How Much Is It to Notarize a Document? A State-by-State Guide

Getting confused about pricing is rather common when you need to get a document notarized. Fees vary significantly depending on the state you are in, the method you choose, and whatever extra services get bundled into the final cost. 

Some notaries charge a nominal stamp fee, while others add travel or technology surcharges that change the bottom line.

Yet more often than not, the real friction isn't even the stamp cost but the time spent finding a notary, coordinating schedules, and dealing with unexpected administrative charges. These hidden logistical costs can outweigh the price of the signature itself and make a big difference for individuals and businesses managing higher volumes of notarizations.

This guide provides a breakdown of pricing structures for traditional in-person services, mobile notarization, and remote online notarization (RON), giving you the information you need to understand the true cost of the transaction and choose the method that best fits your needs.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the specific laws of your commissioning authority or consult with a legal professional regarding notarial acts.

How much is it to notarize a document? At a glance: 

Here is a quick summary of the typical costs you can expect for each notarization method.

• In-person notarization: Costs can range from free to ~$15 per signature/act. This depends heavily on state laws and the specific provider (e.g., a bank branch vs. a shipping center).

• Mobile notary: Includes the standard signature fee plus travel and convenience fees. These are highly variable and can range from $25 to over $75+, depending on distance, location, and time of day.

• Remote online notarization (RON): Typically charges a per-session or per-notarization fee (often around $25). While the unit cost may be higher than a single paper stamp, it eliminates additional expenses and reduces total logistical time.

What factors determine notary fees?

Notary fees are largely regulated at the state level, with Secretaries of State usually setting the rules. However, the final amount you pay often includes service charges beyond the regulated cap. 

To understand the true cost, you must distinguish between the legal act and service delivery, with four core variables at play. The first variable is regulated; the others are often market-driven.

• State-regulated maximums: This is the legal limit a licensed notary public can charge for the notarial act itself (the actual stamping and signing). This is often capped at per-signature or per-act levels. For example, Pennsylvania strictly limits the fee to $5 for taking an acknowledgment.

• Travel and convenience fees: If you hire a mobile notary, you are paying for their time and mileage. Rates often fluctuate based on the distance traveled and the urgency of the request.

• Technology/platform fees: Online workflows involve secure video platforms and identity verification tools, which often carry platform or service pricing distinct from the statutory fee.

• Document complexity: Complex paperwork, such as loan closings involving two or more signers or voluminous real estate packages, drives service complexity. This often results in higher total costs compared to a simple affidavit, even if the state cap per stamp remains the same.

Standard in-person notary fees

The "walk-in" experience is what most people picture when they think of notarization. This involves physically going to a bank, a shipping center (like the UPS Store), a law office, or a local library to find a notary.

In these scenarios, the general fee range spans from free to approximately $15 per signature/act. 

Many banks offer this service to existing account holders at no cost, while shipping centers typically charge near the state maximum. For instance, the New York Department of State imposes a strict limit of $2 per act, whereas other states allow significantly higher amounts.

The problem is that these fees can be deceptive, especially for busy professionals. While you might only pay $10 for the stamp, the true cost includes your commute, time away from work, and the risk that the notary is unavailable  when you arrive.

Mobile notary fees

A mobile notary operates on a convenience model: they come to you. This service is popular in real estate and for individuals who cannot easily travel, such as those in hospitals or care facilities. Mobile notary cost structure typically stacks as follows:

• State-regulated act fee: The standard cap for the stamp (e.g., $10).

• Travel/convenience fee: A charge to cover mileage, gas, and travel time.

• After-hours surcharges: Extra costs for weekends, holidays, or late-night appointments.

Because the travel and administrative components are often unregulated, prices vary greatly. A mobile appointment might cost $40 in a rural area or upwards of $150 for an urgent, rush-hour signing in a major city. Always ask for a full quote upfront to avoid surprise expenses.

How much does remote online notarization (RON) cost?

Remote online notarization (RON) allows you to notarize documents digitally using audio-visual technology. Instead of meeting physically, the signer and the notary connect via a secure live video feed.

The typical pricing model for RON is often structured per session or per notarization/document. While a standard in-person stamp might be capped at $10 in a specific state, a session with an online notary in that same state might cost $25. 

These costs are primarily driven by:

• State caps on remote notarizations: Many states have updated their laws to include specific caps on remote notarizations. For example, Texas allows an online notary public to charge up to $25 in addition to regular notary fees for each notarial act, a significantly higher limit than the traditional paper limit.

• Platform/service pricing: In practice, what you pay often reflects the provider's business model and capabilities. Enterprise subscriptions for platforms like Docusign Notary may offer volume-based pricing rather than a strict per-transaction fee.

• Security and compliance: Reliable RON services include digital support infrastructure and advanced security features at no extra cost. These often include Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) or credential analysis for identity verification, tamper-evident digital seals, and secure electronic journals.

Although the per-unit cost may be higher, many businesses and professionals often find RON more cost-effective overall because it offers speed, immediate availability, and stronger digital records.

State-by-state guide to notary fees

Important Disclaimer: Fees shown are state maximums for notarial acts where specified. Actual prices can be lower (or free), and separate service fees (travel/platform/admin) may apply. In general, fees fall into three categories: 

• Low-cost states: Like New York or Idaho, at $2-$5.

• Standard states: Like Nevada or Washington, at $15.

• Higher-allowance states: Typically, for remote acts or states with no set limits. 

State-by-state maximum notarization fees

Data sourced from the National Notary Association.

The hidden costs of traditional notarization

When you look strictly at the fee table above, traditional notarization seems like the obvious cost-effective alternative. But that’s not always the case.

For professionals and organizations managing agreements at scale, the per-stamp fee can be a deceptive metric, masking the operational drag that accumulates with every paper-driven, manual operation.

• Risk and error: Paper-based processes are inherently prone to human error. A single missing date, illegible seal, or skipped signature can require a complete "re-do," increasing the cost and potentially delaying critical transactions.

• Operational drag: Overnight shipping costs (via FedEx or UPS) for physical documents can easily range from $20 to $50 per shipment, often costing far more than the notarization itself. This is compounded by the labor time lost coordinating courier pickups and tracking proof of delivery.

• Security gaps: Physical journals can be lost or stolen, and paper documents can be difficult to track once mailed. 

In contrast, digital solutions provide robust audit trails and tamper-evident records, offering enhanced security for your most important documents, such as notarized real estate deeds and powers of attorney.

Streamlining the process with Docusign Notary

To avoid the unpredictability of variable fees and the friction of in-person processing, many forward-thinking organizations and professionals standardize their notarization pipeline with digital solutions like Docusign Notary. 

This remote solution enables you to notarize critical documents via a secure online audio-visual session—whether you use your own notaries or the Docusign Notary On-Demand service.

Some key benefits include:

• Mitigate risk with robust evidence: Beyond a simple logbook, Docusign Notary captures a detailed audit trail and an encrypted audio-visual recording of every session. This can provide stronger proof of signer identity and intent than traditional methods. In fact, Docusign enterprise customers cite an 80% improvement in risk mitigation in agreement management processes.

• Elevate the customer experience: Replace the friction of "print, drive, and wait" with a modern, fully digital framework. Signers can complete critical transactions from their own devices, reducing friction so effectively that B2C teams report 31% less deal abandonment.

• Centralize your agreement lifecycle: There is no need to juggle separate video apps and signature tools. Docusign Notary is embedded with Docusign eSignature and Docusign Identify, allowing you to send, sign, notarize, and store agreements in one secure platform.

Ultimately, the answer to "how much is it to notarize a document" depends less on the stamp fee and more on the value of your time. By shifting to a digital model, you stop paying for the logistics of finding a notary and start investing in a more secure, scalable process. 

Ready to lower your total costs and optimize your notarization process? Explore Docusign Notary and discover how it can help.