MO Notary - Missouri Notary Notary Fees and Bond Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Is a Missouri notary required to charge a fee for notarial services?

Yes — the statutory fee is mandatory
No — notaries may choose to waive their fee or charge less than the maximum (Correct answer)
Only for real estate documents
Only for commercial transactions

Correct answer: No — notaries may choose to waive their fee or charge less than the maximum

Missouri notaries are not required to charge a fee. They may waive the fee entirely or charge any amount up to the statutory maximum.

Missouri law sets a maximum fee that notaries may charge for notarial services, but it does not require notaries to charge any fee at all. Many notaries, particularly those employed by banks, law firms, or other businesses, provide notarial services free of charge as a courtesy to clients. Other notaries may charge less than the maximum. The key legal restriction is that a notary cannot charge MORE than the statutory maximum. Notaries who are employees and whose employer pays for their commission and supplies often do not charge fees, as the notarial services are part of their employment duties.

Question 2: What is the maximum fee a Missouri notary may charge for performing a notarial act?

$1.00 per signature
$2.00 per notarial act (Correct answer)
$5.00 per notarial act
There is no maximum — the notary sets their own rate

Correct answer: $2.00 per notarial act

Missouri law sets the maximum notary fee at $2.00 per notarial act, though notaries performing remote online notarizations may charge additional fees as authorized.

Under Missouri law (RSMo 486.350), the maximum fee a notary may charge for performing a standard notarial act is $2.00. This applies to traditional in-person notarizations including acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, and other authorized acts. For remote online notarization (RON), different fee structures may apply, typically allowing higher fees to account for the technology costs involved. Travel fees may be charged separately from the notarial fee if the notary travels to the signer's location. The $2.00 maximum for standard notarizations is among the lowest in the United States.

Question 3: Can a Missouri notary charge a travel fee in addition to the notarization fee?

No — the statutory fee covers all expenses
Yes — travel fees may be charged separately as long as they are reasonable and disclosed in advance (Correct answer)
Only if the travel exceeds 100 miles
Only for hospital or nursing home visits

Correct answer: Yes — travel fees may be charged separately as long as they are reasonable and disclosed in advance

A Missouri notary may charge a reasonable travel fee in addition to the notarization fee, as long as the fee is disclosed to the signer in advance.

Missouri notaries who travel to perform notarizations may charge a reasonable travel fee in addition to the statutory notarial fee. The travel fee is considered separate from the notarial act fee and is not governed by the $2.00 maximum. However, the travel fee must be reasonable and should be disclosed to the signer before the appointment. Best practices include agreeing on the travel fee in advance and keeping it proportional to the distance traveled. Notaries who operate as mobile notaries or signing agents commonly charge travel fees as a standard part of their service.

Question 4: If a Missouri notary's surety bond is cancelled, what must the notary do?

Continue notarizing until a replacement bond is obtained
Immediately cease performing notarial acts and obtain a new bond (Correct answer)
Notify signers that the bond has been cancelled
Nothing — bond cancellation does not affect the commission

Correct answer: Immediately cease performing notarial acts and obtain a new bond

If a notary's surety bond is cancelled, they must immediately stop performing notarial acts because the bond is a required condition of their commission.

A surety bond is a mandatory requirement for a Missouri notary commission. If the bond is cancelled for any reason (non-payment of premiums, surety company withdrawal, etc.), the notary must immediately cease performing all notarial acts. Performing notarizations without a valid bond is a violation of Missouri law and could expose the notary to personal liability without the protection of the bond. The notary should immediately obtain a new bond from the same or different surety company and file it with the Secretary of State. Notarial acts performed during a gap in bond coverage may be considered invalid.

Question 5: Who pays for the surety bond premium — the notary or the public?

The signer pays the bond premium as part of the notary fee
The notary (or their employer) pays the bond premium (Correct answer)
The state of Missouri pays the premium
The county government pays the premium

Correct answer: The notary (or their employer) pays the bond premium

The notary or their employer pays the surety bond premium. It is not a cost passed directly to the public or signers.

The surety bond premium is paid by the notary public or, in many cases, by the notary's employer as a business expense. The premium is a periodic payment (usually annual) made to the surety company that issues the bond. The cost of the premium depends on the bond amount and the surety company's rates, but for a $10,000 notary bond, the annual premium is typically modest (often $25-$100). While the notary may earn fees from notarial services that help offset this cost, the bond premium is not directly charged to signers. Many employers who need notary services among their staff cover all notary-related costs.

Question 6: Can a Missouri notary charge extra for notarizing multiple signatures on the same document?

No — one fee covers all signatures on a document
Yes — the fee is per notarial act, not per document (Correct answer)
Only if there are more than three signatures
Only for real estate documents

Correct answer: Yes — the fee is per notarial act, not per document

Each separate notarial act (such as each individual's acknowledgment) is a separate act for which the notary may charge the fee.

Under Missouri fee statutes, the notary fee is charged per notarial act, not per document. If a single document has multiple signers, each signer's acknowledgment or jurat constitutes a separate notarial act. For example, if both a husband and wife acknowledge a deed, that is two notarial acts, and the notary may charge up to the maximum fee for each act. However, if one signer signs multiple documents that each require notarization, each notarization is a separate act. The notary should clearly explain the fee structure to signers before performing the acts.

MO Notary - Missouri Notary Notary Fees and Bond Questions and Answers 2

Is a Missouri notary required to charge a fee for notarial services?