Notary Fees and Compensation Flashcards

Under West Virginia rules, what is the maximum fee a notary public may charge for a single traditional (in-person) notarial act?

Answer: $10

The Secretary of State's rules cap the fee for a traditional notarial act at $10.

What is the maximum fee a West Virginia notary may charge for performing a remote online notarization?

Answer: $25

West Virginia allows up to $25 per remote online notarial act, higher than the in-person cap.

Which body establishes the maximum notarial fees in West Virginia?

Answer: The Secretary of State, through legislative rule

WV Code authorizes the Secretary of State to set maximum notarial fees by rule.

A West Virginia notary wants to charge a signer for driving 30 miles to a signing. What must be true for a travel fee to be proper?

Answer: The signer agrees to the travel charge in advance and it is separate from the notarial fee

Travel charges are permitted only as a separate cost the signer agrees to before the service, not as part of the notarial fee cap.

Is a West Virginia notary required to charge a fee for a notarial act?

Answer: No, charging a fee is optional and the notary may charge less than the maximum or nothing

The rules set only a maximum; a notary may reduce or waive the fee entirely.

A notary charges $20 for a single in-person acknowledgment in West Virginia. What is the most accurate description of this act?

Answer: An overcharge that violates the fee rules and can lead to disciplinary action

Charging above the authorized maximum is a violation that can result in commission discipline.

How is the notarial fee generally calculated when one signer needs three separate acknowledgments notarized?

Answer: Per notarial act, so up to the maximum for each of the three acts

Fees are charged per notarial act, so each acknowledgment may carry its own fee up to the cap.