If you have searched for a notary in New York and seen prices from a couple of dollars to a couple of hundred, both numbers are real. They are just measuring different things. New York sets the price of the notarial act itself in statute. Everything else you pay — travel, scheduling, after-hours work — is a separate service charge. Once you can see the two parts, the quotes stop looking random.
The short answer
The notarial act is capped by law at $2. A mobile notary visit in New York City starts at $85 and rises with distance. A remote online session starts at $25. Apostille work is quoted per document. The rest of this guide explains what sits inside each of those numbers.
The notarial fee itself is set by law
Under New York Executive Law §136, a notary public is entitled to $2 for administering an oath or affirmation, and $2 for taking an acknowledgment or proof of execution — charged per person, with a further $2 for swearing each witness. That figure is the fee for the notarial act, and no notary in New York may charge more than it for the act itself.
Fees for electronic notarial acts are handled differently: the statute leaves them to be set by regulation by the Secretary of State rather than fixing a figure in the law.
Bills to raise the $2 figure to $5 have been introduced in Albany in several sessions, including the current one. None has become law, so $2 remains the operative rate.
What you are actually paying for
If the act is $2, why does a visit cost $85? Because the notary is not only stamping a page. They are coordinating an appointment, travelling to you, waiting while documents are read and signed, and taking responsibility for identifying every signer correctly. Those are services, and they are priced separately from the statutory fee.
This is the single most useful thing to understand when comparing quotes. A $10 price and a $150 price are not two prices for the same thing. One is someone behind a counter you have to reach during business hours; the other is someone coming to a hospital room on a Sunday afternoon.
Mobile visit rates by area
Our mobile rates are priced by distance from Bronx County. Each base visit covers appointment coordination, travel, and the first notarized signature.
| Area | Base visit from |
|---|---|
| The Bronx | $85 |
| Manhattan | $95 |
| Westchester County | $105 |
| Queens | $125 |
| Brooklyn | $135 |
| Staten Island | $175 |
| Long Island | $200 |
Add-ons for a mobile visit
- Additional seal or signature — $10
- Additional signer — $5
- Witness provided — $50 each
- Same-day, within 12 hours — $25
- After-hours — $35
- Weekend or holiday — $30
- Document preparation — $10 to $50
Full details are on the pricing page and the mobile notary page.
Remote Online Notarization is cheaper, because nobody travels
Remote Online Notarization starts at $25 per session. You join a secure video call, verify your identity, and sign on screen. There is no travel, so there is no travel charge.
- Additional seal — $15
- Additional signer — $10
- Same-day, within 2 hours — $25
Most notarial acts can be completed remotely, but a few instruments must be signed in person under New York law. Tell us what you are signing when you book and we will confirm before you pay.
Apostille and specialized work
Apostille handling is quoted per document — there is no set price, because the work depends on the document, the issuing authority and whether county clerk certification is needed first. Specialized notarial acts, such as notarial protests and certificates of dishonor, start at $150.
What changes the final price
- How many signatures. Each additional seal or signature adds to the total.
- How many signers. Every signer must be present with valid photo ID.
- Where you are. Travel is priced by distance from Bronx County.
- When you need it. Same-day, after-hours, weekend and holiday appointments carry a surcharge.
- Whether witnesses are needed. Some documents require one or two; we can provide them.
How to keep the cost down
- Have every signer present. A second trip costs another base visit.
- Leave documents unsigned. A signature made before the notary arrives usually cannot be notarized, and the document may have to be redone.
- Have valid, unexpired government photo ID ready for everyone signing.
- Book ahead where you can. Same-day and after-hours work carries a surcharge.
- Consider a remote session. If the document can be notarized online, $25 beats any travel fee.
One more thing worth saying plainly: a notary who is not an attorney cannot give you legal advice or choose a document for you. If you are unsure which document you need, that is a question for a lawyer, not a notary.
Why quotes differ so much between providers
A bank branch or shipping store may notarize for a small fee, or free for account holders, but you have to travel to them during business hours, and whether a notary is actually on duty that day is a gamble. Many branches have one, and that person takes lunch, holidays and sick days. If your document is time-sensitive, a free notary you cannot reach is worth nothing.
A mobile notary prices the opposite trade. You pay for certainty: a confirmed appointment, at your address, at a time you choose, with someone whose job that day is your signing. For a closing, a hospital visit or a deadline that cannot slip, that is usually the cheaper outcome even though the invoice is larger.
It is also worth checking what a quote includes. Ours covers coordination, travel and the first notarized signature in the base visit, so the number you are told is the number you pay unless the job changes.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a notary legally charge in New York?
The notarial act itself is capped at $2 by Executive Law §136 — $2 per oath or affirmation, and $2 per person for an acknowledgment. Travel and service fees are separate charges and are not limited by that section. Fees for electronic notarial acts are set by Department of State regulation.
Why does a mobile notary cost more than $2?
Because you are paying for two different things: the statutory fee for the act, and a service fee for coordinating the appointment and travelling to you. The $2 is the act; the rest is the visit.
How much is a mobile notary in New York City?
Our base visit starts at $85 in the Bronx, $95 in Manhattan, $125 in Queens, $135 in Brooklyn and $175 on Staten Island. Westchester County starts at $105.
Is online notarization cheaper?
Yes. A remote online session starts at $25 because there is no travel involved.
How much does an apostille cost?
Apostille work is priced per document rather than at a set rate. Ask for a quote and we will price the specific job.
Get a straight answer on your document
Tell us what you are signing, how many signers there are and where you are, and we will quote the whole thing before you commit. Bookings are taken 24/7, online or by phone, and appointments run Sunday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. We typically respond within an hour.