IL Notary - Illinois Notary Exam Maximum Allowable Fees and Fee Schedule Display 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: For a remote online notarization (RON) performed by an Illinois notary public, what is the maximum allowable fee per notarial act?
- $1.00
- $5.00
- $25.00 (Correct answer)
- $50.00
Correct answer: $25.00
Illinois law sets a separate, higher fee cap for remote online notarizations — $25.00 per act — reflecting the additional technology and platform costs involved, while the standard in-person cap remains $1.00.
Question 2: A client presents a single document containing four separate signature lines, each requiring its own notarial act. What is the maximum total fee an Illinois notary may charge for completing all four notarizations?
- $1.00
- $2.00
- $4.00 (Correct answer)
- $10.00
Correct answer: $4.00
The statutory maximum applies per notarial act, not per document. Four separate notarial acts at a maximum of $1.00 each means the notary may charge up to $4.00 total.
Question 3: Which of the following is a potential consequence for an Illinois notary who repeatedly charges fees above the statutory maximum?
- A mandatory $50 civil fine payable directly to the overcharged client
- Suspension or revocation of the notary's commission (Correct answer)
- A written warning with automatic reinstatement after 30 days
- Mandatory re-examination before the next commission renewal
Correct answer: Suspension or revocation of the notary's commission
Charging fees in excess of the statutory maximum is a violation of the Illinois Notary Public Act and can result in disciplinary action by the Secretary of State, including suspension or permanent revocation of the notary's commission.
Question 4: An Illinois notary decides to provide all notarial services at no charge. What fee-schedule display obligation, if any, does this notary have?
- They must post a schedule listing $0.00 for every service offered
- They must display a notice stating services are provided free of charge
- They must register as a pro bono notary with the Secretary of State
- No fee schedule display is required when no fee is charged (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No fee schedule display is required when no fee is charged
The fee schedule display requirement is triggered only when a notary actually charges fees. A notary who waives all fees has nothing to disclose and is not required to post any schedule or notice.
Question 5: An Illinois notary charges $0.50 for an acknowledgment and $1.00 for a jurat. Is this two-tier fee arrangement permissible under Illinois law?
- No — all notarial acts must be billed at a single uniform rate
- Yes — different acts may be priced differently as long as no individual fee exceeds the $1.00 statutory maximum (Correct answer)
- No — the notary must charge either the full $1.00 maximum or nothing at all
- Yes — but only if both fee amounts are disclosed to the client before the act is performed
Correct answer: Yes — different acts may be priced differently as long as no individual fee exceeds the $1.00 statutory maximum
Illinois law sets a ceiling, not a mandatory rate. A notary may charge any amount up to $1.00 per in-person notarial act and may price different act types differently, provided no single fee exceeds the cap.
Question 6: When is an Illinois notary required to update their publicly displayed fee schedule?
- Every January 1st, regardless of whether fees have changed
- Only when the state legislature amends the maximum allowable fee
- Whenever the notary changes the fees they actually charge (Correct answer)
- Each time the notary's commission is renewed
Correct answer: Whenever the notary changes the fees they actually charge
The displayed fee schedule must accurately reflect the fees the notary currently charges. Any time a notary adjusts their fees — upward or downward — the posted schedule must be updated to match so the public is not misled.
IL Notary - Illinois Notary Exam Maximum Allowable Fees and Fee Schedule Display 1
For a remote online notarization (RON) performed by an Illinois notary public, what is the maximum allowable fee per notarial act?