KS Notary Fees and Charges 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum fee a Kansas notary public may charge per in-person notarial act?
- $1.00
- $2.00 (Correct answer)
- $5.00
- $10.00
Correct answer: $2.00
Kansas law (K.S.A. 53-520) sets the maximum fee at $2 per notarial act for in-person notarizations.
Question 2: Under Kansas law, what is the maximum fee a notary may charge for each notarial act performed via remote online notarization (RON)?
- $5.00
- $10.00
- $25.00 (Correct answer)
- $50.00
Correct answer: $25.00
Kansas permits a maximum fee of $25 per notarial act performed through remote online notarization, reflecting the additional technology costs involved.
Question 3: A Kansas notary travels to a signer's home to perform a notarization. May the notary charge a travel fee in addition to the notarial fee?
- No, only the standard notarial fee is ever permitted
- Yes, but only if the distance exceeds 10 miles
- Yes, provided the notary and signer agree to the travel fee before the trip (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only at the IRS standard mileage rate
Correct answer: Yes, provided the notary and signer agree to the travel fee before the trip
Kansas law allows notaries to charge a travel fee separate from the notarial fee, but only if both parties agree to the travel fee in advance.
Question 4: When must a Kansas notary disclose the fees charged for a notarial act?
- After completing the notarial act
- Only if the signer specifically asks about the fee
- Before performing the notarial act (Correct answer)
- At the time the notary signs the certificate
Correct answer: Before performing the notarial act
Notaries must disclose their fees before performing the notarial act so the signer can make an informed decision about whether to proceed.
Question 5: A Kansas state agency employee is commissioned as a notary and is asked to notarize documents for official agency business. What fee may the employee-notary charge the agency?
- The standard maximum of $2 per act
- A reduced fee of $1 per act
- No fee, as they are already compensated through their government salary (Correct answer)
- Any fee agreed upon with the requesting party
Correct answer: No fee, as they are already compensated through their government salary
Government employees acting as notaries for official government business generally cannot charge fees, as they are already compensated through their employment.
Question 6: A Kansas notary charges $6 for a single notarial act, claiming the extra amount covers administrative costs. Has the notary acted lawfully?
- Yes, if the signer agreed to pay $6
- No, the notary has exceeded the $2 maximum fee and violated Kansas law (Correct answer)
- Yes, administrative costs may be treated as a separate charge
- No, but only if the signer files a formal complaint with the state
Correct answer: No, the notary has exceeded the $2 maximum fee and violated Kansas law
Charging $6 for a single notarial act violates Kansas law, which sets an absolute maximum of $2 per act regardless of any additional justifications.
Question 7: Is a Kansas notary required to charge the full $2 fee for every notarial act performed?
- Yes, charging less than $2 is considered an unfair pricing practice
- Yes, the $2 fee is both the minimum and maximum allowed
- No, the $2 is the maximum fee; a notary may charge less or waive the fee entirely (Correct answer)
- No, but they must charge at least $1 per act
Correct answer: No, the $2 is the maximum fee; a notary may charge less or waive the fee entirely
The $2 fee is a statutory maximum, not a minimum; notaries have full discretion to charge less than $2 or waive the fee entirely.
KS Notary Fees and Charges 1
What is the maximum fee a Kansas notary public may charge per in-person notarial act?