Notary Cost in Philadelphia (2026)
Quick Answer
Partially verifiedIn Philadelphia, the core notary fee is regulated by Pennsylvania and is commonly $5 per notarial act. The main extra cost is usually travel for a mobile notary, which often brings a real-world total to roughly $25-$75 for a straightforward local visit, although travel and after-hours charges are not state-capped and vary by provider.
Overview
For most people in Philadelphia, the cheapest option is an in-office notary where you pay the Pennsylvania notary fee per act. Pennsylvania sets a maximum fee schedule for notaries public, and the standard charge for many common acts is $5 each. That means a simple acknowledgement, jurat, verification on oath or affirmation, or witnessing/signing event can be inexpensive if you visit a bank, shipping shop, law office, or other business that offers notary services. Costs rise when you need a mobile notary to come to your home, office, hospital, care facility, or another location in Philadelphia. Travel fees are not the same as the regulated notarial act fee and are usually quoted separately, often as a flat call-out or distance-based charge. Urgent, evening, weekend, or multi-signature jobs can also cost more. If you need loan-signing or document-package support, pricing is usually handled as a package rather than per stamp. Philadelphia residents should also remember that the fee is usually charged per notarial act, not per document in every case. If several signatures or certificates are required, the final bill can add up quickly even though each individual act is low-cost. Always ask a provider to separate the regulated notary fee from any travel or convenience charge before booking.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania notary fee for acknowledgements, jurats and similar acts(per act) Pennsylvania publishes maximum notary fees; many common notarial acts are listed at $5. | $5 – $5 | Verified from source |
| Certified copies of powers of attorney(per certified copy) Fee listed by the state fee schedule. | $5 – $5 | Verified from source |
| Protest of a negotiable instrument(per protest) Separate state-set fee category. | $3 – $3 | Verified from source |
| Mobile notary travel charge in Philadelphia(per visit) Estimated range based on typical mobile notary market rates in major US cities, added on top of Pennsylvania's regulated per-act fee; actual travel pricing is provider-set. | ~$20 – $70 | Estimated range |
| Typical total for a simple mobile notary visit in Philadelphia(per appointment) Estimated as one standard $5 notarial act plus a common local travel/call-out charge for a straightforward appointment. | ~$25 – $75 | Estimated range |
| Loan signing / document package appointment(per package) Estimated range based on broader US market rates for signing-agent style appointments; package pricing is not set by Pennsylvania's notary fee schedule. | ~$75 – $200 | Estimated range |
What’s Typically Included
- Identity check
- Completion of the notarial certificate
- Official seal/stamp
- Journal entry where required by the notary's practice or law
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
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Regulator / licensing: Pennsylvania Department of State
Variants & Configurations
Duration
A simple in-person notarisation often takes 10-20 minutes; mobile appointments can take longer depending on travel and document complexity.
How Fees Work
Pennsylvania regulates the fee for the notarial act itself, commonly $5 per act for standard services. Mobile travel, waiting time, printing, witness coordination, and signing-agent package work are usually separate provider-set charges.
Factors Affecting Price
- Whether you visit a fixed office or need a mobile notary to travel to you
- Number of notarial acts required, since Pennsylvania commonly allows charging per act
- Time and urgency, especially evenings, weekends, hospitals, or same-day requests
- Whether the job is a simple notarisation or a larger signing package such as real-estate documents
Local Context
Philadelphia consumers usually pay no more than the Pennsylvania-regulated fee for the notarial act itself, but city traffic, parking, and travel time often make mobile service noticeably more expensive than walk-in service. Tipping is not standard for notaries. If you need witnesses as well as a notary, that may create extra fees because witness coordination is typically separate from notarisation.
Some figures here are still being verified.
Where a verified figure isn’t available yet, we say so rather than guess. For the most current pricing, check the official source below.
All prices are in US dollars (USD).
Sources & References
Every price on this page is traced to a documented source. Last checked 24 September 2026.
- Pennsylvania Department of State - Notary Fees · government
Published Pennsylvania notary fee schedule, including common $5 acts and other listed fees.
- Pennsylvania Department of State - Notaries Public · government
Regulator for notaries public in Pennsylvania.
- National Notary Association - Pennsylvania · industry
Industry reference for Pennsylvania notary rules and practice context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a basic notary in Philadelphia?+
For many standard acts, Pennsylvania's published fee is $5 per act. If you go to a location that offers walk-in notary service, that is often the starting point.
Why do mobile notaries cost more than $5?+
The $5 fee covers the notarial act itself. A mobile notary may also charge separately for travel, convenience, urgent scheduling, waiting time, or document-package handling.
Is the fee charged per signature or per document?+
It is usually charged per notarial act, not simply per document title. A single document can require more than one notarial certificate, so ask the notary to confirm the number of acts before the appointment.
Are notary prices fixed across Philadelphia?+
The state-set fee for the notarial act is regulated, but mobile travel and service add-ons are not standardised. That is why total quotes can differ between providers.
Can banks or other offices notarise documents more cheaply?+
Yes. If you can travel to a branch or office, you may only pay the regulated notarial fee, and some banks may offer free notary service to account holders where permitted.
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Check current prices at the official source
Pennsylvania Department of State
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