If you're looking to hire a notary or become one yourself, understanding PA notary fees is essential. Pennsylvania sets maximum fee amounts that notaries are legally allowed to charge — and knowing those limits protects both the public and the notary's commission.

This guide covers everything about Pennsylvania notary fees: what the law allows, which acts carry which charges, and how to avoid common mistakes that could put your commission at risk.

PA Notary Fees: What the Law Says

Pennsylvania's notary fee schedule is established under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), which took effect in October 2017. The law sets maximum per-act fees — not suggested rates. Notaries can charge less, but they cannot legally charge more.

Here's what Pennsylvania notaries are currently allowed to charge:

• Acknowledgment or verification upon oath or affirmation — $5 per signature
• Witnessing or attesting a signature — $5 per signature
• Certifying or attesting a copy or deposition — $5
• Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument — $3
• Any other notarial act — $5

These are the maximum fees per act. If a document requires multiple notarial acts — for instance, two signers each needing an acknowledgment — you can charge the fee for each act separately. That's not double-billing; it's how the fee schedule is designed.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) Fees in PA

Pennsylvania authorised Remote Online Notarization starting in 2020. RON fees follow different rules because the technology platform adds costs that traditional in-person notarization doesn't have.

For RON acts, Pennsylvania allows notaries to charge up to $5 per notarial act, plus the platform provider's fee — which is typically passed through to the signer. Some platforms charge $25 or more per session. Notaries performing RON must be registered with the Department of State and use an approved platform.

It's worth noting: travel fees for in-person notarization aren't regulated the same way. A notary who travels to a client can charge separately for travel — the maximum fee schedule applies only to the notarial act itself, not to ancillary services.

What Notaries Cannot Charge For

Some situations require a notary to perform a notarial act at no charge, or prohibit them from charging at all:

• Notarizing documents for active-duty military members under certain federal and state provisions
• Any act the employer requires the notary to perform as part of their job duties — unless the employer specifically authorises collecting fees

If you're a notary employed by a bank, law firm, or government office, check your employment agreement carefully. Many employers expect notarial acts performed during working hours to be a free service for clients, with the fee waived.

Advertising your notary services in languages other than English is also regulated. Pennsylvania law requires that if you advertise in another language, you must include a statement (in that language) that you're not an attorney and cannot give legal advice. Failure to include this disclaimer can result in disciplinary action.

How to Become a Notary in PA

If you're thinking about becoming a notary in Pennsylvania, the commission process is straightforward — but there are steps you can't skip. How to Become a Notary in Pennsylvania: 2025 Guide covers the full process, but here's the overview.

To become a notary in PA, you must:

1. Be at least 18 years old and a legal Pennsylvania resident
2. Complete a three-hour notary education course from an approved provider
3. Pass the Pennsylvania notary exam administered by the Department of State
4. Submit your application and $42 application fee
5. Obtain a surety bond of at least $10,000
6. Take your oath of office before a judge or the prothonotary of the court of common pleas
7. File your commission paperwork

The exam is an important step many first-time applicants underestimate. It covers Pennsylvania notary law, proper notarial acts, record-keeping requirements, and prohibited conduct. Our free practice questions help you prepare — work through them before booking your exam date.

Notary Bond Requirements

Pennsylvania requires every notary to maintain a surety bond of at least $10,000 for the entire term of their commission. The bond protects the public — not the notary — against financial losses caused by notarial misconduct or errors.

Bond costs vary by provider, but they're typically inexpensive — often under $50 for a four-year term. You'll purchase the bond before submitting your commission application, and the bonding company will provide documentation to include with your filing.

Don't confuse a surety bond with Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance. The bond is required by law. E&O insurance is optional but strongly recommended — it covers legal defence costs and damages if a signer makes a claim against you for a notarial error.

Pennsylvania Notary Commission Term and Renewal

A Pennsylvania notary commission lasts four years. Before it expires, you'll need to renew — and renewal requires completing another education course and passing the exam again. There's no grandfather provision for experienced notaries; everyone renews the same way.

Your commission is tied to your county of residence. If you move to a different Pennsylvania county during your commission term, you must notify the Department of State within 30 days and update your commission information. If you move out of state entirely, your commission ends.

Notary Journal Requirements

Pennsylvania requires notaries to keep a sequential journal of every notarial act they perform. The journal must contain:

• The date, time, and type of notarial act
• A description of the document or proceeding
• The name and address of each person for whom the act was performed
• The type of ID presented and its identifying number
• The fee charged, if any

The journal must be kept for 10 years after the last entry. If your commission expires or is revoked, you're still responsible for maintaining and producing the journal records. Journals can be kept in paper or electronic format, provided electronic journals meet the state's technical requirements.

Common Mistakes That Risk Your Commission

Pennsylvania's Department of State takes notary misconduct seriously. The most common errors that lead to disciplinary action include:

• Notarizing without the signer present — this is never permitted for in-person notarization, full stop
• Failing to require satisfactory proof of identity — personal knowledge isn't enough unless you genuinely know the signer well
• Leaving blanks in documents — you must not notarize a document with incomplete or blank sections
• Using an expired seal — your official seal must reflect your current commission dates
• Notarizing your own signature — you cannot be both the signer and the notary on the same document

Understanding how to become a notary in PA is just the beginning — keeping your commission clean requires ongoing attention to proper procedure every time you perform a notarial act.

Using a PA Notary: What Signers Should Know

If you're hiring a notary — not becoming one — here's what to expect when it comes to PA notary fees and the process.

A notary public in Pennsylvania can acknowledge your signature, administer oaths, certify copies of certain documents, and perform other notarial acts. They cannot give legal advice, tell you what a document means, or prepare legal documents for you (unless they're also licensed attorneys).

When you meet with a notary, bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID — a driver's licence, passport, or state ID card. The notary is legally required to verify your identity before performing any act. If you can't provide satisfactory proof of identity, a credible witness who personally knows you can vouch for you, provided the witness also shows ID.

You must sign the document in the notary's presence — or acknowledge to the notary that the signature on the document is yours. Never pre-sign a document and then ask a notary to notarize it without signing again in front of them.

PA notary fees are modest by design. The maximum $5 per act is meant to make notarial services accessible. If a notary is quoting you significantly more than $5 per notarial act (not counting travel or platform fees for RON), ask them to clarify what they're charging for — and compare it against the statutory maximum.

Whether you're preparing for the Pennsylvania notary exam or simply need a document notarized, understanding how PA notary fees work makes the whole process smoother.