Some exciting news for Notaries!

California Assembly Bill 2217 was signed into law in August 2016, and went into effect January 1, 2017. The law raises the fees Notaries may charge for the first time since 1994.

Notaries set their own pricing to notarize documents*, but they must follow California law for the maximum amount they can charge for each notarization (each notarization is called a notarial act). Effective January 2, Notaries may now charge up to $15 per notarized signature (each notarized signature is a notarial act). Assembly Bill 2217 effectively gives Notaries a 50% raise from the maximum fees for most notarial acts under current law; the previous max being $10 per notarial act. Assemblyman David Hadley, the bill sponsor, based the increase on the change in the consumer price index since 1994, the last time fees were raised in California.

* FYI There are no laws governing what Notaries can charge for travel.

So, in essence, CA Assembly Bill 2217 changes the maximum fees as follows:

• The fee Notaries may charge for taking an acknowledgment or affidavit from $10 to $15.
• The fee Notaries may charge for administering an oath or affirmation from $10 to $15.
• Raises the maximum fee Notaries may charge for certifying a copy of a power of attorney from $10 to $15.

The specifics of this bill amends Government Code Sections 8211 and 8223. The bill’s full text may be read here: Bill Text