How Much Does a Notary Charge? (And Why It’s Not Just “A Couple Bucks”)

Yuriko Jacobs
22 minutes ago
2 min read

Let’s just clear the air right now: No, your cousin’s friend’s neighbor who said notaries charge “like two bucks” is not correct. How much a notary charges depends on where you are, what you’re notarizing, and how mobile your notary is willing to be. Spoiler: it’s not one-size-fits-all.

If you’ve ever asked, “Wait, why does it cost that much?”—here’s the honest breakdown from someone who does this for a living (hi, I’m a real notary).

California Sets the Base Fees

Let’s start with the basics. In California (where I work), notaries are capped by law on how much they can charge per notarized signature:

$15 per notarized signature. Yes, one signature = up to $15. If you’re signing five documents that each need notarization? That’s up to $75.

However, that’s just for in-office or basic, travel-free notarizations. If I’m meeting you at your house, at the hospital, or halfway across town with your loan docs, you’re paying for more than just ink and a smile.

Mobile Notary = Travel Fees

When notaries travel to you (that’s a mobile notary), they can legally charge travel fees—and the state doesn’t cap those fees. They’re usually based on:

Distance
Time of day (yes, 9 PM on a Sunday costs more)
Urgency (last-minute emergency signing? Add $$)
Parking or tolls (I’m not eating that $12 parking garage fee)

Typical travel fees in California can range from $20 to $75+, depending on where and when.

Pro tip: Always ask up front for a fee breakdown so there are no surprises.

Loan Signing Agents: That’s a Whole Other Game

If you’re signing a real estate package, you’re probably working with a Loan Signing Agent—a notary who’s trained to handle those big, scary packets of mortgage paperwork.

Loan signings often include:

Printing 100–200 pages (sometimes twice)
Driving to the appointment
Walking the signer through each page
Scanning back the full package
Dropping it at FedEx/UPS on time

For all that? Fees typically range from $75 to $250+, depending on the complexity, location, and how generous the hiring company is feeling that day (spoiler: not always very).

Wait, Why Does It Cost So Much Again?

Great question. Let’s peek behind the curtain.

Notaries invest in:

State-required training and testing
Background checks & bonding
E&O insurance
Travel-ready printers & scanners
Secure journals and ID verification tools
Gas, wear & tear, time, stress, and printer tantrums

So when you pay a notary, you’re not just paying for their stamp. You’re paying for their professionalism, legal responsibility, and peace of mind.

Bottom Line: Ask, Respect, and Budget Accordingly

A basic notarization? Usually $15 per signature.
A mobile notary coming to you? $15 + travel fees.
A loan signing package? $75 to $250+, depending on what’s involved.

And if someone says, “But it’s just a signature!”—remind them that one mistake on that “little signature” can void a will, stall a home sale, or derail a loan. Notaries keep the wheels of legality turning.