GA Notary - Georgia Notary Maximum Notary Fees Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11), what is the maximum fee a notary public is permitted to charge for performing a single notarial act, such as taking an acknowledgment or administering an oath?
- $5.00
- $10.00
- $2.00 (Correct answer)
- A reasonable fee agreed upon with the signer
Correct answer: $2.00
O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11 explicitly states that the authorized fee is $2.00 for each notarial act performed. It is unlawful for a notary to charge more than this statutory amount for the act itself.
Question 2: A client presents a document that requires three separate signatures to be notarized (e.g., three different individuals signing as co-borrowers). What is the maximum amount a Georgia notary can charge for the notarial acts alone, excluding any other potential fees like travel?
- $2.00, as it is a single document
- $6.00, calculated as $2.00 per notarial act (Correct answer)
- $4.00, because the first act is $2.00 and subsequent acts are discounted
- $10.00, as a standard multi-signature fee
Correct answer: $6.00, calculated as $2.00 per notarial act
The maximum fee is calculated per notarial act, not per document. Since there are three separate signatures requiring three individual notarizations, the notary may charge up to $2.00 for each one, for a total of $6.00.
Question 3: Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding a Georgia notary charging fees for their services?
- Notaries are required by law to charge the maximum fee of $2.00 to ensure uniformity.
- A notary must inform the person of the permitted fees for the service *prior* to performing the notarial act. (Correct answer)
- Travel fees are included in the $2.00 statutory fee and cannot be charged separately.
- Notaries can add a standard 'administrative fee' of up to $10.00 to every transaction.
Correct answer: A notary must inform the person of the permitted fees for the service *prior* to performing the notarial act.
O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11(d) mandates that a notary public must inform the person requesting the service about the fees permitted by law before the act is performed. Notaries are not required to charge a fee, and any fees beyond the statutory notarial act fee, like travel, must be billed separately and agreed upon.
Question 4: A signer requests a notarization and also asks the notary to provide a certificate from the Clerk of Superior Court verifying that the notary's commission is active. According to O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11, what is the maximum total amount the notary can lawfully charge for this combined service?
- $2.00
- $10.00
- $5.00
- $4.00 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: $4.00
Georgia law specifies that a notary may charge $2.00 for the notarial act itself and an additional, separate fee of $2.00 for the service of obtaining a certificate of commission effectiveness from the Clerk of Superior Court, making the maximum lawful charge $4.00 in this scenario.
Question 5: A mobile notary travels 15 miles to a client's office to notarize one signature. Which of the following fee structures is compliant with Georgia law?
- Charging a single, flat fee of $30.00 listed as 'Notarization Service'.
- Billing $2.00 for the notarial act and a separately stated, pre-agreed travel fee. (Correct answer)
- Charging $17.00, representing $2.00 for the act and $1.00 per mile traveled.
- Including the travel cost within a total 'notary fee' of $15.00.
Correct answer: Billing $2.00 for the notarial act and a separately stated, pre-agreed travel fee.
While Georgia law does not specify a maximum travel fee, it is a best practice and legally defensible to charge for the notarial act ($2.00) and any travel fee as separate line items. The travel fee must be agreed upon with the signer in advance, as it is not regulated by statute like the notarial act fee is.
Question 6: Under what circumstance is a Georgia notary public permitted to charge more than the statutory $2.00 fee for a notarial act?
- If the document is complex and requires extra time to review.
- When notarizing for a large corporation.
- If the signer agrees in writing to pay a higher fee.
- Under no circumstances for the notarial act itself. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Under no circumstances for the notarial act itself.
The fee for the notarial act itself (e.g., taking an acknowledgment, administering an oath) is fixed by law at a maximum of $2.00. It is unlawful to charge more for the act regardless of the document's complexity, the identity of the signer, or any agreement to the contrary. Other fees, such as travel, must be separate.
GA Notary - Georgia Notary Maximum Notary Fees Questions and Answers 1
According to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-17-11), what is the maximum fee a notary public is permitted to charge for performing a single notarial act, such as taking an acknowledgment or administering an oath?