is $15
The $15 per notarized signature rate applies to:
- Filling out, stamping, and signing an acknowledgement ($15 per signer)
- Executing a jurat, including the seal ($15 per signer)
- Administering an oath or affirmation
- Certifying a copy of a Power of Attorney
Notary travel, printing, scanning, apostille, consular and embassy authentications, and shipping are additional charges (please contact us for a quote), but the $15 per signature fee is set by the California Secretary of State.
According to the California Notary Public Handbook, these are the maximum costs to notarize:
| Service | Description | Maximum Fee | Does SF Notary Provide This Service? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgments | Acknowledgment or proof of a deed or other instrument, to include the seal and the writing of the certificate | $15 for each signature | Yes |
| Oaths/Affirmations | Administering an oath or affirmation to one person | $15 | Yes |
| Jurats | Executing the jurat including the seal | $15 | Yes |
| Deposition Services | All services rendered in connection with taking a deposition – Administering the oath to the witness – Certificate to the deposition | $30 $7 | Rarely* |
| Voting Material | Notarize signatures on vote by mail ballot identification envelopes or other voting materials | $0 | Yes |
| Powers of Attorney | Certifying a copy of a power of attorney under Probate Code section 4307 | $15 | Yes |
| Veteran’s Benefits | United States military veteran’s application or claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance, or any other veteran’s benefit (Government Code section 6107) | $0 | Yes** |
| Immigration Forms | A notary public qualified and bonded as an immigration consultant may enter data, provided by the client, on immigration forms provided by a federal or state agency | $15 per individual for each set of forms | No*** |
Please note
*Generally, we have found that attorneys prefer to use a court reporter to take a deposition. They are trained to use a stenograph and are therefore much faster at typing than most people. We do occasionally get called in to put the witness under oath. If the attorney requests a physical notarial certificate to accompany the oath, we will happily provide that as well (included in the cost for notary).
**While California notaries are not permitted to charge a veteran for notarizing a benefit claim, they are allowed to charge $15 to family members of the enlisted who are not themselves veterans. However, we generally waive this cost to notarize as a courtesy to military families.
***According to California Government Code Chapter 3, Division 1, Title 2, §8223. (c), “A notary public who is not qualified and bonded as an immigration consultant … may not enter data provided by a client on immigration forms nor otherwise perform the services of an immigration consultant.” We are not licensed as immigration consultants and, therefore, do not touch immigration forms.
It’s important to keep in mind that the $15 limit only covers the notarial act—it does not include services that are often related to notary costs, such as travel, printing, scanning, courier service, or shipping. Our notary prices, therefore, are generally higher than $15 because we include additional services.
SF Notary + Apostille pricing
So how much is a notary? Our mobile notary pricing starts at $45 for travel (plus the $15 per notarized signature). We travel to homes, businesses, hospitals, retirement homes, hospices, courtrooms, jails, coffee shops, boats, private jets—wherever you need a notary to show up.
The total mobile notary cost depends on many factors. How far away are you? Do you need a signing outside of business hours? Is it a loan signing or an estate planning signing? Do you need printing? Scanning? Shipping? Apostille? All of these factors can affect the cost of a notary.
How much does a notary charge for your specific job? For a quick and accurate price quote, please call +1 (415) 655-9455 or email [email protected].
