California Notary Fees
Charge only the legal notarial fee for each act, and list travel and other services separately on the receipt. Loan signing agent fees for handling a loan package are separate from the notarial fees.
How the California notary fees calculation works
What a California notary may charge: up to $15 per signature for an acknowledgment and $15 for a jurat under Government Code §8211, how travel fees work, and the increase to $20 signed into law in 2026.
Acknowledgments: $15 per signature
The maximum is $15 for each signature taken. Two signers on a deed is up to $30.
Jurats and oaths: $15
Administering an oath or affirmation to one person and executing the jurat, including the seal, is up to $15.
Depositions
All services for taking a deposition are up to $30, plus $7 for the oath to the witness and $7 for the certificate.
No fee for some acts
A notary may not charge to notarize signatures on vote-by-mail ballot envelopes or other voting materials, or a veteran's application or claim for veterans benefits. Certifying a copy of a power of attorney is up to $15.
Travel is separate
California doesn't set travel fees; the Secretary of State's handbook says to list any travel fee separately in your journal.
Worked example. A California notary taking acknowledgments of two signatures may charge up to $30 (2 × $15). A mobile notary adds an agreed travel fee on top, listed separately.
California Notary Fees FAQ
How much does a notary cost in California?
Up to $15 per signature for an acknowledgment and $15 for a jurat. Mobile notaries also charge a travel fee, which the law doesn't cap but which should be listed separately.
Are California notary fees going up?
Yes. AB 1597 (Chapter 39, Statutes of 2026), signed by the Governor on June 30, 2026, raises the acknowledgment, jurat and power of attorney copy maximums from $15 to $20, and the deposition fees to $35 plus $12 and $12. Under the state constitution it takes effect on January 1, 2027.
How much will a California notary cost in 2027?
From January 1, 2027, up to $20 per signature for an acknowledgment and $20 for a jurat. Two signatures on a deed would then be up to $40 instead of $30.
Is notarization free for veterans in California?
For veterans benefits, yes. Government Code §8211 says no fee may be charged to a US military veteran for notarizing an application or claim for a pension, allowance, compensation, insurance or other veterans benefit.
Can a California notary charge for travel?
Yes. Travel isn't a notarial fee and isn't capped by §8211, but the Secretary of State's handbook says travel fees should be identified separately in the journal.
Can California notaries do remote online notarization?
Not yet. The Secretary of State says California law requires the signer to appear in person until the Online Notarization Act takes effect, which won't be before the state completes its technology project.
Do I need a thumbprint for some documents?
Yes. For deeds, deeds of trust and other documents affecting real property, and for powers of attorney, the notary must take the signer's thumbprint in the journal.