§ 8211. Fees
Fees charged by a notary public for the following services shall not exceed the fees prescribed by this
section.
Assembly Bill 2217 (Hadley) (Chapter 133, Statutes of 2016), effective January 1, 2017, amends California
Government Code sections 8211 and 8223 by increasing the fees which may be charged for certain notarial acts.
California Government Code sections 8211 and 8223 were amended as follows:
8211. Fees charged by a notary public for the following services shall not exceed the fees prescribed by this section.
(a) For taking an acknowledgment or proof of a deed, or other instrument, to include the seal and the writing of the
certificate, the sum of fifteen dollars ($15) for each signature taken.
(b) For administering an oath or affirmation to one person and executing the jurat, including the seal, the sum of
fifteen dollars ($15).
(c) For all services rendered in connection with the taking of any deposition, the sum of thirty dollars ($30), and in
addition thereto, the sum of seven dollars ($7) for administering the oath to the witness and the sum of seven dollars
($7) for the certificate to the deposition.
(d) No fee may be charged to notarize signatures on vote by mail ballot identification envelopes or other voting
materials.
(e) For certifying a copy of a power of attorney under Section 4307 of the Probate Code the sum of fifteen dollars
($15).
(f) In accordance with Section 6107, no fee may be charged to a United States military veteran for notarization of an
application or a claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance, or any other veteran’s benefit.
Government Code section 8211 specifies the maximum fees that may be charged for notary public services. However, a
notary public may decide to charge no fee or an amount that is less than the maximum amount prescribed by law. The
charging of a fee and the amount of the fee charged is at the discretion of the notary public or the notary public’s
employer, provided it does not exceed the maximum fees. The notary public is required to make an entry in the notary
public journal even if no fee was charged, such as “no fee” or “0.” (Government Code section 8206) Exceptions: 1)
Pursuant to Government Code section 8203.6, no fees shall be collected by notaries public appointed to military and
naval reservations in accordance with 8203.1; 2) Pursuant to Elections Code section 8080, no fee shall be collected by
notaries public for verifying any nomination document or circulator’s affidavit; and 3) Pursuant to Government Code
section 6107, no fee may be charged to a United States military veteran for notarization of an application or a claim for
a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance, or any other veteran’s benefit.
In addition, Government Code section 6100 requires any notary public who is appointed to act for and on behalf of
certain public agencies, pursuant to Government Code section 8202.5, to charge for all services and remit the fees
received to the employing agency. Each fee charged must be entered in the journal.