California Notary Fees 2026: Complete Fee Schedule and Maximum Charges

California law sets maximum fees that notaries may charge. You can charge less than the maximum, but never more. All fees are established under Gov. Code Section 8211. Here is the complete fee schedule in effect through December 31, 2026: - Acknowledgment: $15 per signature - Jurat (administering oath and certifying): $15 - Deposition: $30, plus $7 for each witness oath and $7 for the certificate - Power of attorney certification: $15 - Immigration form set: $15 per individual per set of forms - Certified copy of power of attorney: $15 These are MAXIMUM fees. You are free to charge less or nothing at all. Most of these amounts go up on January 1, 2027. See the next section for the new schedule.

Assembly Bill 1597 (Chapter 39, Statutes of 2026) amends Gov. Code Section 8211 and raises most California notary fees effective January 1, 2027. Until then, the current $15 maximums still apply. Here are both schedules side by side: - Acknowledgment or proof of execution (per signature): $15 through December 31, 2026; $20 starting January 1, 2027 - Jurat (oath or affirmation to one person, plus the jurat): $15 now; $20 starting January 1, 2027 - Deposition (all services): $30 now; $35 starting January 1, 2027 - Deposition oath to the witness: $7 now; $12 starting January 1, 2027 - Deposition certificate: $7 now; $12 starting January 1, 2027 - Certified copy of a power of attorney: $15 now; $20 starting January 1, 2027 - Immigration forms: $15 per individual per set, unchanged (this cap is set by Gov. Code Section 8223, which AB 1597 does not amend) - Veterans' benefit claims and voting materials: free, unchanged With one deposition witness, the maximum total goes from $44 ($30 + $7 + $7) to $59 ($35 + $12 + $12). Charge based on the schedule in effect on the date you perform the notarial act.

California law requires notaries to provide free services in certain situations: - Veterans: Notary services related to veterans' benefits claims must be provided free of charge - Voting materials: Notarization of vote-by-mail ballot identification envelopes and other election-related documents must be free Refusing to provide free services in these situations can result in disciplinary action.

The fee schedule is one of the most heavily tested topics on the California notary exam. Watch out for these traps: 1. The acknowledgment fee is per SIGNATURE, not per document. A document with 3 signatures means you can charge up to $45 (3 x $15), or $60 (3 x $20) starting January 1, 2027. 2. The deposition fee is $30, plus $7 for each witness oath and $7 for the certificate. Many exam takers forget the $7 add-ons. (Starting January 1, 2027, these become $35, $12, and $12.) 3. Immigration forms are $15 per INDIVIDUAL per SET. If notarizing forms for a family of 4, the maximum is $60. 4. A jurat is one $15 fee per person ($20 starting January 1, 2027): it covers both the oath and the certificate, so you don't charge the oath separately. An oath or affirmation given on its own, with no document, is also capped at the jurat fee (Gov. Code 8211(b)). 5. There is no separate fee for using your seal — it is included in the notarial act fee.

California law does not set a maximum for travel fees. You may charge a reasonable travel fee in addition to the notarial act fees, but you must disclose this fee to the customer before traveling. Best practices for travel fees: - Agree on the travel fee in advance - State the travel fee separately from the notarial act fees - Keep your travel fees reasonable to avoid complaints - Document the travel fee agreement

Charging more than the maximum allowed fees is a violation of California law and can result in: - Disciplinary action against your commission - Suspension or revocation of your notary commission - A civil penalty of up to $750 per violation (Gov. Code Section 8214.15(b)) - Civil liability to the person overcharged Always verify the current fee schedule before charging, and when in doubt, charge less.