How Much Can a Notary Charge in New York

The $2 Cap for Traditional Notarizations

Under Executive Law Section 136, the maximum fee a New York notary public can charge for a traditional in-person notarial act is $2 per signature. This covers acknowledgments, jurats, and oaths or affirmations.

That's $2 per person per act — not per document. If three people sign a document that requires three separate acknowledgments, you can charge $2 each, totaling $6. But you cannot charge $2 per page or $2 per document when only one person's signature is being notarized.

Overcharging is a violation that can result in commission revocation and civil liability. The DOS takes fee complaints seriously.

Electronic and Remote Online Notarization Fees

Electronic notaries performing Remote Online Notarization (RON) under Executive Law Section 135-c operate under a different fee structure. The maximum is $25 per electronic notarial act.

If an electronic notary needs to "paper out" a remotely notarized document — printing it and attaching a physical Certificate of Authenticity for county recording — the fee for that certificate is capped at $2.

The gap between $2 for traditional acts and $25 for electronic acts reflects the technology and compliance overhead involved in RON. Electronic notaries must license credential analysis and identity proofing platforms, maintain 10-year audio-video recordings, and purchase X.509 digital certificates. Those costs don't apply to traditional in-person notarizations.

Travel and Convenience Fees

Here's where it gets more flexible. New York law does not cap travel fees, administrative fees, or mobile convenience charges. These are negotiated separately between the notary and the signer before the notarial act takes place.

A mobile notary who drives 45 minutes to a hospital for a bedside signing can charge a reasonable travel fee on top of the $2 statutory notarial fee. The key word is "separately" — the travel charge must be a distinct line item, not inflated into the notarial fee itself.

There's no published schedule for what constitutes a "reasonable" travel fee. Market rates in the New York City metro area typically range from $50 to $150 for mobile notary visits, depending on distance, urgency, and time of day. Upstate rates tend to be lower.

Pending Legislation

Senate Bills S10280 and S6268, introduced during the 2025–2026 legislative session, proposed raising the traditional notarial fee cap from $2 to $5. Both bills were referred to the Senate Finance Committee and have not advanced further.

Until one of these bills becomes law, the $2 cap remains in effect for all traditional in-person notarial acts. The fee has been at $2 for decades, making New York one of the lowest-fee states in the country.

County Clerk Fees Are Separate

Don't confuse notarial fees with county clerk fees. These are administrative charges for post-appointment services:

• Certificate of Official Character (from your home County Clerk): $5
• Filing the certificate in another county: $10
• Signature authentication (for apostille or international use): $3

These fees go to the County Clerk, not to you. They come into play when someone needs to verify your signature on a document for authentication or international use.

What This Means for Your Income

At $2 per act, traditional notarization alone won't generate significant income. Where New York notaries earn real money is through mobile and loan signing work, where travel fees and per-appointment charges add up, and through RON at $25 per electronic act.

For a full breakdown of fee structures, income scenarios, and compliance requirements, get the complete New York notary commission toolkit.

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