Can a notary charge more than $10 per signature in West Virginia?

For the notarial act itself, no — West Virginia caps it at $10 per signature. 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 West Virginia?

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.

What ID do I need to get something notarized in West Virginia?

A current, government-issued photo ID is the standard requirement; the exact list of acceptable IDs is set by West Virginia. Check West Virginia Secretary of State — Notary Public Division before your appointment for the authoritative list.

Notary cost · West Virginia

How much does a notary cost in West Virginia?

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 West Virginia, all your options compared fairly — including the one where your bank does it for free.

$10

per signature — that's the notarial stamp, capped by West Virginia. Getting a notary to you (the trip) is a separate, market-set charge. West Virginia caps notary fees at $10.00 per signature notarized (which includes journal recordation), $10.00 per 8.5x11 page for facsimile certification, and $10.00 for any other notarial act; the same $10 statutory maximum applies to remote online notarization (RON), which West Virginia authorized permanently effective June 17, 2021.

The two prices, separated

1 · The notarial fee

$10 per signature

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 West Virginia

W. Va. Code §39-4-30 caps only the notarial-act fees themselves and contains no provision governing travel or mileage charges; West Virginia's RULONA (Chapter 39, Article 4) does not address travel fees, so a mobile notary's travel charge is not statutorily capped or subject to a disclosure requirement. 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 $10 per signature + the store's own convenience fee	You're already out, no account at a bank, need it now. You travel to them.
Mobile notary	$10 per signature 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	$10 per session	You can notarize by video without leaving home. Confirm the receiving party accepts a remote notarization.

West Virginia specifics

Fee schedule: West Virginia caps notary fees at $10.00 per signature notarized (which includes journal recordation), $10.00 per 8.5x11 page for facsimile certification, and $10.00 for any other notarial act; the same $10 statutory maximum applies to remote online notarization (RON), which West Virginia authorized permanently effective June 17, 2021.

Travel fees: W. Va. Code §39-4-30 caps only the notarial-act fees themselves and contains no provision governing travel or mileage charges; West Virginia's RULONA (Chapter 39, Article 4) does not address travel fees, so a mobile notary's travel charge is not statutorily capped or subject to a disclosure requirement.

The statutory maximum is $10.00 PER SIGNATURE notarized, not per document — a document with multiple signers can be billed $10 for each signature.

The $10 fee is defined to include 'the proper recordation thereof in the journal of notarial acts' — journal recordation is bundled into the fee, not billable separately.

Separate line item: certifying a facsimile of a document is capped at $10.00 for each 8.5x11-inch page retained in the notary's file.

There is NO separate/higher RON fee cap — remote online notarizations are subject to the same $10-per-act maximum under §39-4-30.

Charging more than the §39-4-30 maximum is expressly grounds for the Secretary of State to deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or condition a notary's commission.

The $52 commission/recommission application fee is waived for state and local government notaries who submit a supervisor's letter certifying the commission is for government duties.

The local marketing guide's claim that West Virginia has 'notary-set fees — no statutory hard caps' is INCORRECT; §39-4-30 imposes a firm $10 statutory cap.

Remote online notarization: RON · Live in-state — RON is authorized and operational. SB 469 (2021) permanently authorized both Remote Online Notarial acts (RON) and Remote Ink Notarial acts (RIN), effective June 17, 2021, adding W. Va. Code §39-4-6a, §39-4-37, and §39-4-38. The WV Secretary of State operates the program and provides an "Application for E-Notarization Authorization" (no additional fee) plus approved-vendor registration, so RON is live in-state. Notarial acts performed under the law of another jurisdiction are recognized under RULONA §39-4-11. No separate elevated RON fee cap exists — the §39-4-30 maximum of $10 per notarial act governs remote acts as well.

Official source: West Virginia Secretary of State — Notary Public Division →

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 $10 per signature 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia Secretary of State — Notary Public Division (W. Va. Code §39-4-30 (Maximum fees)), verified 2026-07-14. This is general information, not legal advice — confirm specifics with the official authority.