Can a notary charge more than No statutory cap in Tennessee?

For the notarial act itself, no — Tennessee caps it at No statutory cap . 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.

Will my bank notarize for free in Tennessee?

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 · Tennessee

How much does a notary cost in Tennessee?

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

A current, government-issued photo ID is the standard requirement; the exact list of acceptable IDs is set by Tennessee. Check Tennessee Secretary of State (Tre Hargett) — Business Services / Notary Public, FAQ: “What fee can a notary charge for their services?” 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 Tennessee, all your options compared fairly — including the one where your bank does it for free.

No statutory cap

— that's the notarial stamp, capped by Tennessee. Getting a notary to you (the trip) is a separate, market-set charge. Tennessee sets no statutory maximum for in-person notarial fees (a notary charges a reasonable fee, Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201); online (RON) acts are capped at $25 each (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-311).

The two prices, separated

1 · The notarial fee

No statutory cap

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

Not capped by Tennessee

Tennessee has no statute or rule capping a notary's travel, trip, or convenience fee, and none requiring separate written disclosure. The only governing standard is the general ‘reasonable fees’ language of Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201, so mobile notaries commonly add a negotiated travel charge on top of the per-act fee. No official TN authority sets a mileage cap. 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 No statutory cap + the store's own convenience fee	You're already out, no account at a bank, need it now. You travel to them.
Mobile notary	No statutory cap 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	$25 per session	You can notarize by video without leaving home. Confirm the receiving party accepts a remote notarization.

Tennessee specifics

Fee schedule: Tennessee sets no statutory maximum for in-person notarial fees (a notary charges a reasonable fee, Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201); online (RON) acts are capped at $25 each (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-311).

Travel fees: Tennessee has no statute or rule capping a notary's travel, trip, or convenience fee, and none requiring separate written disclosure. The only governing standard is the general ‘reasonable fees’ language of Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201, so mobile notaries commonly add a negotiated travel charge on top of the per-act fee. No official TN authority sets a mileage cap.

No statutory dollar cap on in-person notarial acts — Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201 entitles notaries to ‘reasonable fees and compensation,’ so the per-act price is negotiable/market-rate, not a fixed state figure.

Journal/recordkeeping is fee-triggered: under § 8-21-1201, if the notary (or the notary's employer) demands and receives a fee, the notary must keep a record of each act, either electronically or in a well-bound book.

Remote online notarizations are hard-capped at $25 each by Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1360-07-03-.03, and the RON vendor's separate technology/platform fee is not part of that $25.

Notaries employed by financial institutions who notarize for the institution's customers are addressed separately in § 8-21-1201 (special recordation treatment).

Tennessee notaries are elected by the county legislative body and commissioned by the Secretary of State; the commission is valid statewide, so a signer can use any TN notary regardless of county.

No official mileage or travel-fee cap exists, so a signer booking a mobile or RON notary should expect the travel/technology charge to be a separately negotiated amount on top of the notarial fee.

Remote online notarization: RON · Live in-state — Tennessee authorizes remote online notarization (RON-LIVE); an online notary may charge a fee not to exceed $25 per online notarization (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-311), in addition to other authorized fees. In-person fees are uncapped. Confirm the receiving party accepts a remote notarization.

Official source: Tennessee Secretary of State (Tre Hargett) — Business Services / Notary Public, FAQ: “What fee can a notary charge for their services?” →

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 No statutory cap 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Secretary of State (Tre Hargett) — Business Services / Notary Public, FAQ: “What fee can a notary charge for their services?” (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1201 (in-person — reasonable fee, no cap); Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-16-311 (Online Notary Public Act — $25 per online notarization)), verified 2026-07-14. This is general information, not legal advice — confirm specifics with the official authority.