California · Gov Code §8211
California notary fees:
$15 max per signature.
State law caps notary fees at $15 per signature for acknowledgments and jurats. Travel fees are separate. Here's what you'll actually pay — and how to find a verified CA notary.
Find a California notaryWhat's the maximum notary fee in California?
California notaries can charge up to $15 per signature under California Government Code §8211. Specifically:
- $15 per acknowledgment (per signature)
- $15 per jurat
- $15 per signature witnessed or attested
- $15 per certified copy of power of attorney
- $30 per proof of execution (involves subscribing witness)
The fee is per signature, not per document. If a document has 3 signers, the cap is $45 for that document. Remote Online Notarization (authorized in California by SB 696, effective 2024) uses the same $15 per act cap — RON platforms add a separate technology fee.
What you'll actually pay in California
| Service | Notarial act | Other fees | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-in (bank, UPS Store, AAA) | $0–$15 | None | $0–$15 |
| Mobile notary (they come to you) | $15/signature | Travel $35–$125 | $50–$175 |
| Loan signing | $15 × 6–12 acts | Print/travel/scanback | $125–$200 |
| Remote Online Notarization (RON) | $15/act | Platform fee | $25–$45 |
| Free community notary (library, AAA members, credit union) | $0 | None | Free |
Source: Cal. Gov Code §8211, §8223. Travel fees must be disclosed and agreed in writing (§8223).
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Mobile notary travel fees in California
California Gov Code §8223 explicitly permits travel fees — but they must be agreed to in writing in advance. There's no statutory cap, so market rates prevail. A notary can't quote a surprise travel fee after arriving.
Typical travel fees across California:
- Los Angeles / Orange County / San Diego: $50–$125 (traffic-driven)
- San Francisco / Bay Area: $65–$150
- Sacramento / Inland Empire / Central Valley: $40–$90
- Rural counties: $35–$75 for first 15 miles, $2–$4/mile thereafter
- After-hours / weekends: +$25–$75 surcharge
- Hospital / care facility: often $100–$175 flat (extra time)
Loan signing fees in California
A California loan-signing package (refi, purchase, HELOC) typically runs $125–$200 total. Each notarization within the package is still capped at $15, but the signing agent fee covers printing 100–200 pages, travel, scanback, and time. Most CA refinance packages have 6–12 acknowledgments/jurats, so notarization alone is $90–$180 of the total.
Free notary options in California
- Your bank or credit union — Chase, BofA, Wells Fargo, and most credit unions notarize free for account holders
- AAA offices — free for AAA members (most common free option in CA)
- Public libraries — LA, SF, San Diego, Sacramento county libraries often have free notary service
- Courthouse self-help centers — free for court-related documents
- Your employer — large CA employers often have a notary in HR or legal
Find a verified notary in your California city
Mobile & walk-in, traffic-adjusted travel $50–$125
Bay Area mobile service, travel $65–$150
State capital — loan signing & legal docs, travel $40–$90
Coastal metro, travel $50–$125
Silicon Valley mobile service, travel $65–$150
East Bay mobile service, travel $65–$150
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