Notary Exam Notary Fees and Jurisdiction 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who has the authority to set the maximum fees a notary public can charge?
- The US federal government
- The state in which the notary is commissioned (Correct answer)
- The individual notary based on market rates
- The American Association of Notaries
Correct answer: The state in which the notary is commissioned
Maximum notary fees are set by state law, and no notary may charge more than the state-mandated limit regardless of the transaction's complexity.
Question 2: What is the geographic area in which a notary is authorized to perform notarial acts?
- Anywhere in the United States
- Only within their home county
- Within the entire state in which they are commissioned (Correct answer)
- Only within the city where they live
Correct answer: Within the entire state in which they are commissioned
A notary's jurisdiction is statewide—they may perform notarial acts anywhere within the borders of their commissioning state.
Question 3: Can a notary choose to waive their fee for a notarization?
- No, charging the set fee is mandatory
- Yes, notaries may voluntarily waive or reduce their fee (Correct answer)
- Only with written permission from the state
- Only for non-profit organizations
Correct answer: Yes, notaries may voluntarily waive or reduce their fee
State-mandated fees are maximums, not minimums—a notary may always choose to charge less or nothing at all.
Question 4: What must a notary do if they relocate to a different state?
- Continue using their current commission until it expires
- Notify their current state and apply for a new commission in the new state (Correct answer)
- Automatically transfer their commission to the new state
- Apply for a federal notary license
Correct answer: Notify their current state and apply for a new commission in the new state
Moving to another state typically ends or requires resignation of the current commission, and the notary must apply fresh in their new state of residence.
Question 5: What can happen to a notary who charges more than the state-mandated maximum fee?
- They receive a bonus from the state for superior service
- They may face disciplinary action, fines, or commission revocation (Correct answer)
- They receive a higher-tier commission
- There are no consequences for charging extra
Correct answer: They may face disciplinary action, fines, or commission revocation
Overcharging is a violation of state notary law and can result in formal complaints, fines, and loss of the notary commission.
Question 6: In most states, notary fees are charged on what basis?
- Per page of the document notarized
- Per notarial act performed (Correct answer)
- Per hour of service provided
- Per document regardless of the number of acts
Correct answer: Per notarial act performed
Fees are charged per notarial act—so a document requiring two signatures notarized would incur two fees.
Notary Exam Notary Fees and Jurisdiction 1
Who has the authority to set the maximum fees a notary public can charge?