Last updated: April 2, 2026. Based on New York Department of State Notary Public Law and Executive Law §135.
New York Notary Fees at a Glance (2026)
New York sets some of the lowest maximum notary fees in the nation. Under state law, a notary public may charge:
| Notarial Act | Maximum Fee |
|---|---|
| Taking an acknowledgment | $2.00 per person |
| Administering an oath or affirmation | $2.00 |
| Taking a jurat | $2.00 |
| Taking a proof of execution | $2.00 |
| Certifying a copy (true copy) | $2.00 |
| Swearing a witness | $2.00 |
| Remote/electronic notarization | $25.00 per act |
These limits have not changed in decades. A bill (A3360) was introduced in the 2025-2026 legislative session to raise fees, but as of April 2026, the $2.00 cap remains in effect.
The $2 Fee Is Per Person, Not Per Document
This is the most-tested concept on the NY notary exam and the most misunderstood fee rule:
| Scenario | Maximum Fee |
|---|---|
| One person acknowledges one document | $2.00 |
| One person acknowledges five documents | $2.00 |
| Three people acknowledge one document | $6.00 ($2 each) |
| Two people each sign two documents (jurats) | $4.00 ($2 each person) |
Key rule: For acknowledgments, the fee is charged per person regardless of how many documents that person signs in a single notarial act.
Remote and Electronic Notarization Fees
New York permits Electronic Notaries to charge up to $25.00 per electronic notarial act. This is significantly higher than the traditional fee:
- The $25 fee applies per notarial act, even if multiple acts occur in one session
- A certificate of authenticity for an electronically notarized document is a separate notarial act subject to the $2.00 fee
- The notary must include a statement in the jurat that the act involved communication technology
Travel Fees: What Notaries Can and Cannot Charge
New York law does not authorize a separate travel fee for traditional in-person notarization. The $2.00 cap is the total maximum for the notarial act itself.
In practice, some notaries (especially mobile notaries) charge separately for travel, but this is a separate service charge — not a notarial fee. The notarial fee portion must still not exceed $2.00.
For remote online notarization (RON), the $25.00 fee already accounts for the technology and convenience factor.
Overcharging Is Misconduct
New York takes notary fee violations seriously:
- Charging more than the maximum fee is classified as official misconduct
- Consequences can include removal from office by the Secretary of State
- The notary may also face civil liability (the overcharged party can sue for recovery)
- A pattern of overcharging can result in denial of commission renewal
The Department of State explicitly states: "Unless otherwise authorized by law, a notarial fee may not exceed this amount."
NY Notary Application and Commission Fees
Beyond fees for notarial acts, New York charges fees for the notary commission itself:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial application fee | $60.00 |
| Renewal application fee | $60.00 |
| Change of name/address | $10.00 (waived for marriage-related name changes) |
| Official Character Card (county) | $5.00 |
| Registration in additional county | $10.00 |
The $60 application fee covers both the exam (if required) and the commission. Commission terms last 4 years.
Who Is Exempt from the NY Notary Exam?
Not everyone needs to take the notary exam:
- Attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar are exempt
- Court clerks in the Unified Court System who passed a civil service promotional exam are exempt
Both groups must still pay the $60 application fee and meet all other eligibility requirements.
Fee Rules That Appear on the NY Notary Exam
The notary exam typically includes 2-4 questions about fees. Key exam topics:
- Maximum fee amount ($2.00 per notarial act)
- Per-person calculation for acknowledgments
- What happens if a notary overcharges (misconduct, potential removal)
- Remote notarization fee ($25.00)
- Whether notaries must charge (they may choose to notarize for free)
What Notaries Cannot Charge For
New York notaries may not charge for:
- Services that are not notarial acts
- Fees above the statutory maximum
- A notary who is also an attorney should not charge a separate notary fee for legal clients — the notarial service is part of the legal representation
How NY Notary Fees Compare Nationally
New York's $2.00 fee is among the lowest in the country:
| State | Acknowledgment Fee |
|---|---|
| New York | $2.00 |
| Georgia | $2.00 |
| New Jersey | $2.50-$25.00 (varies by act type) |
| California | $15.00 |
| Florida | $10.00 |
| Texas | $10.00 (first signature) |
| North Carolina | $10.00 |
| National average | ~$7.50 |
Only Georgia matches New York's $2.00 cap. Most states set fees between $5 and $15.
Common Questions About NY Notary Fees
Can a bank charge me a notary fee? Many banks offer free notary services to customers. The bank's notary may choose to waive the fee, but if they charge, it cannot exceed $2.00.
Can a notary charge a convenience fee? No. The law caps the notarial fee at $2.00. Any additional charges must be for separate services (like travel), not for the notarial act itself.
What if I was overcharged? You can file a complaint with the New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. The notary may face disciplinary action.
Practice CTA
Official Sources (2026)
- NY Department of State: Notary Public
- NY DOS: Notary Public FAQ
- NY Executive Law §135 (Notary Fees)
- Westchester County Clerk: Notary FAQ
How to Turn This New York Notary Guide Into a Passing Study Plan
A notary exam or appointment review is not just a vocabulary test. It measures whether you can protect the signer, the document, the public record, and your own commission when the facts are messy. Read the rules above once for orientation, then convert them into a procedure checklist you can apply to acknowledgments, jurats, oaths or affirmations, copy certifications if allowed, and any remote or electronic notarization rules that apply in New York.
Your first checklist should follow the order of a real appointment. Confirm that the requested act is one you are authorized to perform. Confirm personal appearance under the rules that apply to the act. Identify the signer using the acceptable evidence described in your New York materials. Screen for willingness, awareness, and basic communication. Complete the notarial certificate with the correct venue, date, signer name, notarial wording, signature, seal, and commission information. Record the act in your journal if required, or keep a careful voluntary record when allowed and appropriate.
That sequence is important because many exam questions describe a signer who appears at the wrong time, presents weak identification, asks for legal advice, wants a blank document notarized, or asks the notary to choose the certificate. In those scenarios, memorizing definitions is not enough. You need to know the next lawful step. Usually the safest exam answer is the one that preserves impartiality, requires proper identification and personal appearance, refuses unauthorized practice of law, and follows the certificate requirements exactly.
New York Commission Workflow and Documents to Verify
Before relying on any checklist, verify the current New York commissioning process with the Secretary of State, commissioning authority, approved education provider, or official handbook named in your materials. Administrative steps can change even when the core notary duties stay the same. Confirm the current application form, training or exam requirement, bond requirement if any, oath filing, seal requirements, commission term, renewal timing, and whether remote online notarization has separate registration rules.
Keep a small commissioning file with your application confirmation, education certificate, exam result if applicable, bond or insurance documents, oath filing receipt, commission certificate, stamp order, and journal purchase record. If you plan to offer loan signing or mobile notary services, keep those business records separate from your official notary records. Your commission duties come first; marketing, travel fees, and signing-agent assignments never expand what state law allows you to notarize.
When you review fees, separate maximum notarial fees from optional charges such as travel or business service fees. If the article above lists a fee cap, treat it as a rule to verify and apply carefully. Fee questions often test whether the candidate can distinguish a notarization fee from a separate travel agreement, whether the fee must be disclosed in advance, and whether remote online notarization has a different fee structure.
Procedure Drills That Build Exam Readiness
The fastest way to improve is to practice short appointment scenarios. Write five columns on a page: requested act, signer identity evidence, document condition, certificate wording, and notary action. Then create examples. A signer wants an acknowledgment but has not signed yet. A signer wants a jurat but refuses an oath. A signer brings an expired ID. A spouse asks you to notarize for an absent signer. A customer asks whether a power of attorney is legally sufficient. A remote signer passes credential analysis but cannot communicate clearly. For each scenario, write what you would do and why.
Focus especially on the difference between acknowledgments and jurats. In an acknowledgment, the signer acknowledges signing willingly; the document may have been signed before appearing if state law and the certificate allow it. In a jurat, the signer swears or affirms the truth of the document and usually signs in the notary's presence. Exam questions often hide the correct answer in those verbs. If the certificate says subscribed and sworn, think oath or affirmation. If it says acknowledged before me, think acknowledgment and voluntary execution.
Also drill refusal rules. A notary should refuse when the signer is not properly identified, does not personally appear as required, appears unwilling or unaware, asks the notary to perform an unauthorized act, presents a document with blanks that cannot be completed, or asks for legal advice. A refusal should be calm, specific, and tied to the rule. On the exam, avoid answers that make the notary a document adviser, immigration consultant, attorney, or party to the transaction.
Recordkeeping, Seal, and Certificate Traps
Recordkeeping questions are easy points if you learn the pattern. The journal entry, when required or recommended, should document the date and time, type of act, document description, signer identity method, fee, and any signature or thumbprint requirement that applies. Do not invent information after the fact. Do not share journal details casually. Do not let an employer take control of official records unless your state rules clearly allow a specific arrangement.
Seal questions usually test completeness and control. Keep your stamp secure, use the exact name and commission information required, and never let another person use your seal. If a stamp is lost, stolen, damaged, or replaced after a name or commission change, follow the reporting and replacement process in your New York rules. If a certificate has an error, correct it only in the manner allowed by your commissioning authority; do not backdate or attach a loose certificate unless the facts and state rules support that action.
Certificate wording is another common trap. A notary may identify the type of notarial act requested, but should not choose the legal effect of a certificate for a signer. If the document lacks a certificate, the signer or document recipient may need to choose or provide the wording. Your role is to complete the notarial act correctly, not to decide which form gives the document legal effect.
If You Miss Questions in Practice
Use missed questions as a routing tool. If you miss identification questions, reread acceptable ID, credible witness, and personal knowledge rules. If you miss jurat questions, drill oath language and signature timing. If you miss fee questions, build a small chart of allowed fees and when they apply. If you miss remote notarization questions, separate traditional personal appearance from remote appearance, credential analysis, audio-video session rules, electronic journal requirements, and technology-provider rules.
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