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National Notary Association
The National Notary Bulletin

Are Notaries required to accept specific types of payment?

By NNA Staff

How should Notaries get paid? Is it acceptable to decline cash or require exact change? Can Notaries use credit card readers on their phones? — S.W., Texas

How you accept payment is completely up to you, but you may want to let your clients know the forms of payment you accept prior to meeting with them so they can be adequately prepared.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

Additional Resources:

2022 Notary Fees By State





View All: Hotline Tips

36 Comments

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Stacey

19 Nov 2024

Hello. I reside in Arizona. Where can I find the rules for my state about forms of payment I can accept, can I notarize for family members, and can I charge for mileage? I’d like to be able to have this information on hand. Thank you.

National Notary Association

20 Nov 2024

Hello. You can find information on Arizona fees here: https://nnainternal.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ETS/pages/3258253368/Arizona+-+U.S.+Notary+Reference#Maximum-Fees

Amanda Thomas

23 Oct 2024

Thank you!!! Do you know anything about field service?! Taking pictures etc ? How does that work or where are the opportunities posted? Which websites? I’ve been researching but I don’t understand it completely

National Notary Association

24 Oct 2024

Hello. We have an article about field inspections here: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2013/04/field-inspection-offers-additional-income-opportunities-for-notaries

queenamandathomas1@gmail.com

22 Oct 2024

Can we charge more than $2 for services in GA? i cant seem to find a list for services and fee amounts I can charge... Theres gotta be better fees than $2.

National Notary Association

23 Oct 2024

The maximum fees that a Georgia Notary may charge for a notarial act are (OCGA 45-17-11): Taking an acknowledgment: $2; Administering an oath or affirmation: $2; Any other certificate: $2. According to the Georgia Notary Handbook, “The law does not address travel fees for notarial acts. In the absence of any statutory rule, notaries may charge a fee for travel as long as the signer is informed in advance that a travel fee will be charged and billed separately from any fee for notary service” Notaries who advertise their services must “prominently post” in their offices a statutory fee schedule in both English and any other language used in the ads (OCGA 45-17-8.2[e]). The following statement must also appear in every language used in the ads: “I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AND I MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE” (OCGA 45-17-8.2[b]).

Stephanie Sharp

20 Aug 2024

Hello, I am in Illinois and I received my Notary through my company (they paid the fees). I had a client in today that paid the $5 fee by card and my job is now wanting me to charge a processing fee for card payments. Is this legal for Illinois? Do I tell them that we can charge a processing fee, or not due to legality in Illinois?

National Notary Association

25 Sep 2024

A separate charge from the Notary fee for a credit card transaction can be charged. It should be listed on any receipt or invoice separately from the Notary fee.

Lisa jeanbaptiste

15 Feb 2024

What forms of payments can notary agents take in the state of Georgia?

National Notary Association

16 Feb 2024

Hello. Georgia Notary law does not specify a required method (e.g. cash, credit cards, checks) in which a Notary's fee is paid.

Cesar

08 Feb 2024

Hi in nevada, as a notary do i charge a traveling fee by hour or mile? if by hour would it be ok to charge $10 an hour? or mile? and if so would i have to report to someone that i did travel an hour or mile?

National Notary Association

15 Feb 2024

Nevada Notaries and electronic Notaries may charge an additional fee for traveling to perform a notarial act if (NRS 240.100[3]; see also NRS 240.197.1[d]): (a) They are asked to travel by the person requesting the notarial act; (b) They explain to the person requesting the act that the fee is in addition to the statutory fee and not required by law; (c) There is an agreement in advance upon the hourly rate to be charged for the travel; and (d) The fee does not exceed $15 per hour for travel between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. ($10 per hour for an electronic notarization) or $30 per hour for travel between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. ($25 per hour for an electronic notarization). (e) The Notary may charge a minimum of two hours for such travel and must charge on a pro-rata basis after the first two hours (NRS 240.100.3[d]).

earlgraym2.0@gmail.com

21 Jul 2023

In the state of Texas, Can you notarize family members documents and is there a specific payment method, also to confirm with my own knowledge can I charge travel fees from 6a.m- 7p.m

National Notary Association

21 Jul 2023

Hello. There is no prohibition against notarizing for relatives in Texas.

Erika

30 Jun 2023

Hi. In fl can you a customer pay you with a credit card?

National Notary Association

30 Jun 2023

Hello. FL Notary laws do not specify payment methods for notarial services.

Sally L

16 Jun 2023

Can we accept Venmo payments for Notary services in MA? Do we have to make note in our journal entry that we were paid a certain way?

National Notary Association

20 Jun 2023

Hello. While Massachusetts does require Notaries to record the amount charged for a notarization, if any, in the journal, the state does not require you to enter the method of payment, such as check, cash, electronic payment, etc.

Sandy A.

07 Apr 2023

In California can a Notary charge an additional fee for processing payment through a card reader since I am charged a % for each transaction. Thank you

National Notary Association

28 Apr 2023

Hello. California statutory Notary fee schedules do not address charging fees for processing electronic payments. However, the Secretary of State's 2000 Notary Newsletter stated, “A notary is permitted to charge a fee, aside from the notarization fee, for traveling and other services completed as part of their notarial service, such as duplication of copies, provided that the customer is apprised of these charges in advance.”

Sierra

30 Mar 2023

Hello, In NC, are there any required payment types for the client?

National Notary Association

04 Apr 2023

Hello. North Carolina Notary law does not specify a payment method (e.g. cash, check or online payment, etc.) that customers must use when paying a notarization fee North Carolina Notaries are allowed no more than the following fees for traditional pen and paper notarial acts (GS 10B-31): For acknowledgments, jurats, verifications or proofs: $10 per principal’s signature; For oaths or affirmations without a signature (except when given to a credible witness vouching for the identity of a principal or a subscribing witness): $10 per person. Effective July 8, 2022, the maximum fee that a North Carolina Notary may charge for electronic notarial acts is $15 per signature for acknowledgments, jurats, verifications or proofs, and oaths or affirmations (GS 10B-118).

Brittany

21 Mar 2023

When a client is paying by credit/debit in Nevada is there an additional fee I can charge. Since I am charged a % for using a card reader. Also can I notarize for family members. Thank you

National Notary Association

28 Mar 2023

Hello. Nevada Notaries may not notarize for family members. NRS 240.130 states, “A notary public shall not charge a fee to perform a service unless the notary public is authorized to charge a fee for such a service pursuant to this chapter”

Sandy

12 Mar 2023

When a client is paying by credit/debit is there an additional fee I can charge. Since I am charged a % for using a card reader. Thank you

National Notary Association

13 Mar 2023

Hello. To help us answer your question, can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in?

Charmaine

13 Feb 2023

Can we accept Venmo payments for Notary services in CA? Do we have to make note in our journal entry that we were paid a certain way?

National Notary Association

14 Feb 2023

Hello. California Notary laws do not specify how a Notary must be paid. While you are required to enter the amount of any Notary fee charged in your journal entry, you are not required to specify how the fee was paid (e.g. cash, check, credit card, payment service, etc.)

Chauncey Douglas

05 Apr 2022

State of Florida

National Notary Association

07 Apr 2022

Hello. In Florida, “A notary public may not notarize a signature on a document if the person whose signature is to be notarized is the spouse, son, daughter, mother, or father of the notary public” (FS 117.107[11]).

Chauncey Douglas

04 Apr 2022

Can a notary; notorize papers for family members?

National Notary Association

05 Apr 2022

Hello. The answer depends on the state the Notary is commissioned in. Can you tell us what state you are in, please?

Dianne Perales

04 Apr 2022

are we (me and the client) suppose to use "blue ink" when signing the forms?

National Notary Association

05 Apr 2022

Hello. To help us answer your question, can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in?

Harriet Davis

31 Mar 2022

Hello, I'm an LLC for my Notary Business. To submit verification of income should I submit my 1099 or should I submit a letter on letterhead to show my verification of income. Please reply back with an answer. It is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

National Notary Association

07 Apr 2022

Hello. To clarify, are you referring to verification of your income for tax purposes? If so, you will need to contact a qualified tax preparer or the IRS to request instructions or for advice on your individual tax situation.

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