California Notary Fees 2026: Complete Fee Schedule and Maximum Charges

California law sets maximum fees that notaries may charge. You can charge less than the maximum, but never more. All fees are established under Gov. Code Section 8211. Here is the complete fee schedule: - Acknowledgment: $15 per signature - Jurat (administering oath and certifying): $15 - Deposition: $30 total (not per page) - Power of attorney certification: $15 - Immigration form set: $15 per individual per set of forms - Certified copy of power of attorney: $15 These are MAXIMUM fees. You are free to charge less or nothing at all.

California law requires notaries to provide free services in certain situations: - Veterans: Notary services related to veterans' benefits claims must be provided free of charge - Voting materials: Notarization of vote-by-mail ballot identification envelopes and other election-related documents must be free Refusing to provide free services in these situations can result in disciplinary action.

The fee schedule is one of the most heavily tested topics on the California notary exam. Watch out for these traps: 1. The acknowledgment fee is per SIGNATURE, not per document. A document with 3 signatures means you can charge up to $45 (3 x $15). 2. The deposition fee is $30 TOTAL, not per page. This trips up many exam takers. 3. Immigration forms are $15 per INDIVIDUAL per SET. If notarizing forms for a family of 4, the maximum is $60. 4. You cannot charge for administering an oath by itself if it is not connected to a jurat. The $15 jurat fee covers both the oath and the certification. 5. There is no separate fee for using your seal — it is included in the notarial act fee.

California law does not set a maximum for travel fees. You may charge a reasonable travel fee in addition to the notarial act fees, but you must disclose this fee to the customer before traveling. Best practices for travel fees: - Agree on the travel fee in advance - State the travel fee separately from the notarial act fees - Keep your travel fees reasonable to avoid complaints - Document the travel fee agreement

Charging more than the maximum allowed fees is a violation of California law and can result in: - Disciplinary action against your commission - Suspension or revocation of your notary commission - Civil liability to the person overcharged Always verify the current fee schedule before charging, and when in doubt, charge less.