You don't have to find a notary. One can come to you.
What a mobile notary is, what it costs, and when having a notary come to you beats driving to a bank or shipping store. Plain answers, itemized pricing.
The 4pm problem
Most people find out they need a notary at the worst possible moment — a deadline, a form that says "notarized" at the bottom, a parent in a care facility who can't travel. The usual advice is a scavenger hunt: call your bank (the notary is at lunch), try a shipping store (one notary on shift, maybe), search "notary near me" and start dialing.
There's a simpler version: a commissioned notary who drives to you.
What a mobile notary actually is
A mobile notary is a regular state-commissioned notary public who travels to your location — home, office, hospital, care facility, coffee shop. Same legal authority, same stamp, same state rules. The only difference is who does the driving.
Two things they charge for, and state law controls one of them:
The notarial act fee
Capped by your state (often $5–$15 per signature; some states as low as $2). A notary cannot legally charge more than the cap for the act itself.
The travel fee
This is where mobile notaries earn their time. It's the price of them coming to you, and reputable notaries quote it up front.
When mobile makes sense
- Someone can't travel — hospital, rehab, care facility, or homebound.
- Multiple signers in one place.
- Deadlines — it has to be signed today and the bank notary is out.
- Privacy.
And when it doesn't: if you're mobile, flexible, and your bank offers free notarization, the bank is the cheap option. Mobile costs more because someone drives to you — we'd rather say that plainly.
What it costs, honestly
The act fee is set by your state — see the cap for every state here. The travel fee varies by distance and notary — which is why "call for a quote" is the industry default. We think that's backwards: on Smoothquill, the notary's travel fee and your state's act fee are itemized line by line, and you approve the exact price before your card is ever charged.
What to have ready
- Every signer present, with unexpired government photo ID matching the name on the document.
- The document complete but unsigned — you sign in front of the notary.
- Know how many signatures need notarizing (count the signature lines).
- If your document needs witnesses, the party requesting the document tells you — your notary can help you sort it out.
Book a mobile notary
Booking is open. You'll see the itemized price — travel and your state's notarial fee, line by line — and approve it before you pay anything.
Book a mobile notary →Questions signers actually ask
Is a mobile notary "more official" than a bank notary?
No, identical legal authority. You're paying for travel, not a better stamp.
Can a notary tell me what my document means?
No. Notaries verify identity and witness signatures; they can't give legal advice. Questions about the document go to whoever requested it or an attorney.
How much is the travel fee?
Set by each notary based on distance. On Smoothquill it's shown itemized before you approve anything.
What if no notary covers my area yet?
We're honest about that: your request only proceeds when a notary claims it, and you're never charged for an unclaimed request.
This is general information, not legal advice — confirm specifics with the party requesting your document or an attorney. Notarial-act fee caps are set by each state; see your state's page for the official source.