California sets maximum notary fees by statute. They are ceilings, not price tags — you may charge less or nothing at all, but charging a dollar more than the maximum is grounds for suspension or revocation of your commission.
The complete fee schedule
Government Code §8211 sets every maximum a California notary may charge.
| Service | Maximum fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment — per signature | $15 | §8211(a) |
| Jurat | $15 | §8211(b) |
| Oath or affirmation to one person | $15 | §8211(b) |
| Deposition — all services | $30 | §8211(c) |
| Deposition — oath to the witness | $7 | §8211(c) |
| Deposition — certificate | $7 | §8211(c) |
| Certifying a copy of a power of attorney | $15 | §8211(e) |
Depositions add up to $44
The three deposition charges are separate and cumulative: $30 for all services rendered in connection with taking the deposition, plus $7 for administering the oath to the witness, plus $7 for the certificate. The maximum total for a full deposition is $44.
Services that must be free
Four categories carry no fee at all, and charging for them is a violation regardless of what the client is willing to pay.
- Veterans’ benefits. No fee may be charged to any United States military veteran for notarising an application or claim for a veterans’ benefit GC §6107. This applies regardless of branch or era of service.
- Vote-by-mail materials. Ballot identification envelopes and related voting materials GC §8211(d).
- Election nomination documents, including circulators’ affidavits.
- Notarial acts on military and naval reservations by notaries appointed to serve them GC §8203.6.
Even when no fee is charged, the journal entry is still required — record it as “no fee” or “$0”.
What you may not add on
The statutory maximum is the maximum for the notarial act. You cannot add a “rush fee”, a “convenience fee” or a “document review fee” on top of it — those exceed the ceiling.
Travel fees are different. Travel is not a notarial service, so a mobile notary may charge for it separately. It must be disclosed and agreed in advance, and it must be recorded in the journal separately from the notarial fee rather than bundled into one figure.
What happens if you overcharge
Charging more than the statutory maximum is expressly listed as grounds for refusing to appoint, or for revoking or suspending a commission GC §8214.1(h). Civil penalties may also apply under GC §8214.15, and those are paid to the treasurer of the county where the violation occurred.
Employer fee agreements
If you are employed and there is a written agreement that notarial fees are remitted to your employer, then all fees collected while that agreement is in effect go to the employer — including fees from members of the public, not just internal company work GC §8202.7. Without such an agreement, a private-sector notary keeps their fees. Notaries appointed to act for a public agency remit fees to that agency.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a California notary charge per signature?
Up to $15 for each signature acknowledged, under Government Code §8211(a). A document with three signers may therefore carry a maximum fee of $45.
Can a California notary charge a travel fee?
Yes. Travel is not a notarial service, so it may be charged separately from the statutory fee. It should be agreed in advance and recorded in the journal separately from the notarial fee.
Do California notaries have to charge the maximum fee?
No. The statutory amounts are maximums, not minimums. A notary may charge any amount from zero up to the ceiling.
Which notary services are free in California?
Notarisations for veterans’ benefit applications, vote-by-mail ballot identification envelopes, election nomination documents, and services performed on military and naval reservations by notaries appointed to them.
What is the penalty for a California notary charging excessive fees?
Charging above the statutory maximum is grounds for suspension or revocation of the commission under Government Code §8214.1(h), and civil penalties may also be imposed.
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See the coursesPlease note. This article is educational information about California notary law, not legal advice. Statutes change and individual situations differ. The controlling authority is the California Government Code, Civil Code and the Secretary of State’s Notary Public Handbook. For advice about your own circumstances, consult an attorney.