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Notary Fees and Remote Notarization in California

In California a notary may charge up to $15 per signature for an acknowledgment, and remote online notarization by California notaries is enacted but not yet available until the Secretary of State completes its system.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

California at a glance

Maximum fee per acknowledgment
$15 per signature
Remote online notarization
No (not yet available)
The Online Notarization Act (SB 696, 2023) bars online notarizations before registration with the Secretary of State or completion of its technology project, due by January 1, 2030. The online acknowledgment fee will be capped at $30 per signature.
RON law and effective date
Gov. Code 8231 and following (SB 696, 2023)
Stats. 2023 ch. 291, effective January 1, 2024, but online notarization cannot start until the Secretary of State's system is complete (deadline January 1, 2030).

Sources

Last checked

The rules in California

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

Maximum fee per acknowledgment in California: $15 per signature.

Is remote online notarization allowed in California?

No (not yet available). Remote online notarization in California: no (not yet available). The Online Notarization Act (SB 696, 2023) bars online notarizations before registration with the Secretary of State or completion of its technology project, due by January 1, 2030. The online acknowledgment fee will be capped at $30 per signature.

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

RON law and effective date in California: Gov. Code 8231 and following (SB 696, 2023). Stats. 2023 ch. 291, effective January 1, 2024, but online notarization cannot start until the Secretary of State's system is complete (deadline January 1, 2030).

Where do the California notary requirements come from?

The rules above come from Cal. Gov. Code 8211, Cal. Gov. Code 8231 and Cal. Gov. Code 8231.9. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.