DC Notary DC Notary Fees and Charges 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Is a DC notary required to charge a fee for performing a notarial act?
- Yes, charging a fee is always mandatory under DC law
- No, a notary may perform notarial acts at no charge if they choose (Correct answer)
- Only if the signer requests a printed receipt
- Only for notarizations on real estate documents
Correct answer: No, a notary may perform notarial acts at no charge if they choose
DC notary fee limits establish a maximum, not a minimum—notaries are free to waive their fee or charge less than the statutory maximum.
Question 2: Who establishes the maximum fee a DC notary may charge per notarial act?
- The DC Council through the DC Code (Correct answer)
- The National Notary Association
- The DC Bar Association
- Each notary sets their own unlimited fee
Correct answer: The DC Council through the DC Code
The DC Council establishes the maximum allowable notary fee through the DC Code, and all DC notaries are bound by that statutory limit.
Question 3: May a DC notary charge a separate travel fee in addition to the per-act fee?
- No, all charges must be within the per-act statutory maximum
- Yes, a travel fee may be charged if the signer agrees to it before the notary travels (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only within DC city limits
- No, travel is always included in the standard notarial fee
Correct answer: Yes, a travel fee may be charged if the signer agrees to it before the notary travels
A DC notary may charge a separate travel fee in addition to the notarial act fee provided the signer agrees to the travel fee before the notary departs.
Question 4: What may result if a DC notary charges a fee that exceeds the statutory maximum?
- A written warning is issued by the National Notary Association
- Disciplinary action including possible suspension or revocation of the notary commission (Correct answer)
- A civil fine payable directly to the signer
- No consequence, as fees are purely private arrangements
Correct answer: Disciplinary action including possible suspension or revocation of the notary commission
Charging fees in excess of the statutory maximum is official misconduct under DC notary law and may result in suspension or revocation of the commission.
Question 5: The fee limit under DC notary law applies to which unit of measurement?
- Per document presented
- Per notarial act performed (Correct answer)
- Per appointment or visit
- Per page of the document notarized
Correct answer: Per notarial act performed
DC's statutory fee maximum applies per notarial act, so if multiple acts are performed, the maximum may be charged for each individual act.
Question 6: Can a DC notary charge an extra fee for notarizing a document written in a foreign language?
- Yes, a language surcharge is allowed under DC law
- No, the statutory fee maximum applies regardless of the document's language (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only if the notary provides translation services
- No, DC notaries cannot notarize foreign-language documents at all
Correct answer: No, the statutory fee maximum applies regardless of the document's language
The statutory fee limit applies to the notarial act itself regardless of the language of the document, and extra charges for foreign-language documents are not permitted.
DC Notary DC Notary Fees and Charges 1
Is a DC notary required to charge a fee for performing a notarial act?