Notary Fees in PA: What Pennsylvania Notaries Can Charge

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 Notary Fee Schedule

Pennsylvania law establishes the following maximum fees for notarial acts:

• Taking an acknowledgment — $5.00 per signature
• Administering an oath or affirmation — $5.00 per person
• Executing a jurat (taking a verification on oath or affirmation) — $5.00 per signature
• Certifying or attesting a copy — $5.00 per copy
• Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument — $3.00 per page
• Any other notarial act — $5.00

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.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) Fees in Pennsylvania

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 notarial act fee maximum — $25.00 per notarial act

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.

What Notaries Cannot Charge For

Pennsylvania law prohibits certain charging practices that consumers should know:

• Refusing to notarize without mandatory add-ons — A notary cannot require you to purchase additional services as a condition of notarization (like document preparation or legal advice)
• Charging for verification of identity — Identity verification is part of the notarial act; it can't be billed separately
• Unauthorized practice of law fees — A notary who is not a licensed attorney cannot charge for legal advice or document preparation as part of a notarization appointment

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.

Where to Get Documents Notarized Affordably in Pennsylvania

Beyond understanding the fee schedule, knowing where to find notary services in Pennsylvania helps you avoid overpaying. Here are the common options:

• Banks and credit unions — Many offer free or low-cost notarization to account holders. Call ahead to confirm availability.
• Pennsylvania AAA offices — AAA members can often get documents notarized for free at AAA branches.
• UPS Stores and shipping centers — Widely available notary services, typically charging at or near the state maximum fee.
• Law offices — Many attorneys will notarize documents for existing clients at no extra charge.
• Municipal offices — Some county or municipal offices provide notary services to residents, often free of charge.
• Mobile notaries — For real estate closings, estate documents, or situations where you can't travel, mobile notaries come to you. Expect travel fees in addition to per-act fees.

Notary Fees for Real Estate Documents in Pennsylvania

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.

How Pennsylvania Notary Fees Compare to Other States

Pennsylvania's $5 maximum per notarial act is on the lower end nationally. By comparison:

• California: $15 per signature
• New York: $2 per signature (one of the lowest)
• Texas: $6 per acknowledgment
• Florida: $10 per notarial act

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.

Setting Your Fee Schedule as a Pennsylvania Notary

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:

• Consistency matters — Set your fees and communicate them clearly before performing any notarial act. Changing fees mid-appointment creates disputes.
• Free notarization as a business builder — Some notaries (especially those embedded in businesses like real estate agencies, law firms, or banks) offer free notarization as a client service rather than a standalone income stream.
• Mobile notary pricing — If you offer mobile notary services, clearly separate and communicate your travel fee from your per-act fees. Get verbal or written agreement before traveling.
• RON platform costs — If you offer RON, factor in your platform subscription costs when deciding what to charge (up to the $25 RON maximum). Don't assume the $25 cap is pure margin — platform fees often run $20–$60/month.

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.

Preparing for Your Pennsylvania Notary Commission

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.