Becoming a Notary Public: A Steady, Quiet Side Income After 60

Every week, people in your community need papers notarized: a car title, a power of attorney, a form for a bank. A notary public is the trusted person who checks their identity and watches them sign. If you are careful, organized and like helping people, becoming a notary can be a calm, respectable way to earn a little money.

The pay per signature is modest, because states set limits. But the work is flexible, and you can offer it close to home. Here is how it works, step by step.

What a notary does

A notary public is appointed by the state to serve as an impartial witness. In plain terms, you:

Check that the person signing is who they say they are, usually with a photo ID.
Make sure they are signing willingly and understand what they are signing.
Complete a notarial certificate and apply your official seal.
In many states, record the act in a journal.

A notary does not give legal advice or explain what a document means. If someone asks which form they need, you send them to a lawyer or the agency that issued it.

How to become a notary

Every state runs its own program, usually through the Secretary of State’s office. The National Notary Association (NNA) says the process generally follows these steps:

Meet your state’s qualifications. Most states require you to be at least 18, a legal resident of the state and able to read and write English, with no disqualifying criminal record.
Fill out the application and pay the filing fee.
Take a training course, if your state requires one. The NNA says 22 states and Washington, D.C., require training, usually 3 to 6 hours.
Pass an exam, if your state requires one. About half the states do.
Complete fingerprinting and a background check, if required.
Receive your commission certificate.
Buy a surety bond, if your state requires one.
File your paperwork and bond with the state official named in your instructions.
Buy your supplies, such as an official seal and a journal.

According to the NNA, total costs range from under $100 to $600 or more, depending on the state. Processing takes two to 10 weeks. Most commissions last four years.

An example: California

California’s notary handbook for 2026 shows how detailed one state can be. Applicants must be California residents and at least 18. New applicants take a six-hour approved course, pass a state exam and complete a background check. The application fee is $20, and every notary must file a $15,000 bond. A commission lasts four years.

Your state may be much simpler. Look up “notary public” on your Secretary of State’s website for the exact rules.

What you can charge

States set the most a notary may charge for each act. You may charge less, or nothing. Here are some examples as of October 2026:

California: up to $15 for each signature on an acknowledgment, and $15 for a jurat (a sworn statement).
Florida: up to $10 for any one notarial act, with some exceptions such as weddings and online notarizations.
Texas: $10 for the first signature on an acknowledgment and $1 for each extra signature. Texas adjusts its fees for inflation every five years.
Pennsylvania: $5 for most acts, such as an acknowledgment for one person or witnessing a signature, with $2 for each additional name on an acknowledgment.

Those numbers are small, so many notaries add income in two ways: travel fees and specialty work.

Travel fees for a mobile notary

A mobile notary goes to the customer: a home, a hospital, a care facility or an office. That is a real help to people who can’t get out easily. Rules on travel fees vary by state. The NNA says some states, such as Florida, don’t regulate travel fees, while others allow only reasonable costs or require that the fee be agreed before you set out.

California keeps travel fees separate from the notary fee and says they should be listed separately in the journal. Whatever your state, the NNA’s advice is the same: agree on the total price with the customer before you do the notarization.

Loan signing agents

Some notaries become “notary signing agents” who handle the paperwork at home loan closings. The NNA says the industry expects signing agents to pass a yearly background check, and its certification starts at $199. It also notes that 19 states restrict this work. Fees are negotiated case by case, and there is no set rate, so research your local market before you invest.

Online notarization

Most states now allow remote online notarization, where you notarize over a secure video connection. You usually need a regular commission first, an approved technology vendor and a webcam. You must be physically in your own state when you notarize. Rules and extra fees vary, so check your state’s page.

Bond versus insurance

These two sound alike but protect different people.

A surety bond protects the public. If a mistake causes someone a loss and the bond company pays, the NNA explains, you must pay the bond company back.
Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance protects you. It can pay for legal defense and losses up to the policy limit. No state requires it for regular notaries, but the NNA strongly recommends it.

Rules vary by state. Ask the insurer to explain what a policy covers before you buy.

Finding your first customers

Start close to home:

Tell friends, neighbors, your church or community center, and local clubs.
Post a short notice on community bulletin boards and neighborhood websites.
Introduce yourself to nearby senior living communities, small offices and real estate offices that may need a mobile notary.
Carry a simple price sheet so customers know your fees ahead of time.

As a rough illustration, a few mobile visits a month with a modest travel fee might cover a $45 phone bill. Earnings vary widely by state, fees and demand.

Staying safe and avoiding scams

Notaries are targets for scams. A July 2026 NNA article lists several, including:

Fake signing jobs that send a check for more than the fee and ask you to return the difference. No real customer does this.
Wire-fraud messages that change payment instructions. Always confirm by calling a number you already have.
Fake “renewal” notices that demand payment by wire, gift card or cryptocurrency.

A few safety habits for mobile work:

Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
Meet new customers in public places when you can.
Never notarize for someone who isn’t present, can’t show valid ID or seems confused or pressured. Simply decline.
Keep your seal and journal locked up when you aren’t using them.

Taxes and benefits

Notary fees are usually taxable income. The IRS says you generally need to file if your net self-employment earnings were $400 or more. Keep a record of fees, mileage and supplies. If you receive Social Security and are under full retirement age, earnings above a yearly limit ($24,480 in 2026) can temporarily reduce your benefits. SSI, Medicaid and housing assistance count income in their own ways. This is general information. Please check your situation with Social Security, SSI’s income rules and the IRS.

Becoming a Notary Public: A Steady, Quiet Side Income After 60

What a notary does