Notary cost: what it costs to become a notary and to use one

How much does it cost to become a notary in California?

The fee California charges directly is $40 for a new or reappointing commission application, paid at the exam site by check or money order. A retake costs $20. A duplicate commission certificate costs $10.

The cost to become a notary in California also includes items the state does not price: the required 6-hour course from an approved vendor, Live Scan fingerprinting (the Secretary of State tells you to call the Live Scan site for its fee), and the $15,000 bond you must file with your oath.

• Commission application (new or reappointing): $40, paid at the exam site
• Exam retake: $20
• Duplicate commission certificate: $10
• Live Scan fingerprinting: set by the Live Scan site
• Course of study and bond: priced by providers, not by the state

Source: California Secretary of State — Forms, services and fees. Checked 19 October 2026.

How much does it cost to become notary public in New York?

New York lists two fees: $15 for the written exam and $60 for the initial application. Application fees are nonrefundable. The Department of State pages we checked list no required course and no bond, so the cost of becoming a notary public in New York is lower than in California.

Renewal also costs $60, submitted with the application to the county clerk where you are commissioned.

Source: New York Department of State — Become a notary public. Checked 19 October 2026.

How much does it cost to be a notary over four years?

Both states commission notaries for four years. In California, each new term means another course (3-hour refresher if you apply in time), another exam with the $40 fee, and a new bond filing. In New York, the renewal fee is $60.

Supplies are extra in both states and are not priced by the state: California notaries need an official seal and a sequential journal.

Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.

How much does a notary cost per signature?

Notary public cost for the customer is capped by state law. In California the maximum for an acknowledgment, including the seal and the certificate, is $15 for each signature; executing a jurat costs at most $15, and certifying a copy of a power of attorney at most $15. A notary may charge less or nothing, and charging more than the law allows is a ground for losing the commission.

In New York the cost of notary public services is much lower: $2 for administering an oath or affirmation, $2 for an acknowledgment for the first person and $2 for each additional person, and $2 for swearing a witness. The fee for an electronic notarial act is set by regulation.

• California acknowledgment: up to $15 per signature
• California jurat: up to $15
• New York oath or affirmation: $2
• New York acknowledgment: $2 per person

Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.

Mobile notary cost

The cost of mobile notary services has two parts: the notarial fee, which is capped as above, and a travel fee. California’s handbook says travel fees, if any, should be identified separately in the journal; it does not set an amount. We found no travel fee amount in the New York booklet either.

So how much does a mobile notary cost? The notarial part cannot exceed the state maximum; the travel part is agreed with the notary. Ask for both figures before the appointment.

Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.

Using a notary: how much does it cost in practice?

The notary cost for a typical document is the per-signature fee times the number of signers. A California deed signed by two people can cost up to $30 for the acknowledgment; in New York, the same acknowledgment for two people costs $4. Kept a receipt? Compare how much a notary cost you with the state maximum.

If you plan to become a notary yourself, practise for the exam with Certsqill’s expert-developed questions, which explain every answer option and give a readiness score per exam area.

Source: New York Department of State — Notary Public License Law (September 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.

Notary cost: questions people ask

How much does it cost to become a notary?

Official fees: New York $15 exam plus $60 application; California $40 application paid at the exam site, plus a course, fingerprints and a bond. Checked 19 October 2026.

What is the notary public cost per signature in California?

Up to $15 per signature for an acknowledgment and up to $15 for a jurat. Source: California Notary Public Handbook 2026, checked 19 October 2026.

How much should a notary cost in New York?

$2 for an oath or affirmation and $2 per person for an acknowledgment. Source: NY Notary Public License Law, checked 19 October 2026.

How much does a mobile notary cost?

The notarial fee is capped by state law; the travel fee is separate. California requires travel fees to be listed separately in the journal but sets no amount.

What is the cost for notary renewal?

New York: $60. California: $40 application at the exam site, plus the 3-hour refresher course. Checked 19 October 2026.

Can a notary charge no fee?

Yes. California’s handbook says a notary may charge no fee or less than the maximum. Source: CA handbook, checked 19 October 2026.