Can a notary charge more than $5 per notarial act in Ohio?

For the notarial act itself, no — Ohio caps it at $5 per notarial act. A mobile notary may add a separate travel/convenience fee, which is not the notarial fee and must be disclosed and agreed to in advance. Always ask for it itemized.

Is online (remote) notarization legal in Ohio?

RON operational since 2019; permanent rules re-enacted under HB 315 effective 2025-04-03. Whatever the in-state status, confirm the party receiving your document accepts a remote notarization.

Will my bank notarize for free in Ohio?

Often, yes — many banks and credit unions notarize documents free for their account holders during branch hours. Call ahead: not every branch has a notary on duty, and some won't handle every document type.

Notary cost · Ohio

How much does a notary cost in Ohio?

Q: What ID do I need to get something notarized in Ohio?

A current, government-issued photo ID is the standard requirement; the exact list of acceptable IDs is set by Ohio. Check Ohio Revised Code § 147.08 (Ohio Laws, codes.ohio.gov — official state code, Ohio Secretary of State is the commissioning authority) before your appointment for the authoritative list.

Most "notary cost" pages are run by an online-notarization platform or a notary supplier — each answering with its own product. This one isn't. Here's what it actually costs in Ohio, all your options compared fairly — including the one where your bank does it for free.

per notarial act — that's the notarial stamp, capped by Ohio. Getting a notary to you (the trip) is a separate, market-set charge. Ohio caps in-person notarizations at $5 per notarial act (fees may NOT be charged per signature), while remote online notarization is capped at $30 per online act plus an optional technology fee of up to $10 per session.

The two prices, separated

1 · The notarial fee

$5 per notarial act

State-capped. This is the official act — verifying you, witnessing the signature, applying the stamp. It's the same amount whether you drive to the notary or they drive to you.

2 · The travel / convenience fee

disclosure-required

ORC 147.08(A) permits 'a reasonable travel fee, as agreed to by the notary and the principal prior to the notarial act.' There is no statutory dollar cap or mileage formula, but the amount must be agreed upon in advance; it is charged on top of the per-act fee. It only applies when a notary comes to you — a bank or walk-in counter doesn't charge it.

Your options, compared honestly

Option	What you pay	When it's the right call
Bank / credit union	Often free for account holders	Simple documents, during branch hours, when you can get there. Call first — not every branch has a notary.
Walk-in (UPS-type)	Up to $5 per notarial act + the store's own convenience fee	You're already out, no account at a bank, need it now. You travel to them.
Mobile notary	$5 per notarial act act fee + a travel fee (a base rate plus mileage, set by the notary)	Hospital, homebound, after-hours, real-estate or multi-signer signings — when the trip is worth paying for. Ask for the travel fee itemized upfront.
Online / RON RON · Live in-state	$30 per session	You can notarize by video without leaving home. Confirm the receiving party accepts a remote notarization.

Ohio specifics

Fee schedule: Ohio caps in-person notarizations at $5 per notarial act (fees may NOT be charged per signature), while remote online notarization is capped at $30 per online act plus an optional technology fee of up to $10 per session.

Travel fees: ORC 147.08(A) permits 'a reasonable travel fee, as agreed to by the notary and the principal prior to the notarial act.' There is no statutory dollar cap or mileage formula, but the amount must be agreed upon in advance; it is charged on top of the per-act fee.

Ohio EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS per-signature fee calculation: 'The fees charged under division (A) of this section shall not be calculated on a per signature basis.' This is unusual — many states charge per signature.

The $5 (in-person) and $30 (online) figures are MAXIMUMS, not set rates; a notary may charge less or nothing.

A notary may not charge both the in-person fee and the online fee for the same transaction.

Online technology fee (up to $10) is per SESSION, not per signature, and may be charged even if the notarial act is not completed.

Travel fees must be agreed to by the notary and principal BEFORE the act; they are separate from and additional to the per-act fee.

The Secretary of State is statutorily empowered to adopt rules to increase the fees authorized under § 147.08.

Ohio commissions run 5 years (one of the longest terms); standard commissions require no surety bond, though a $25,000 bond applies specifically to electronic estate-planning online notarizations.

Remote online notarization: RON · Live in-state — RON operational since 2019; permanent rules re-enacted under HB 315 effective 2025-04-03.

Official source: Ohio Revised Code § 147.08 (Ohio Laws, codes.ohio.gov — official state code, Ohio Secretary of State is the commissioning authority) →

Before you pay

Ask to confirm the notary's commission is current (a mobile notary should be happy to show it).
Get the total quoted upfront and itemized — the $5 per notarial act notarial fee separate from any travel/convenience fee.
Ask for a receipt.
For online/remote notarization, confirm the party receiving your document accepts it.

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Notary costs in every state Compare all 50 states + how notary pricing actually works Ohio notary guide Curious what notaries here can charge — or thinking of becoming one? How online (remote) notarization works What RON is, where you can use it, and what your document must accept

Figures on this page are sourced to Ohio Revised Code § 147.08 (Ohio Laws, codes.ohio.gov — official state code, Ohio Secretary of State is the commissioning authority) (Ohio Rev. Code § 147.08(A)), verified 2026-07-14. This is general information, not legal advice — confirm specifics with the official authority.