How Much Does a California Notary Cost?
3-Minute Read
Curious about notary fees in California? Let’s break down the charges and how they apply in different settings.
California law lists the maximum fees that can be charged for each type of notarial act. A California notary cannot charge more than these stated fees per notarization, but they can choose to charge less than the maximum, or no fee at all. California Notary Publics are required to enter the amount charged per notarization in their journals.
Wondering what counts as a single notarization? California has a list of recognized notarial acts, but the two most common when getting your signature notarized are the Jurat and Acknowledgment, and each signature notarized equals one notarization. Taking an oath in front of a notary public is another common notarial act in California. All three of these have a maximum fee of $15 per act (e.g. per signature or oath.)
Below are some specifics on where you may find a notary and how they may charge for services.
Banks, shipping centers, and places like AAA vary in what they charge for notarizations.
Some banks still offer notarizations for free. Other banks, like mine, charge the state-maximum fee of $15 per notarization.
AAA has a sliding scale based on membership level and the number of notarizations, starting at $15 per notarization for nonmembers.
And while UPS still has notaries on-site, FedEx does not.
These locations may limit what types of documents they are willing to notarize due to liability concerns and may not always have a notary public available, so make sure to call ahead.
California mobile notaries charge per notarization plus a travel fee.
Travel fees are typically tiered and based on distance and/or time traveled to your preferred location (i.e. home, office, coffee shop, or even a ranch).
Hospital and Jail visits often entail higher travel fees because of the extra time these facilities add to an appointment.
Travel fees are not regulated by California law and must be itemized separately from the notarization fee.
How do I charge for services through A Signature Above Mobile Notary and Apostille? I follow the California mobile notary industry standard of notarization plus a travel fee. I've also crafted several special offers; these include:
Discounted or waived travel fees for over a certain number of notarizations at our appointment.
Package rates for specific kinds of documents. Package rates automatically save on travel and notarizations, and can include other services like printing, scanning, presentation, or document delivery.
Discounts on the travel fee for students, CalFresh recipients, and veterans. See my Community page for details.
$10 notarization at group events or gatherings.
Sunday’s with Lisa. Once a month, you can find me at a local coffee shop where you can get a document or two notarized for $10 a signature.
For all services, I strive to provide transparent pricing whenever possible. I believe no one should have to guess or call around to know the cost of services.
My website includes pricing under the different services. Start at the home page: www.asignatureabove.com.
I’m available by phone to answer any questions you have about pricing or notarizing your documents. I'm here to help!
Call: 805-905-1230
Reserve a Time Online: https://asignatureabove.as.me/
Lisa Huntsberry,
Mobile Notary and Apostille Agent, and Owner of A Signature Above
