Every fee, published up front
Most notary sites make you call to find out what it costs. Here's the whole thing instead: the statutory fee, the travel fee, and what gets added when.
$15 per signature
California caps what any notary can charge for the notarial act itself at $15 a signature, under Government Code §8211. Nobody in this state can legally charge more, and I don't.
This figure rises to $20 statewide on 1 January 2027.
Travel from $50
Coming to you is a separate service, and California doesn't regulate what it costs. Which is exactly why it's worth checking before you book. Mine goes by distance, and it's published below.
Quoted as its own line item, never folded into the notarial fee.
By distance from Hillcrest
One travel fee per appointment, no matter how many documents you've got.
| Area | Covers | Travel fee |
|---|---|---|
| Central San Diego | Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill, University Heights, North Park, South Park, Golden Hill, Burlingame, Normal Heights, Kensington, Talmadge, Downtown San Diego, East Village, Little Italy, Sherman Heights, Logan Heights, Barrio Logan, Mission Valley, Old Town San Diego | $50 |
| Greater San Diego | Everywhere else within 15 miles, including Linda Vista and Serra Mesa | $80 |
| Beyond 15 miles | Often still doable. Call with the address and you get a firm number first. | Quoted |
Added when they apply
| Parking and entry fees | Actual cost, with the receipt. | At cost |
|---|---|---|
| An extra witness I arrange for you | Only when your document needs one and you cannot supply it. | +$50 |
No evening, weekend or after-hours premium. Those are the hours I work, so they are the normal rate.
A real example
Two people signing a power of attorney at home in North Park on a Tuesday afternoon. Two notarized signatures.
- Travel to Central San Diego
- $50
- Notarial fee — 2 signatures at $15
- $30
- Total
- $80
The same signing at 8:30 on a Saturday evening is also $80. Evenings and weekends are when I work, so there's nothing extra added for them.
Flat fee, everything included
Real estate packages are one flat fee rather than per signature. If a title company or signing service booked me, they're usually the ones paying, not you.
| Refinance or HELOC | $150 |
|---|---|
| Purchase — buyer package | $150 |
| Seller-only package | $125 |
| Loan modification | $125 |
| Reverse mortgage | $200 |
Every package includes
- Travel to you, printing, and the notarial certificate
- My journal entry, seal, and all required recordkeeping
- As much time as the signing actually needs
How to pay
- Credit and debit cards
- Venmo
- Apple Pay
Payment is taken at the appointment. Cash works too. Just let me know ahead of time. Title companies and signing services get invoiced on their usual terms.
What I don't charge for
- A signing I have to stop because the ID won't work or a name doesn't match. Travel fee only
- Notarizing a vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope, which California prohibits charging for
- Notarizing an application for a military veteran's benefit, also free by law
Want the exact number for your signing?
Tell me the neighborhood and how many signatures, and you'll get a firm total rather than a range.