How Much Does a Mobile Notary Cost

Wondering how much it costs to hire a mobile notary? Notarization services provide important legal protections by verifying identities and attesting to the signing of important documents. While you can visit a traditional notary at their office, mobile notaries offer the convenience of coming to your location to notarize documents on-the-spot. But this added benefit of a mobile notary does come at a higher cost than a traditional stationary notary. Rates for mobile notary services can vary based on your state, travel distance, the type of document being notarized and additional services needed. This complete guide examines all the factors that influence how much a mobile notary service charges. Read on to understand typical costs, what’s included in the fees, and tips for finding affordable mobile notaries when you need documents notarized outside a traditional office setting.

How Much Does a Mobile Notary Cost?

Notarizing important documents like real estate contracts, affidavits and powers of attorney provides a crucial layer of legal protection and verification. But sometimes it’s not convenient to visit a stationary notary at their office during business hours.

This is where mobile notaries provide value – by travelling directly to customers to notarize documents on-site when needed. However, the added convenience of a mobile notary service often comes with a higher price tag.

Here’s a look at how much you can expect to pay for a mobile notary along with the key factors that influence cost:

Typical Rates for Mobile Notaries

Most mobile notaries charge between $70 for their services.

You may also encounter flat fees per service instead of hourly rates, such as:

$70 for standard document notarizations
$175 for real estate loan signings
$10 for wedding ceremonies (All notary stamp cost same)

Keep in mind that you often need to pay for a minimum 2 hour service call. And longer travel distances generally incur additional fees.

Key Factors That Impact Cost

The exact fees for a mobile notary depend on several key factors:

1. Your State of Residence

Notary regulations and typical fee rates can vary significantly between states. States like Oregon tend to have higher prevailing rates for mobile notary services.

2. Travel Distance to Your Location

Expect to pay more if you are located farther away from the notary’s office. If any extra miles after 30 miles radius each mile would b charge as $2.

3. Type of Documents Being Notarized

Simple document notarizations incur lower fees than specialized services like real estate closings or notarizing wills. Difficult documents also take more time.

4. Number of Documents and Signers

Notarizing numerous documents or managing multiple signers at once requires more time and work from the notary.

5. Additional Services

Offerings like photocopying, document preparation and arranging witnesses add to the costs.

6. Urgency of Service

Last-minute rush requests often incur premium fees for the expedited service.

By keeping these major pricing factors in mind, you can better estimate the expected costs for your required mobile notary services.

Estimating Mobile Notary Fees for Your Situation

Now that you know the typical hourly rates and key variables that impact price, how can you estimate what a mobile notary may charge for your specific notarization needs?

Follow these steps:

1. Decide on Required Services

Determine exactly what services you need from the mobile notary. Common examples include:

Real estate mortgage signing
Affidavits
Wills or estate planning documents
Powers of attorney
Simple signature notarizations

Think about the number and type of documents involved. Will multiple people need to sign?

2. Consider Travel and Time Needed

Estimate how long the notary will need to travel to your location from their office. Most notaries charge per mile traveled.

Also factor in time at your location – more complex signings will require more of the notary’s time.

3. Research Rates in Your Area

Search online directories and notary association fee guides to learn typical local rates. You can filter by zip code to see costs in your specific area.

4. Account for Extra Services

Add any additional services into your estimate, like document preparation fees or supplies.

5. Get Quotes

Reach out to several mobile notaries for quotes based on your requirements. Compare options to find the best value.

Going through this quick estimation process can give you a reasonable idea of expected costs before committing to a mobile notary.

Factors That Add On to the Total Fee

Beyond the base fee for a mobile notary’s time and services, what other factors may be added on top? Here are some of the most common additional costs:

Mileage Fees

Most mobile notaries charge for travel distance from their office to your location. Typical per mile rates range from $1-$3.

Some set a mileage radius from their office and only charge for distances beyond that. For example, no mileage fees within a 25 mile radius of their base.

Supplies and Printing

Charges for photocopying documents or printing additional forms range from $0.25 to $2 per page. Some notaries bundle a number of pages into one flat supply fee.

Technology Fees

For remote online notarization via video call, a technology fee around $25 is common. This covers use of the software and secure digital signature certificate.

Expedited/Rush Service

Requesting a notary at very short notice often incurs premium expedited fees. These rush rates can be 2x the standard costs.

Witness Coordination

If finding or arranging any required witnesses, expect to pay an additional witness fee up to $100 per witness.

E-Recording

When the notary submits documents for electronic recording with county records, they may pass along e-recording charges.

Keep these potential ancillary fees in mind when budgeting for a mobile notary’s services.

Tips for Finding Affordable Mobile Notaries

Here are some tips to help minimize what you spend when hiring a mobile notary:

Handle simple notarizations at your bank or financial institution for free or low cost
For real estate closings, negotiate with lender to cover notary fees
Compare rates from multiple notaries and go with the lowest fair bid
Opt for new notaries trying to build up clientele
Avoid last minute rush requests that incur premium pricing
Confirm upfront pricing and any hidden fees
Inquire about discounts for repeat or high volume service
Consider remote online notarization to avoid travel fees
Use notary signing services that pre-screen local notaries for discounted pricing

Saving on mobile notary fees is possible with some diligent research and rate comparisons. But don’t sacrifice legitimate experience and qualifications just to save a few dollars.

Key Takeaways on Mobile Notary Pricing

To recap the key points on estimating costs for a mobile notary:

Typical rates range from $100 – $200 per hour
State, travel distance and complexity influence price
Extra services like document printing add on to costs
Compare quotes from multiple local notaries
Avoid unnecessary expedited fees with proper planning
Negotiate discounts for repeat or high volume usage

While mobile notaries cost more than traditional stationary services, the added convenience and flexibility often makes the higher fees worthwhile for many situations.

FAQ’s

Why are mobile notaries more expensive than traditional notaries?

Mobile notaries charge more because they travel directly to you to notarize documents, rather than you having to visit their office. You pay for the added convenience of their service coming to your preferred location.

What factors affect the cost of a mobile notary?

Main factors that impact pricing are your state, travel distance from the notary’s office, complexity of services needed, number of documents/signers, any additional services, and urgency of the notarization.