Where Did the Notary Public Come From?

Before we discuss what notaries charge today, it helps to understand where the notary public came from.

The office of the notary has roots in European legal traditions that were brought to the American colonies. Historically, notaries were often established businesspeople, merchants, legal clerks, and other individuals who were already educated, established, and trusted within their communities.

During much of this period, women were generally excluded from many professional and governmental positions, including notarial office in many jurisdictions.

Being a notary was NOT necessarily their primary occupation or sole source of income. A person might operate a business, work in commerce, serve as a legal clerk, or hold another established professional position while also performing notarial duties.

That distinction is important.

The historical model also generally operated within the normal business hours of the notary's established occupation. The expectation was not that a notary would leave his place of business at any hour to accommodate a client's schedule.

Today's mobile notary model is very different. Notaries may travel to a location chosen by the client and, depending on their availability, offer appointments well beyond traditional business hours, including evenings after 5:00 p.m. and early-morning appointments as early as 5:00–7:00 a.m. What was once primarily a service performed at the notary's established place of business can now involve the notary bringing the service directly to the client, often at a time that is convenient for the client.

The customer would generally go to the notary rather than expecting the notary to travel to the customer's home, hospital room, law office, business, or other location. There was little of what we now associate with a mobile appointment: driving to the client, printing documents, scanning completed paperwork, coordinating witnesses, waiting for signers, processing electronic payments, handling large document packages, or providing remote online notarization.

In other words, the historical model was much closer to:

“Come to my established place of business and I will perform the notarial act.”

Today's mobile notary model is different.

A modern mobile notary may operate the notary business as a primary source of income and assume the costs and responsibilities of running an independent service business. That can include transportation, fuel, equipment, printing and scanning, technology, insurance, training, background screening, payment processing, scheduling, administrative work, and the time required to travel to and complete an appointment.

So when someone asks:

“Why did a notary used to charge only a small fee, but now I can receive a much higher quote for a mobile appointment?”

Part of the answer is that the service being provided today can be very different from the historical notarial model.

Why Were Notary Fees Historically So Low?

Historically, notarial fees were often treated as regulated or administrative fees for performing an official act.  

The public would go to the notary's established place of business, such as a law office or other business location. The notary would perform the required act, and the customer would pay the applicable fee, which would be the same as a clerical or filing fee, usually below $20 per notarial act depending on the state.

There was usually no expectation that the notary would:

• Drive to someone's home

• Travel to a hospital or nursing facility

• Print dozens of pages

• Locate additional witnesses

• Scan documents

• Return documents electronically

• Wait for extended periods

• Work evenings or weekends

• Accept multiple forms of electronic payment

• Provide specialized mobile equipment

The circumstances surrounding the notarization were very different.

This historical background helps explain why the public may still associate notarization with a relatively small fee.

But today's notary services can look very different.

The Notary Public of Today

Today, notaries are still commissioned public officials who perform specific notarial acts. However, the way people use notary services has changed significantly.

Many people don't want to leave their homes, take time off work, or transport a family member who is in a hospital or care facility.

That's where mobile notary services come in.

Instead of the customer traveling to the notary, the notary travels to the customer.

That convenience comes with additional time, travel, equipment, and operating expenses.

A mobile notary may be asked to:

• Travel to a home, hospital, nursing facility, law office, or business

• Print documents before an appointment

• Make copies

• Bring specialized equipment

• Scan completed documents

• Return documents to an attorney, title company, lender, or other requesting party

• Wait for documents or signers

• Coordinate witnesses when requested

• Work outside traditional business hours

• Travel significant distances

• Handle large document packages

• Provide remote online notarization services

So when you see a mobile notary charge $75 or $100 for an appointment, it is important to understand that the entire amount is not necessarily a fee for placing a notary stamp on a document.

There is a difference between the notarial fee and the total cost of providing the service.

You're Not Necessarily Paying $100 for a Stamp 

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about notary pricing.

The notarial act itself may have a statutory fee established by the state.

But a mobile notary may also charge separately for services such as travel, printing, waiting time, after-hours service, document handling, or other services permitted under applicable law.

Think about it this way:

If someone asks a mobile notary to print 30 pages, drive several miles to their home or hospital, bring their equipment, coordinate witnesses, complete the notarizations, scan the documents, and return them to the requesting party, the notary is providing much more than simply applying a stamp.

The stamp is only one part of the service.

Why Do Some Notaries Charge More Than Others?

There isn't one universal answer.

Not every notary operates the same way, and not every notary offers the same services.

Some newer notaries may charge less while they build experience, develop their business, and establish a customer base.

Other notaries may have years of experience and have invested heavily in training, equipment, technology, insurance, background screening, and continuing education.

And importantly:

A higher price does not automatically mean a better notary.

Likewise, a lower price does not automatically mean a bad notary.

Price is only one factor.

The better question is:

What am I receiving for the price being quoted?

Experience Can Matter

An experienced notary may have encountered many different types of documents, signing situations, and client circumstances.

Experience can help a notary know what questions to ask before an appointment and what information needs to be confirmed in advance.

For example, an experienced notary may want to know:

• What type of document needs to be notarized?

• How many documents need notarization?

• How many signers will be present?

• Does the document require witnesses?

• Will the Client be providing witnesses?

• Where will the appointment take place?

• Does the signer have acceptable identification?

• Are there any special circumstances surrounding the signing?

Getting this information beforehand can prevent unnecessary delays and additional trips.

An experienced notary doesn't want to arrive at an appointment and discover that important information was never provided.

The goal should be to get the appointment completed correctly and efficiently the first time.

I discuss this in greater detail in my video about "How to find a good notary".

Professional Notary Services Require More Than a Stamp

Being a notary may look simple from the outside.

You see the document.  You see the signature.  You see the stamp.

But there is considerably more responsibility behind that stamp.

Notaries must understand the laws and rules governing their notarial acts and know what they can and cannot legally do.

Professional notaries may also invest in:

• Continuing education

• Notary training

• Background screenings

• Errors and omissions insurance

• Professional equipment

• Mobile printers and scanners

• Secure document handling

• Electronic payment systems

• Remote online notarization technology

• Business and operating expenses

For example, in my own business, I continue to invest in training and technology so I can provide clients with a more efficient experience.

That includes mobile scanning equipment, professional printing equipment, electronic payment options, ongoing education, background screening, and keeping up with changes affecting Florida notaries.

These are business expenses that exist whether or not a notarial stamp is placed on one document.

But Should Notaries Charge Whatever They Want? 

No.

I believe notaries should be transparent about their pricing and should clearly explain what their fees include.

Clients should not have to guess what they are paying for.

Before scheduling a notary, it's reasonable to ask:

• What is included in your fee?

• Is travel included?

• Are there additional fees?

• Do you provide witnesses?

• Do you print documents?

• Do you scan completed documents?

• Is there a waiting-time charge?

• Do you offer after-hours appointments?

• Do you have experience with the type of document I need notarized?

• What do you need from me before the appointment?

A professional notary should be able to explain their pricing clearly.

A Personal Story About Trying to Save Money? 

Here's a real-life example that helped me look at this issue differently.

My vehicle's brakes had been failing for a while. I knew the brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. I knew that continuing to drive the vehicle, especially while traveling to notary appointments, wasn't something I wanted to continue doing.

Naturally, I wanted to save money.

Instead of taking my vehicle directly to the dealership or an auto repair shop and allowing them to supply the parts, I decided to purchase the brake pads and rotors myself from a well-known, reputable auto parts company.

I already had an account with the company and had purchased oil, lubricants, and other automotive products from them before without any problems.

I thought I was making the financially responsible choice.

There was just one problem:  I wasn't an expert in automotive parts.

Previously, I had a family member who helped me determine exactly what parts I needed.

This time, I was doing it myself.  I purchased what I believed were the correct front and rear brake pads and rotors.

I figured all I would have to do was take the parts to my mechanic, pay the labor, and have everything installed.

Simple, right?  Not exactly.

First Problem: I Didn't Have Enough Rotors

When I arrived at the mechanic, the front desk coordinator looked at the parts I had purchased and told me that I didn't have four rotors.

I had only purchased two.

I thought I had purchased a pair for the front and a pair for the rear.

Instead, I had purchased one front rotor and one rear rotor.

I had misunderstood how the auto parts store sold the rotors.

So I had to go back to the parts store to correct the problem.

The supervisor explained that the rotors were sold individually, not in pairs.

That meant I had to purchase two more rotors.

More money.  More time.  More driving.  More inconvenience.

Then I returned to the mechanic.

I thought the problem was finally solved.  It wasn't.

Second Problem: The Brake Pads Were Wrong

While my vehicle was up on the mechanic's rack, I was once again called to the front desk.

The coordinator apologized and told me that the front brake pads I had purchased didn't fit my vehicle.

This time, I couldn't simply jump back in my car and drive to the parts store because my car was already on the rack.

The coordinator actually drove me back to the parts store.

That's when I discovered that I had purchased the wrong model number.  I had purchased 1736 when I actually needed 1737.

I returned the incorrect brake pads and purchased the correct ones.  The correct pads cost me another $25.

And then there was one more problem.

The Sale I Thought I Was Entitled To. 

The store was running a promotion involving brake rotors and brake pads.

I had just purchased two additional rotors from that same location about an hour earlier.

So I asked whether they could honor the promotion and provide the qualifying brake pads at no additional cost.

The clerk told me that the rotors would have to be physically present at the counter in order for the promotion to be honored.

I couldn't simply show the parts because they were already at the mechanic's shop.

Same store.  Same location.  Same general transaction.

But I couldn't receive the promotional price under their requirements.

So once again, I had to spend more money.

What Was Supposed to Cost $389, Cost Me $656

When everything was finally finished, I had spent approximately $656 on the brake repair.

My original expectation had been approximately $389.

That's a difference of $267.

And why?  Because I was trying to save money by handling something myself that I wasn't experienced with.

I wasn't careless.  I wasn't trying to create a problem.  I simply didn't know what I didn't know.

And that's an important distinction.

What Does My Brake Story Have to do with Notary Publics? 

A lot.

I'm not saying that hiring the most expensive notary automatically guarantees the best result.

And I'm not saying that someone who charges less is automatically inexperienced.

That's not the lesson.

The lesson is that price isn't the only thing you should consider when you're hiring someone to perform a service you don't know how to perform yourself.

When I purchased those brake parts myself, I thought I was saving money.

Instead, my lack of experience resulted in:

• Buying the wrong quantity

• Buying the wrong part

• Making multiple trips

• Paying additional money

• Losing time

• Creating unnecessary frustration

• Relying on the mechanic and parts-store employees to help correct my mistakes

If I had gone directly to an automotive professional and allowed them to handle the parts and installation, I may have paid more upfront for the service.

But I also would have been paying for their knowledge and experience.

And I probably would have avoided the mistakes I made.

Don't Make the Same Mistake I Made 

This is why I encourage people to look beyond the price when choosing a notary.

If you're unfamiliar with notarization, you may not know what questions should be asked before the appointment.

You may not know whether witnesses are required.

You may not know what information the notary needs beforehand.

You may not know whether the document has been prepared correctly for notarization.

And you may not know what the notary is legally permitted, or not permitted, to do.

That's where an experienced professional can bring value.

You're not simply paying someone to stamp a document.

You're paying for their time, knowledge, preparation, travel, equipment, experience, and the service they provide within the limits of their commission and the law.

The Bottom Line 

If you see one notary charging $20 and another charging $75 or $100, don't automatically assume that one is taking advantage of you or that the other is providing inferior service.

Instead, ask questions.

Find out what is included.  Look at the notary's experience.  Check reviews.  Understand whether you're hiring a traditional notary, a mobile notary, or a remote online notary.

Ask what happens before, during, and after the notarization.

And understand the difference between the statutory fee for a notarial act and the overall price of a professional service appointment.

Notaries should be fair and transparent.

Clients should also understand that professional services have costs associated with providing them.

Sometimes trying to save a few dollars upfront can save money.

And sometimes, as I learned with my brakes, trying to save money without the right expertise can end up costing considerably more.

The goal isn't simply to find the cheapest notary.

The goal is to understand what you're paying for and choose the professional service that meets your needs.

Have Questions About Notary Services? 

If you're looking for a Florida Mobile Notary Public or Remote Online Notary (RON), My Mobile Notary Tonya provides professional notary services throughout Broward, Palm Beach, and parts of South Florida.

📍 My Mobile Notary Tonya
Florida Mobile Notary Public & Remote Online Notary (RON)

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Services include mobile notarization, Remote Online Notarization (RON), estate documents, powers of attorney, medical-facility signings, deeds, affidavits, vehicle/VIN services, and other notarial services.

Notary public services are not a substitute for legal advice. A notary public cannot provide legal advice or advise you on the preparation, completion, or legal effect of a document.