Ohio Notary Fees

What Ohio Notaries Are Legally Allowed to Charge

Ohio law sets hard ceilings on notarial fees under R.C. 147.08. Charging anything above these limits is a statutory violation that can result in disciplinary action against your commission. But charging below them — or waiving fees entirely — is perfectly legal.

Here's what the current fee structure looks like, including the changes from House Bill 315 that took effect on April 4, 2025.

Fee Limits by Type of Notarial Act

Per Act, Not Per Signature

A common misunderstanding: the fee applies per notarial act, not per individual signature on a document. If a single document requires one acknowledgment or one jurat, that's one act — and one fee — regardless of how many signatures appear on the document.

However, if the same document requires multiple separate notarial acts (for example, an acknowledgment for one signer and a jurat for another), each act is a separate charge.

Travel Fees for Mobile Notaries

Ohio doesn't cap travel fees, which gives mobile notaries flexibility in building their service pricing. But there's a critical rule: the travel fee must be explicitly agreed to by both the notary and the signer before the notarial act takes place.

You can't show up, perform the notarization, and then add a surprise travel charge. That agreement needs to happen upfront — ideally in writing — to avoid disputes and potential misconduct complaints.

The RON Fee Increase Under HB 315

Before House Bill 315 took effect on April 4, 2025, the maximum fee for a Remote Online Notarization act was $25. The new law raised this ceiling to $30 per act.

On top of the per-act fee, RON notaries can charge a separate technology fee of up to $10 per session to cover the costs of identity proofing and credential analysis tools. This technology fee is per session (meaning per signing appointment), not per individual act within that session.

For a session with one notarial act, the combined maximum is $40 — $30 for the notarial act plus $10 for the technology platform. Additional acts are charged per act.

Employer Restrictions on Fee Collection

If you're commissioned as part of your employment — common in law offices, title agencies, and banks — your employer can legally prohibit you from collecting notarial fees for work performed during business hours. Many employers do exactly this, treating notarization as a routine part of the job rather than a fee-generating activity.

However, your commission is personal. Outside of work hours, your employer cannot restrict your notarial activities or your right to charge fees. And if you leave the job, the employer cannot retain, seize, or deface your seal or journal, even if they paid for your training and supplies.

Violations and Consequences

Exceeding fee limits isn't just bad practice — it's a statutory violation under R.C. 147.08 and can result in:

• Formal complaints filed with the Secretary of State
• Disciplinary investigation
• Commission suspension or revocation in serious cases

Keep a record of every fee charged in your notary journal (recommended even for traditional notarizations where a journal isn't legally required). If a client disputes a charge, your journal entry is your best defense.

The Ohio notary commission guide includes the complete fee schedule and rules so you always know your limits.

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