How much does a notary make?
Notary Publics are licensed officials commissioned on a 2-4 year term by the state to provide notary services to the public. The notary laws for each state are very different regarding how licensed notaries are permitted to carry out their notary duties and the fees they are required to charge. For the context of this article, I will often reference New York State notary guidelines.
Notaries in New York can act as traditional, mobile, or remote Notary Publics. They are permitted to administer oaths and affirmations (including oaths of office), take affidavits and depositions, to receive and certify acknowledgements or proofs of execution of deeds, mortgages and powers of attorney and other written certifications.
So if you find yourself asking, how much does a Notary make? We have all the answers!
General Notary Work
Traditional notary services vary state by state and the amount for each service depends on each state’s notary laws. Standard notary costs range from as low as $1.00 like in the state of Illinois to $20.00 like in American Samoa per signature.
According to the National Notary Association, there are 11 states in which Notary fees are not set by the law. Those states are:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Puerto Rico
- Tennessee
- Vermont
New York State ranks very low on the fee schedule. Notaries in New York are only permitted to charge $2.00 for Jurats, Acknowledgements, for the administration of verbal oaths/affirmations, and for most any other special notary acts.
Remote Online Notary Services (RON)
Remote online notary services will officially become permanent in the state of New York effective January 31, 2023. During the height of the pandemic, it was discovered that the performance of remote notarizations which at that time was temporarily approved under the state’s executive order was very effective. New York notaries were successful at identifying signers through online communication and successfully performed notarizations via electronic means. The state has not released fee guidelines for performing remote online notarizations. I suspect that information will be forthcoming as we get closer to the effective date.
Notary Loan Signing Agent
Working as a Notary Signing Agent, or mobile Notary Public is one of the most advantageous ways to make money as a Notary Public in any state. It has become the most effective full-time approach for many Notaries to explore where they can increase their income. Notaries can be very profitable as full-time loan signing agents without having to put in too many hours every week. How much does a Notary make?
The amount of money that a Notary Signing Agent can make daily varies. Notary Signing Agents can expect to make between $100-$250 each time they complete an assignment. Factors such as lender type, travel time, and the number of document pages that would need to be printed for in-person delivery also play a crucial role in determining the exact fee. A 200-page document with fed-ex delivery would typically fall under the higher end of the fee schedule.
It’s important to remember that Notary Signing Agents are permitted to set their own fees and accept or decline fees that do not meet their expectations. This is the power of becoming an entrepreneur in this business. Additional requests from lenders and title companies such as requiring the Notary to scan or fax back all of the documents to them instead of mailing them back is subject to an additional fee that the Notary can factor in when accepting an assignment.
Scanning is an additional step that takes time to execute, and it requires the Notary Signing Agent to use their own office equipment.
Whether you are interested in providing general notary services or increasing your earning potential by becoming a certified Notary Signing Agent, the first step is becoming licensed in your state as a Notary Public. Next, understand and become knowledgeable about your specific state laws and fees to ensure you are operating within the guidelines.
Last, take your notary license to the next level and consider becoming a mobile notary or Notary Signing Agent for a higher earning potential. We hope you enjoyed our blog on “How much does a Notary Make?”