Notary Public Underwriters Blog
Why Do Some Notaries Notarize for Free, and Others Don’t?
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- Published: August 3, 2026
When the services of a notary are needed, customers should be prepared for a range of pricing.
Some notaries choose to notarize for the public at no cost, others charge the maximum fee allowed by state law, and still others charge somewhere in-between.
If you’ve ever wondered why these differences exist, the answer is influenced by a mix of legal requirements, business considerations, personal values, and logistical realities.
Here are some of the most common reasons why notary fee charging practices can differ.
Some notaries in some settings are expected to notarize without personally receiving any fee. For example, certain employers—like banks, credit unions, law offices, government agencies, and many businesses—provide notary services (for certain purposes) as a courtesy to their customers or clients. In these cases, the notary is typically an employee, and performing notarizations on behalf of their employer is just one of their many job duties.
This approach makes sense because:
- The employer covers the cost of the Notary’s commission, supplies, and training.
- The company views notarizations as a customer service or value-added benefit.
- The law and rules the notary must follow don’t forbid no-charge notarizations.
Independent notaries are running a business. For self-employed notaries, notarizations are a service—and often their primary source of income.
Why these notaries charge:
- They pay out of their own pocket for their commission, seal, supplies, education, and insurance.
- They cover business expenses like travel, marketing, software, and taxes.
- Many offer mobile services and travel to meet with customers, which adds time and cost.
- They have costs caused by appointment scheduling, prep, printing, and document handling.
Some notaries choose to offer free notarizations. Some notaries notarize for free simply as a personal choice. Typically, they offer free notarizations to friends and family; nonprofits or community organizations; church members; neighbors in need; or local schools or teams.
Many of these notaries see this no-fee choice as a way to give back to the community, especially when the documents are important, urgent, or tied to hardship.
State laws dictate a notary’s fee-charging practices. The rules on notary fee-charging vary by state. Examples include:
- states that have set lower maximum notary fees than in other states;
- states that require notaries to publicly post their fee schedule;
- states that restrict or prohibit notary travel fees;
- states that allow (but do not require) notaries to provide free services in certain circumstances;
- states that prohibit charging fees in certain circumstances.
So, remember that from state-to-state and from notary-to-notary, notarial fee variations are normal and influenced by the notary’s particular circumstances as well as by the notary’s personal choice.
Notary fees must always, however, comply with the law and/or administrative rules that apply in each notary’s state where they are commissioned or appointed.
Understanding the details behind notary fee-charging helps everyone—clients and notaries—engage each other with clarity and respect.
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