Illinois Notary Fees
What You Actually Pay (Not What Bundle Sites Quote)
Commercial notary supply companies love to quote package prices — $170, $250, sometimes $315 — without breaking down which costs are mandatory state fees and which are their markups. Here's what the individual line items actually cost for an Illinois notary commission.
Startup Costs for a Traditional Commission
| Item | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $15 |
| Approved 3-hour course | About $29 on average |
| Surety bond ($5,000, 4-year term) | About $30 on average |
| Rectangular rubber stamp | $15–$30 |
| Journal (bound or electronic, as applicable) | $10–$20 |
Total range: roughly $100–$155.
This assumes you shop each component independently rather than buying a bundled package from a single vendor. The course, bond, and stamp can all come from different providers — there's no requirement to buy them together.
The Electronic Commission Add-On
Under normal pricing, adding an electronic notary commission to your traditional commission costs:
- Additional state filing fee: $25
- Additional surety bond: $25,000 rider (bringing your total bond to $30,000)
- PKI digital certificate: pricing varies by certified authority
- Platform subscription: pricing varies by provider
But here's the part most cost breakdowns miss: Public Act 104-0621 (SB 1573) waives both the $25 e-filing fee and the $25,000 additional bond through July 24, 2028. During the waiver window, the only extra costs for an electronic commission are the PKI certificate and platform subscription.
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What You Can Charge Per Act
Illinois law caps what notaries can charge per notarial act:
- Traditional in-person notarization: maximum $5 per act
- Electronic or remote online notarization: maximum $25 per act
These are statutory ceilings under 5 ILCS 312/3-104, not suggested prices. You can charge less or nothing, but you cannot charge more than these ceilings.
If you charge a separate travel fee, keep it distinct from the statutory notarial-act fee and disclose it before the appointment.
Renewal Costs
Renewal costs mirror the initial commission:
- $15 application fee
- About $29 on average for the mandatory re-education course (the attorney/judge exemption via Form I-279 eliminates this cost)
- New $5,000 surety bond (your old bond expires with your commission)
- New stamp (your commission number and expiration date change)
Budget roughly $90–$160 for a straightforward renewal. The biggest surprise for renewals is the mandatory course — many renewing notaries don't realize they must retake it.
Where the Money Goes
The $15 filing fee goes to the Secretary of State. The bond premium goes to your surety company. The course fee goes to your education provider. None of these entities are connected — each is a separate transaction with a separate vendor.
Commercial packages markup the combined total because they handle all three. That convenience has a price, and for most applicants the savings from shopping independently outweigh the minor time investment.
The Illinois Notary Commission Guide includes a cost-comparison worksheet that lets you price each component across multiple providers before committing, plus the SB 1573 waiver timeline so you know exactly which fees apply during your application window.
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