Notary Fees and Compensation Flashcards

A Mississippi employer pays for an employee's notary commission and supplies. Who may keep fees collected during work hours?

Answer: The employer, if the notary and employer have agreed to that arrangement

An employer and employee-notary may agree that fees collected on the job belong to the employer.

May a Mississippi employer require an employee-notary to notarize documents for customers free of charge?

Answer: Yes, an employer may direct that no fee be charged for business-related notarizations

Because fees are optional, an employer may lawfully instruct its notary employees to waive them.

A client disputes the fee after the notarization is complete. What could the notary have done to avoid this situation?

Answer: Quoted and agreed on the fee before performing the act

Advance fee agreement prevents disputes and demonstrates fair dealing.

How should a Mississippi notary treat notary fee income for tax purposes?

Answer: Report it as income, though self-employed notary fees are exempt from self-employment tax under federal law

Notary fees are taxable income, but federal law exempts them from self-employment tax.

A signer offers a Mississippi notary a $100 tip to notarize a document for someone who is not present. The notary should:

Answer: Refuse, because no amount of compensation justifies violating personal appearance requirements

Compensation never excuses performing an unlawful notarization; the signer must personally appear.

Which charge would be improper for a Mississippi notary to add to a standard acknowledgment fee without any prior agreement?

Answer: An undisclosed 'convenience surcharge' added at the time of payment

Surprise surcharges beyond the disclosed, allowed fee are improper.

A Mississippi notary regularly notarizes for a title company under contract. The fee cap applies to:

Answer: Each notarial act, regardless of who the client is

The statutory maximum applies to every notarial act; private contracts cannot raise the per-act cap.