Notary fees in PA are regulated by state law — Pennsylvania caps the maximum fee a notary can charge for each notarial act. Unlike some states where notary fees are unregulated and vary widely, Pennsylvania's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) sets clear maximum fee amounts that protect consumers from overcharging.
Understanding the official fee schedule matters whether you're a consumer looking to get a document notarized or a newly commissioned Pennsylvania notary setting up your pricing.
Pennsylvania law establishes the following maximum fees for notarial acts:
These are maximum fees — Pennsylvania notaries can charge less, and many do for simple or repeat clients. Notaries cannot charge more than these amounts per act.
Note: Travel fees are separate. Pennsylvania law allows notaries to charge additional fees for travel to perform notarial acts at a client's location. Travel fees must be agreed to in advance and must be reasonable. There's no statutory cap on travel fees, but they must be disclosed and agreed upon before the notary travels.
Pennsylvania authorizes remote online notarization (RON) — performing notarial acts using audio-visual technology for signers who aren't physically present. The maximum fee for RON is slightly higher to account for the technology and platform costs involved:
RON providers (the platform vendors) may also charge their own platform fees. The notary's portion is capped at $25 per act, but the overall cost to the consumer for a RON session may be higher when platform fees are included.
Pennsylvania law prohibits certain charging practices that consumers should know:
If a notary charges you more than the statutory maximum fee per act, you have the right to refuse payment and report the notary to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Beyond understanding the fee schedule, knowing where to find notary services in Pennsylvania helps you avoid overpaying. Here are the common options:
Real estate transactions often require multiple notarizations — mortgage signatures, deed acknowledgments, and closing affidavits. At a Pennsylvania closing, you might have 5–15 separate notarial acts across all documents. At $5 per act maximum, the notary's fee portion of a closing is typically $25–$75.
Keep in mind that closing notaries (settlement agents) often bundle their total service fee, which includes the notary function plus document review, coordination, and travel. The notarial acts component is capped by state law, but the overall settlement agent fee is separately negotiated. These are different.
Pennsylvania's $5 maximum per notarial act is on the lower end nationally. By comparison:
RON fees also vary considerably by state. Pennsylvania's $25 maximum per RON act is moderate compared to states like Florida ($25) and California ($25), and lower than some others that allow $35+.
Pennsylvania's fee caps exist to protect consumers — particularly lower-income residents who need notary services for government documents, housing applications, or legal proceedings. The regulation ensures notary services remain accessible.
If you're a newly commissioned Pennsylvania notary, you're legally permitted to charge anywhere from $0 up to the statutory maximum. A few practical considerations:
For how to become a notary in Pennsylvania, see our full guide covering the application process, bond requirements, and oath of office. The Pennsylvania notaries guide covers finding a PA notary and what to bring to your appointment.
Try these questions from our free PA Notary - Pennsylvania Notary Exam practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A notary is asked to 'note a protest of a negotiable instrument,' a less common notarial act. The instrument in question is a three-page document. According to the fee schedule set by the Pennsylvania Department of State, what is the maximum fee the notary can charge for this specific notarial act?
Answer: D. $9.00
The fee schedule set by the Pennsylvania Department of State specifies that the maximum fee for noting a protest of a negotiable instrument is $3.00 per page. Since the document has three pages, the correct maximum fee is 3 pages x $3.00/page = $9.00.
What is the maximum fee a Pennsylvania Notary Public may charge for certifying a copy of a document?
Answer: B. $5.00
The maximum fee for certifying or attesting a copy of a document is $5.00. This is consistent with the fee for many other basic notarial acts.
A Pennsylvania Notary Public charges a principal $15.00 for a single acknowledgment, exceeding the statutory maximum fee. What is a potential consequence for the notary?
Answer: B. The notary may be subject to civil penalties, suspension, or revocation of their commission.
Charging fees in excess of the statutory maximum is a serious violation of the Pennsylvania Notary Public Law. Such actions can lead to disciplinary action by the Department of State, including civil penalties, suspension, or even revocation of the notary's commission.
What is the maximum fee a Pennsylvania Notary Public may charge for taking an acknowledgment of a signature on a document for a single individual?
Answer: B. $5.00
The Pennsylvania Notary Public Law specifies the maximum fees a notary may charge for various notarial acts. For taking an acknowledgment, the maximum fee is $5.00 for the first signature and $2.00 for each additional signature.
Take the full PA Notary - Pennsylvania Notary Exam practice test
If you're reading about notary fees in PA because you're considering becoming a notary yourself, the financial picture is worth understanding before you apply. The commission process costs $137–$277 (education, bond, application fee, seal, journal). At $5 per act, you'd need 28–56 notarial acts to break even on startup costs.
Most Pennsylvania notaries don't treat it as a standalone income source — they offer it as an ancillary service in a related profession (real estate, legal, banking, insurance) or as a mobile notary who handles higher-volume work and charges travel fees that make the economics more compelling.
To get commissioned, you'll need to complete a 3-hour approved education course, pass the Pennsylvania Notary exam, and navigate the application process. See our free PA Notary commission maintenance practice tests and bond and oath practice tests to build your knowledge of Pennsylvania notary law before the exam. A solid understanding of fees, authorized acts, and commission requirements will serve you well both on the exam and throughout your notary practice.