MA Notary Notary Fees and Compensation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Does Massachusetts law set a maximum fee that a notary public may charge per notarial act?
- Yes, $1.25 per signature
- Yes, $1.00 per signature
- No, Massachusetts does not cap notary fees by statute (Correct answer)
- Yes, $5.00 per act
Correct answer: No, Massachusetts does not cap notary fees by statute
Massachusetts does not impose a statutory maximum fee for notarial acts, leaving fee-setting to the notary's discretion or employer policy.
Question 2: Can a Massachusetts notary charge a travel fee in addition to a per-act fee?
- No, only the per-act fee is permitted
- Yes, a reasonable travel fee may be charged if agreed upon in advance (Correct answer)
- Only for remote online notarizations
- Only for government-related documents
Correct answer: Yes, a reasonable travel fee may be charged if agreed upon in advance
A notary may charge a reasonable travel fee when traveling to a signer's location, provided the fee is disclosed and agreed upon before services are rendered.
Question 3: Can a Massachusetts notary waive their fee entirely?
- No, the notary must always charge at least the minimum
- Yes, a notary may freely waive all fees (Correct answer)
- Only for non-profit organizations
- Only with the Secretary of State's approval
Correct answer: Yes, a notary may freely waive all fees
A notary is not required to charge any fee and may choose to perform notarial acts at no charge, particularly as a courtesy or employee benefit.
Question 4: If a Massachusetts notary's employer pays their commissioning costs, can the employer set the notary's fees?
- No, fee-setting is the notary's sole right
- Yes, an employer may set fee policies for notarizations performed during employment (Correct answer)
- Only if the employer is a financial institution
- Only with written consent from the Secretary of State
Correct answer: Yes, an employer may set fee policies for notarizations performed during employment
An employer who pays for a notary's commission may set workplace policies about fees, including requiring free notarizations for customers or clients.
Question 5: Should a Massachusetts notary disclose their fee before performing a notarial act?
- No, fees can be disclosed afterward
- Yes, fees should be disclosed to the signer before the act is performed (Correct answer)
- Only for fees over $10
- Only for commercial transactions
Correct answer: Yes, fees should be disclosed to the signer before the act is performed
Best practice and consumer fairness require that the notary disclose any fees before performing the notarial act so the signer can make an informed decision.
Question 6: May a Massachusetts notary charge a fee for a notarization they ultimately refuse to perform?
- Yes, for their time
- No, a fee may not be charged for a service not rendered (Correct answer)
- Only if the signer was at fault for the refusal
- Only if travel was involved
Correct answer: No, a fee may not be charged for a service not rendered
If a notary refuses to perform the notarial act, they should not charge a notarization fee since no service was completed, though a pre-agreed travel fee may still apply.
MA Notary Notary Fees and Compensation 1
Does Massachusetts law set a maximum fee that a notary public may charge per notarial act?