Notary Fees and Compensation Flashcards

What is the maximum fee an Alabama notary may charge per notarial act under state law?

Answer: $5 per notarial act

Alabama law sets the maximum fee at $5 per notarial act for traditional (in-person) notarizations.

An Alabama notary charges $20 for a single acknowledgment. This is:

Answer: Illegal — it exceeds the $5 statutory maximum

Charging more than $5 per notarial act for a traditional notarization violates Alabama's statutory fee cap, regardless of document type or experience.

May an Alabama notary charge a travel fee in addition to the notarial fee?

Answer: Yes, a separate travel fee may be charged if agreed upon in advance

Alabama notaries may charge a reasonable, separately agreed-upon travel fee on top of the statutory notarial fee, provided the signer agrees beforehand.

An Alabama notary who is also a licensed attorney notarizes documents for their legal clients. Can they charge more than $5 per act?

Answer: No, the $5 cap applies to all Alabama notaries regardless of professional credentials

The $5 statutory fee cap applies universally to all notarial acts performed in Alabama, even by attorney-notaries.

When is an Alabama notary permitted to perform a notarial act for free?

Answer: At any time — charging a fee is optional, and the notary may waive it

The $5 fee is a maximum, not a minimum; Alabama notaries may perform notarizations for free at their discretion.

An Alabama employer requires their notary-employee to notarize company documents without charging any fee. This is:

Answer: Legal — the notary may waive fees, including under employer direction

There is no minimum fee in Alabama; an employer may direct their notary-employee to perform notarizations as part of their job duties without collecting fees.