California notary fees are set by state law, not by individual notaries

California law caps what a notary public can charge you. The maximum fee is $15 per notarial act — that is, per signature witnessed and certified. If you need five documents notarized, that is five separate acts, so the maximum total would be $75. A notary cannot charge more than this, though they can charge less.

The $15 cap applies whether you visit the notary in person or they travel to you. Travel fees are separate and not capped by state law, so a notary who comes to your home or office can charge whatever they negotiate with you for mileage and time — but the notarial act itself still maxes out at $15.

Some notaries work for banks, credit unions, or title companies and perform notarizations for free as a service to customers. If you have an account at a bank, calling ahead to ask whether they offer free notary service is worth doing before you pay a private notary.

Key Takeaways

  • California law sets the maximum notary fee at $15 per notarial act, and notaries cannot legally charge more than this amount.
  • Travel fees for a notary to come to your location are not capped by state law and must be negotiated separately from the per-act fee.
  • Banks and credit unions often notarize documents for free if you are a customer, so checking with your financial institution first can save you money.
  • The $15 fee applies to each signature or document certified, so multiple documents mean multiple fees.
  • Notaries must keep a record of what they charge and provide you with an itemized receipt if you request one.

Where to find a notary and what the total cost usually is

Most people find a notary through their bank, a UPS Store, a FedEx Office, or a private notary service. Banks are the cheapest option if you may have access to — free. UPS Stores and FedEx Offices typically charge the full $15 per act and may add a small service fee on top, so expect $15 to $20 per document. Private notaries advertise online and in local directories; they charge the $15 per-act fee plus whatever travel fee they set.

If a notary comes to your home or office, you will pay the $15 per act plus travel costs. Travel fees vary widely depending on distance and the notary's location. A notary 5 miles away might charge $25 to $50 for travel; one 20 miles away might charge $75 to $150. Always ask for the travel fee upfront before you book.

Some notaries offer package deals — for example, $40 total for two documents if you visit them in their office. This is legal as long as the per-act fee does not exceed $15. Always ask whether the quoted price includes all fees or whether travel or other charges will be added.

What notaries can and cannot charge for

A notary can charge you the $15 per notarial act. They can also charge for travel time and mileage if they come to you — there is no legal cap on this. Some notaries charge a small fee to copy documents or to provide certified copies of the notarization record, though this is not required by law.

A notary cannot charge you for the time it takes to review your documents, explain what notarization means, or answer questions about the process. They cannot charge extra fees for "rush" service, for documents in languages other than English, or for documents that are longer than average. If a notary quotes you a price higher than $15 per act plus reasonable travel costs, that is a sign to shop elsewhere.

How to verify a California notary is legitimate

California notaries must be commissioned by the Secretary of State. You can search the Secretary of State's notary database online to confirm that a notary is currently commissioned and to see their name, county, and commission expiration date. This search is free and takes less than a minute.

A legitimate notary will have a notary seal and journal. They will ask you to show a government-issued ID, will record details about you and the document in their journal, and will stamp and sign the document. If someone offers to notarize a document without asking for ID or without using a seal, they are not a real notary and the notarization will not be valid.

Before you pay, ask the notary for their commission number and verify it in the Secretary of State database. This protects you from fraud and ensures the notarization will be accepted by banks, courts, and other institutions.

Notarization costs for specific documents

The $15 per-act fee applies to any document — a power of attorney, a deed, an affidavit, a loan document, or a signature page. The type of document does not change the price. However, some documents require multiple signatures or multiple notarial acts, which means multiple fees.

For example, a power of attorney with two signature lines requires two notarial acts, so the cost is $30. A deed that needs to be notarized by both the grantor and the grantee is two acts, so $30. Always ask the notary how many acts a document requires before you agree to the fee.

Some documents, like loan papers, may come as a packet with multiple pages that all need the same signature notarized. This is still one notarial act — one signature, one seal — so it costs $15, not $15 per page.

Travel and mobile notary costs

If you need a notary to come to you — at home, at your office, or at a hospital or care facility — you will pay the $15 per-act fee plus a travel fee. The travel fee is not regulated by California law, so it varies by notary and by distance.

Mobile notaries in urban areas like Los Angeles or San Francisco typically charge $25 to $75 for travel within the city, depending on distance. Rural areas may have higher travel fees because notaries are farther apart. Some notaries charge a flat travel fee; others charge by the mile. Ask for the travel fee in writing before the notary comes out.

If you need multiple documents notarized, ask whether the notary will reduce the travel fee if you do them all in one visit. Many will, since they are already traveling to you. Bundling your notarizations can save you money on travel costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a notary charge more than $15 per document in California?

No. State law sets $15 as the maximum fee per notarial act. A notary can charge less, but not more. Travel fees are separate and not capped, so a mobile notary can charge for coming to you, but the notarization itself cannot exceed $15.

Do I have to pay if the notary makes a mistake?

No. If a notary makes an error that makes the notarization invalid, they should correct it at no charge. If the error is significant enough that the document cannot be fixed, ask the notary to redo the notarization for free. If they refuse, you can file a complaint with the Secretary of State.

What if I need a notary on a weekend or evening?

Some notaries work evenings and weekends, but they are not required to. You will need to search for a notary who offers those hours. Some may charge extra for after-hours service, though this must be negotiated separately from the $15 per-act fee.

Can a notary refuse to notarize a document?

Yes. A notary can refuse if they believe the document is fraudulent, if the signer does not have proper ID, if the signer appears to be under duress, or if the notary has a conflict of interest. A notary cannot refuse based on the content of the document or their personal beliefs about it.

Is there a difference in cost between a notary public and a notary signing agent?

A notary public is commissioned by the state and charges up to $15 per act. A notary signing agent is a notary public who has additional training in loan documents and real estate closings. They may charge more than $15 per act because they are providing a service beyond basic notarization, but the base notary fee is still capped at $15.