Skip to content
Oakclause

Notary Fees and Remote Notarization in Alabama

In Alabama a notary may charge up to $10 per notarial act, and a signer may appear by two-way audio-video while the notary signs the paper documents in ink.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Alabama at a glance

Maximum fee per acknowledgment
$10 per notarial act
Raised from $5 by SB 322 of 2023. State, county and city employees may not charge for acts done as part of their public job.
Remote online notarization
Remote ink notarization only
The signer may appear by recorded two-way audio-video, but the documents must be provided to the notary for an original wet ink signature. Not allowed for absentee ballot documents.
RON law and effective date
Ala. Code 36-20-73.1 (SB 322, 2023)
Amended by SB 322 (2023). The statute ratifies remote notarizations done under emergency orders before July 1, 2021.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Alabama

What is the maximum notary fee for an acknowledgment in Alabama?

Maximum fee per acknowledgment in Alabama: $10 per notarial act. Raised from $5 by SB 322 of 2023. State, county and city employees may not charge for acts done as part of their public job.

Is remote online notarization allowed in Alabama?

Remote ink notarization only. Remote online notarization in Alabama: remote ink notarization only. The signer may appear by recorded two-way audio-video, but the documents must be provided to the notary for an original wet ink signature. Not allowed for absentee ballot documents.

Which law authorizes remote online notarization in Alabama, and when did it take effect?

RON law and effective date in Alabama: Ala. Code 36-20-73.1 (SB 322, 2023). Amended by SB 322 (2023). The statute ratifies remote notarizations done under emergency orders before July 1, 2021.

Where do the Alabama notary requirements come from?

The rules above come from Ala. Code 36-20-74 and Ala. Code 36-20-73.1. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The notary must be physically located in Alabama and keep the audio-video recording for seven years.

What this means in practice

A statutory fee limit is a ceiling on the notarial act itself. Travel fees, convenience charges, and technology fees for online sessions may be governed by separate rules or not regulated at all, so it helps to ask for the full price before the appointment.

Bring a current government-issued photo ID and leave the document unsigned until the notary is watching, unless the notary says otherwise. A notary generally cannot notarize a document in which they have a personal interest and cannot give legal advice about what the document means.

A document notarized remotely is usually accepted like one notarized in person, but the receiving party, such as a county recorder, title company, or foreign authority, may have its own requirements. Checking with the recipient before choosing an online session can avoid a rejected filing.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.