North Carolina Notary Fees 2026: $10 Per Signature (Updated)

Quick answer: North Carolina notaries can charge a maximum of $10 per signature for traditional notarizations, $15 for electronic, and $25 for remote online notarization. A mobile notary in Charlotte typically costs $50 to $100 total including travel. Many North Carolina banks notarize for free for account holders.

North Carolina Maximum Notary Fee Per Signature

Under N.C.G.S. Section 10B-31, the maximum fees are:

Type of Notarial Act	Maximum Fee
Traditional acknowledgment, jurat, verification, or proof	$10.00 per principal signature
Oath or affirmation without a signature	$10.00 per person
Electronic notarization (in-person eNotary)	$15.00 per signature
Remote electronic notarization (RON)	$25.00 per signature

Important: These fees were raised in 2022. Many websites still list the old $5 rate. House Bill 776 (Session Law 2022-54) increased traditional fees from $5 to $10 and electronic fees from $10 to $15, effective July 8, 2022. The $25 RON fee became effective July 1, 2023.

North Carolina also allows notaries to charge travel reimbursement at the federal business mileage rate, but only if agreed to in writing by the signer before travel.

For comparison, NC’s $10 traditional fee matches Florida ($10) and is higher than Georgia ($2), Illinois ($5), and New York ($2), but lower than California ($15).

What counts as one act? Each principal signature is a separate act. Three documents each needing a signature = three acts at $10 each = $30 total.

Notaries are never compelled to charge a fee and may notarize for free. N.C.G.S. 10B-32 requires notaries who charge fees to display a fee schedule in their place of business.

Mobile Notary Costs in North Carolina

Travel fees are not capped by North Carolina law — only the per-signature fee is regulated. The statutory mileage reimbursement at the federal rate requires written agreement.

Service	Typical Cost in NC
Standard daytime (within 15 mi)	$50–$100 total
Evening or weekend	$75–$125 total
Rush / same-day	$100–$175 total
Hospital or care facility visit	$100–$200 total
Late night or holiday	$150–$250 total

Charlotte pricing — Expect $50–$100 for a standard weekday appointment with 1–2 signatures. Charlotte is North Carolina’s largest city with strong demand for mobile notary services, especially for real estate closings. After-hours and weekend appointments add $25–$50.

Raleigh-Durham (Research Triangle) — Slightly lower than Charlotte, typically $50–$75 for a standard weekday appointment. The area benefits from a higher concentration of notary providers. Published rate sheets from Triangle-area notaries show $10 per signature plus $0.70/mile travel fee.

Greensboro / Winston-Salem (Triad) — Similar to Raleigh-Durham pricing, $50–$75 for a standard appointment. Lower demand and shorter travel distances keep costs at the lower end.

Wilmington and coastal NC — Expect $60–$100 for mobile notary service. Fewer providers and longer travel distances in beach communities can push prices higher, especially during the summer.

Where to Get Free Notary Services in North Carolina

Bank of America — Free notary services at financial centers. Call ahead — not all branches have a notary on staff. May decline wills, immigration docs, and certain property deeds.
Truist — Headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Free for account holders with a strong branch network across the state. Bring your ATM card and photo ID.
Wells Fargo — Free for checking and savings account holders. Appointment required — no walk-ins.
First Citizens Bank — Headquartered in Raleigh, NC. Free for customers. No appointment necessary but calling ahead is recommended.
Credit unions — State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) and most NC credit unions offer free notary services to members. SECU has 270+ branches statewide.
AAA offices — Free for members at most NC branch locations.
UPS Store — Not free (typically $10 per signature in NC), but widely available and walk-in friendly.

For more options, see our complete guide to free notary services.

North Carolina Notary Journal Requirements

Journal maintenance is optional for traditional notarizations under N.C.G.S. 10B-38. The statute says each notary “may” maintain a journal — it is not required.

However, journals are mandatory in two scenarios:

Remote Online Notarization — Electronic journal required with 10-year retention (N.C.G.S. 10B-134.15)
Emergency video notarizations — Detailed journal required with specific entries about the video conference (N.C.G.S. 10B-25)

For the full state-by-state comparison, see our notary journal requirements guide.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) in North Carolina

North Carolina fully authorizes permanent RON under Chapter 10B, Article 2, Part 4A, enacted by HB 776 (Session Law 2022-54). Permanent RON provisions became effective July 1, 2023.

Maximum RON fee: $25 per principal signature
Notary must register as an Electronic Notary with the NC Secretary of State ($50 fee)
4 hours of training required before performing RON
Licensed platform required — must use a platform licensed by the state
Audio-visual recording of the entire session is mandatory
10-year retention for recordings and electronic journal
Notary must be in NC during the session; signer can be anywhere in the U.S.

Documents prohibited from RON: Self-proved wills, revocable/irrevocable trusts (except trust certifications), codicils, parental rights relinquishment documents, and mail-in absentee ballots. Military members, spouses, and dependents are exempt from these restrictions.

Typical cost through a platform: $25–$50 per session (includes platform fees beyond the notary’s per-act fee).

Loan Signing Agent Fees in North Carolina

If you are buying or refinancing a home in North Carolina, the notary fee works differently. Loan signing agents are paid by the title company, not by you directly.

Signing Type	Agent Fee	You Pay
Standard refinance	$100–$175	Included in closing costs
Purchase closing	$125–$225	Included in closing costs
HELOC / second lien	$75–$125	Included in closing costs

North Carolina is an attorney-closing state for real estate transactions, so a closing attorney is typically involved. The notary/loan signing agent fee is separate from attorney fees.

How to Save Money on Notarization in North Carolina

Check your bank first. Truist, First Citizens, and Bank of America all offer free notarization in NC. SECU has 270+ branches statewide.
Know the new fee. The cap is $10 per signature as of 2022 — if someone quotes the old $5 rate, they may not be charging you enough. If they quote $15+, ask if it’s an electronic notarization.
Plan ahead. Rush fees and after-hours charges can double the total cost.
Batch documents. Bring all documents to one appointment instead of multiple visits.
Compare mobile notary quotes. Use FindNotary.io to find and compare notaries in your area.
Consider RON. A $25 online session may be cheaper than a $100+ mobile notary visit if your document qualifies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NC maximum notary fee per signature in 2026?

$10 for traditional notarizations, $15 for electronic (in-person), and $25 for remote online notarization. These limits are set by N.C.G.S. 10B-31, last updated by Session Law 2022-54 (HB 776).

Didn’t North Carolina notary fees used to be $5?

Yes. The fee was $5 per signature until July 8, 2022, when HB 776 raised it to $10. Many websites still show the old $5 rate — it is outdated.

How much does a mobile notary cost in Charlotte?

Expect $50–$100 for a standard weekday appointment with 1–2 signatures, and $75–$150+ for evenings, weekends, or rush service. The $10 per-act fee is a small fraction — the travel fee drives the total cost.

Is notarization free at North Carolina banks?

Yes. Truist, First Citizens, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and SECU all offer free notary services to account holders at most NC branches. Call ahead to confirm availability.

Does North Carolina allow remote online notarization?

Yes. North Carolina fully authorizes RON since July 1, 2023 under HB 776. The maximum fee is $25 per signature. Notaries must register with the Secretary of State, complete training, and use a licensed platform.

Are notary fees in NC going up?

There are no pending bills to change the fee structure as of 2026. The current rates ($10 traditional, $15 electronic, $25 RON) have been in effect since 2022-2023.

Find a notary near you in North Carolina: Charlotte · Raleigh · Greensboro · Durham · Winston-Salem · Fayetteville

Compare other states: Georgia notary fees ($2) · Florida notary fees ($10) · Virginia notary fees ($5) · Texas notary fees ($6.25)