Notary Fees by State (2026): Maximum Fee Per Signature

Most caps are low: 17 jurisdictions cap a standard act at $5 to $8, and only 1 goes above $15. The 11 with no set maximum are the ones where you should ask for the price before the appointment.

Rhode Island stands alone at $25, but it counts per document, while Nevada and Texas price the first signature and charge less for each one after. Compare how the fee is counted, not just the headline figure.

Remote online notarization costs more than a paper act in every state on this chart. Ohio allows $30 plus a technology fee of up to $10, and a long list of states settle at $25 per remote act.

Connecticut's cap went from $1 in 1979 to $10 in 2026. The latest jump, from $5 to $10 on July 1, 2026, was the first change since the 2000 increase.

Population does not predict price. California allows $15 and Texas and Florida $10, while New York holds at $2, the same as Georgia.

Recent increases in state maximum notary fees

Source: California Legislative Information (bill text); chaptered status via GovBuddy, AB 1597 (Castillo), Notary public: service fees, amending Gov. Code § 8211; Chapter 39, Statutes of 2026; Connecticut General Assembly, Public Act No. 26-81 (Substitute Senate Bill No. 294), Sec. 13 amending § 3-95; Texas Legislature, H.B. No. 255, 88th Legislature (amending Gov. Code § 406.024), enrolled; Alabama Legislature, SB322 (2023 Regular Session), enrolled, amending Ala. Code § 36-20-74; Wyoming Secretary of State, New Notary Law Highlights, Effective 07.01.2021. Download as image

Remote and electronic notarization fee rules, selected states

Source: Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Revised Code § 147.08 (fees); Maryland Division of State Documents, COMAR 01.02.08.02 Charges and Fees; North Carolina General Assembly, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-31 (fees for notarial acts); Virginia Legislative Information System, Code of Virginia § 47.1-19 (fees); Washington State Legislature, WAC 308-30-220 Fees for notarial acts; Pennsylvania Department of State, Notary Public Fees; New Mexico State Records Center and Archives, 12.9.3.11 NMAC Technology Fees (New Mexico Register Vol. XXXII, Issue 22); New Mexico Secretary of State, New Mexico Notary Public Handbook; North Dakota Legislative Branch, North Dakota Century Code § 44-06.1-28 (fees for notarial acts); Montana Legislature, Montana Code Annotated § 1-5-626 (fees for notarial acts). Download as image

Maximum notary fee for a standard notarial act by state

• 1$25
• 4$15
• 15$10
• 17$5 to $8
• 3Under $5
• 11No set maximum

How much can a notary charge per signature?

The honest answer is that it depends on what your state counts. California's $15 applies to each signature on an acknowledgment. Texas allows $10 for the first signature and $1 for each one after that. Florida caps any one notarial act at $10. Rhode Island's $25 is counted per document or notarization. Ohio is explicit that its $5 is per act, not per signature.

So a mortgage packet with a long run of signature lines can cost very different amounts in two states with the same headline cap. If you are signing a stack of papers, ask the notary how many acts they will count before they start stamping. A per-document state like Rhode Island or Colorado treats that stack very differently from a per-signature state like California or West Virginia.

Pennsylvania shows how fine the rules can get: $5 for the first name on an acknowledgment and $2 for each additional name. New Jersey keeps ordinary acts at $2.50 but sets flat fees for real estate closings, $15 for all grantor services and $25 for mortgagor services in a financing.

Which state has the highest notary fees?

Rhode Island, at $25 per document or notarization since June 30, 2022. After that comes a group at $15: California, Colorado, Nevada and Washington. Colorado counts per document, Nevada counts the first signature of each signer, and Washington counts per act.

The bigger story is the direction of travel. Caps are going up. Connecticut doubled its fee from $5 to $10 effective July 1, 2026. Texas raised its first-signature fee from $6 to $10 on September 1, 2023. Alabama went from $5 to $10 in 2023, and Wyoming did the same on July 1, 2021.

California is next. AB 1597 raises the acknowledgment fee and the oath and jurat fee from $15 to $20 starting January 1, 2027. If you sign a long contract in California late in 2026 that has you paying notary costs in 2027 and beyond, expect the higher number.

Can a notary charge for travel or a mobile visit?

Usually yes, and this is where the bill grows. The per-act cap covers the stamp. Travel is handled separately, and several states only allow it if you agree first.

Nevada caps travel at $15 an hour during the day and $30 an hour at night. Maryland allows IRS mileage plus up to $5. Connecticut now ties travel to the IRS business mileage rate. North Carolina lets a notary charge actual mileage only if the signer agrees in writing before the trip. Michigan, Washington, Virginia, Montana and North Dakota also allow travel fees by agreement.

In the 11 places with no set maximum, the notary sets the price. Kansas is a good model of what fair dealing looks like there: a fee is allowed only if it is disclosed as not required by law, agreed before the notarization, collected at the time and written in the journal. Wherever you live, get the full price, travel included, in a text or email before anyone drives over.

How much does remote online notarization cost?

More than a standard paper act. Ohio allows up to $30 per online notarization plus a technology fee of up to $10. Maryland caps remote acts at $30. Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington all land at $25.

Some states stack charges instead. Pennsylvania lets electronic and remote notaries add up to $20 on top of the regular fee. New Mexico allows the $5 base fee plus a technology fee of up to $25. North Dakota and Montana allow extra fees for technology if you agree in advance.

The trade is usually worth it for a signer across the country or a business closing on a tight timeline. Before you book, ask whether the platform adds its own charge on top of the notary's fee.

What notary fees mean for freelancers and small businesses

On one document, notary fees are small. They add up when notarization is built into how a deal works. Think of a contractor who has to notarize lien waivers with every payment draw, a landlord who wants a notarized guaranty from each new commercial tenant, or a lender who sends a signing agent to every member of an LLC.

The question your contract should answer is who pays. Many agreements say nothing, and the cost lands on whoever happens to be holding the pen. A freelancer asked to notarize an IP assignment or a sworn statement for a client is doing paperwork for that client's benefit. It is fair to ask the client to cover the notary, the travel and any remote platform fee.

Watch for vague wording like "all closing costs" or "costs of execution" in a loan or purchase agreement. That can quietly include signing-agent fees above the state cap for the act itself, because the agent charges for the service and the travel, not just the stamp.

A simple fix is to name it. Add a sentence saying the party that requires notarization pays for it, including travel and any remote platform fee. It costs nothing to ask for, and many clients and landlords will agree because the amount is small to them. If you sign the same kind of contract often, put that sentence in your own template so you never have to argue about it again.

How to keep notary costs fair

• Look up your state's cap and how it counts, per signature, per act or per document.
• Ask for the full price in writing, including travel and any technology fee, before the appointment.
• In a no-maximum state, ask whether the notary records fees in a journal and get a receipt.
• Ask your bank, credit union or employer if it offers notarization to customers or staff.
• Put a line in your contract that names who pays notarization, travel and remote platform fees.
• If your state's cap is changing, as California's is on January 1, 2027, check the date of the signing.

Sources and method

Every number on this page comes from the sources below, each opened and read on or before October 18, 2026. A second, independent review checked every figure against its source and corrected anything that did not match. 51 of 51 state entries were confirmed; any that could not be are marked "Not yet confirmed" and left out of every count and chart.

1. National Notary Association, 2026 Notary Fees By State (Last updated Jul 1, 2026 (read via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-08-25))
2. California Legislative Information, California Government Code § 8211 (notary fees) (Section in force through December 31, 2026 (as captured 2024-06-12); amended by AB 1597 effective January 1, 2027)
3. Texas Legislature, H.B. No. 255, 88th Legislature (amending Gov. Code § 406.024), enrolled (Enrolled 2023; effective September 1, 2023)
4. Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 117.05 (use of notary commission; fees) (2026 Florida Statutes)
5. New York State Senate, New York Executive Law § 136 (notarial fees) (Page revision dated 2023-02-10)
6. Virginia Legislative Information System, Code of Virginia § 47.1-19 (fees) (Accessed 2026-10-18)
7. Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota Statutes § 357.17 (notaries public fees) (2025 Minnesota Statutes)
8. Delaware Code Online, Delaware Code Title 29 § 4311 (fees for services) (Accessed 2026-10-18)
9. South Carolina Legislature, South Carolina Code § 26-1-100 (fees for notary acts) (Accessed 2026-10-18)
10. Montana Legislature, Montana Code Annotated § 1-5-626 (fees for notarial acts) (Accessed 2026-10-18)
11. North Dakota Legislative Branch, North Dakota Century Code § 44-06.1-28 (fees for notarial acts) (Accessed 2026-10-18)
12. Oklahoma Senate, Oklahoma Statutes Title 49 (§ 5 and § 209) (Compilation posted 2019-12, includes Laws 2019 c. 338 eff. Jan. 1, 2020)
13. Washington State Legislature, WAC 308-30-220 Fees for notarial acts (WSR 24-11-162, effective 6/22/24)
14. Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Revised Statutes § 33-133 (notaries public; fees) (As captured 2026-06-06)
15. North Carolina General Assembly, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-31 (fees for notarial acts) (As captured 2026-06-17)
16. Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Revised Code § 147.08 (fees) (As captured 2026-07-08)
17. Illinois General Assembly, 5 ILCS 312/3-104 (maximum fee) (As captured 2025-08-06)
18. Hawaii State Legislature, Hawaii Revised Statutes § 456-17 (fees) (As amended L 2021, c 230; captured 2025-03-10)
19. Connecticut General Assembly, Public Act No. 26-81 (Substitute Senate Bill No. 294), Sec. 13 amending § 3-95 (Approved May 26, 2026; Sec. 13 effective July 1, 2026)
20. Connecticut General Assembly, Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 33, § 3-95 (fees of notary), history note (As captured 2026-10-04 (text before PA 26-81 was codified))
21. Colorado Secretary of State, Notary Public FAQs: Fees (Accessed 2026-10-18)
22. Maryland Division of State Documents, COMAR 01.02.08.02 Charges and Fees (Accessed 2026-10-18)
23. Pennsylvania Department of State, Notary Public Fees (Accessed 2026-10-18)
24. Arizona Secretary of State, Notary Public Rules, A.A.C. R2-12-1102 (Notary Public Fees) and Exhibit 1 (2018 rule; PDF as captured 2024-04-13)
25. Alabama Legislature, SB322 (2023 Regular Session), enrolled, amending Ala. Code § 36-20-74 (2023 Regular Session)
26. Idaho Secretary of State, Notary Public (FAQ: What fees may I charge?) (Accessed 2026-10-18)
27. Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, Georgia Notary Law (Fees of Notaries) (Accessed 2026-10-18)
28. Rhode Island General Assembly, R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-30.1-20.1 (fees to perform notarial acts) (P.L. 2022, ch. 438 and 439, effective June 30, 2022; captured 2025-03-26)
29. Missouri Revisor of Statutes, RSMo § 486.685 (fees) (Effective 8/28/2020; captured 2026-09-23)
30. Nevada Legislature, NRS 240.100 (fees for services) (As captured 2026-04-13)
31. Michigan Legislature, MCL 55.285 (Michigan Notary Public Act) (Am. 2018, Act 330; captured 2025-07-15)
32. West Virginia Legislature, W. Va. Code § 39-4-30 (maximum fees) (As captured 2025-10-18)
33. New Hampshire General Court, RSA 455:11 Notarial Fees (Amended 2021, 206:2, eff. Feb. 6, 2022; captured 2024-05-15)
34. Mississippi Secretary of State, Notary rules, Part 5 Chapter 9 (Fees), Rule 9.1 (Administrative Code filing (proposed-rule filing); accessed 2026-10-18)
35. Wyoming Secretary of State, New Notary Law Highlights, Effective 07.01.2021 (Effective July 1, 2021)
36. Oregon Secretary of State, Traditional, Electronic and Remote Notarization Comparison (PDF modified July 2023)
37. New Mexico Secretary of State, New Mexico Notary Public Handbook (Handbook dated 10/02/2023)
38. New Mexico State Records Center and Archives, 12.9.3.11 NMAC Technology Fees (New Mexico Register Vol. XXXII, Issue 22) (November 30, 2021; effective 1/1/2022)
39. Utah State Legislature, Utah Code § 46-1-12 (fees and notice), 2019 version effective November 1, 2019 (Text read from the Utah Lt. Governor post of November 6, 2019 quoting § 46-1-12 (Internet Archive capture 2020-02-12; live post returns 404 as of 2026-10-18). le.utah.gov showed the 2019 version as current in a 2025-07-07 snapshot; le.utah.gov unreachable 2026-10-18.)
40. Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division, Indiana Notary Public Guide (Revised May 20, 2024)
41. Wisconsin Legislature, Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 140, § 140.02(9) Fees (2023-24 Wis. Stats., published 3-7-25)
42. DC Office of the Secretary, Frequently Asked Questions: Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (Accessed 2026-10-18)
43. Kansas Secretary of State, Notary Public (Notary Fee, K.A.R. 7-43-16) (Accessed 2026-10-18)
44. South Dakota Secretary of State, South Dakota Notary Public Handbook (PDF dated May 2025)
45. Iowa Legislature, Iowa Code Chapter 9B, Notarial Acts (2026 Iowa Code (PDF generated December 2025))
46. Legal Information Institute (Cornell) reproduction of the New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C. 17:50-1.18 Fees for notarial services (Adopted by 54 N.J.R. 268(b), effective 2/7/2022)
47. California Legislative Information (bill text); chaptered status via GovBuddy, AB 1597 (Castillo), Notary public: service fees, amending Gov. Code § 8211; Chapter 39, Statutes of 2026 (Introduced January 16, 2026; approved by Governor and chaptered June 30, 2026 (status per https://www.govbuddy.com/california/bills/ab-1597/, last verified there August 17, 2026); operative January 1, 2027)