Lawsuits for Excessive Notary Fees

Last Updated on September 20, 2024

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At A Glance

This Alert Affects:
Anyone who may have been overcharged for notary services in their state.
What’s Going On?
States have specific limits on how much can be charged for notary fees. Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are now investigating whether some consumers may have been overcharged and whether class action lawsuits can be filed.
How Can a Class Action Help?
If successful, a class action could help people get back the illegal overcharges they paid and ensure notary fees are kept below the legal maximum.
What You Can Do
If you believe you’ve been overcharged for notary services, fill out the form on this page to find out how you may be able to get your money back.

It’s possible that some consumers may have been charged more than their state’s legal limit for notary services.

Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are now investigating whether class actions can be filed to help people get back any money they overpaid for document notarizations or other notary services.

If you believe you’ve paid excessive notary fees, fill out the form on this page to find out how you can help with the investigation.

State Limits on Notary Fees

Many people are unaware that there are limits on how much they can be charged for notary services and that these limits vary by state.

For example, in California, it’s illegal to charge more than $15 for notary services, while Vermont allows for notary fees of no more than $0.50.

If you’ve paid a fee for notary services, check the below chart from the National Notary Association to find out if you were charged more than your state’s limit:

National Notary Association State Maximum Fees

Types of Notary Services

The chart in the link above divides notary services into several categories. If you’ve had a document notarized, it most likely required an “acknowledgment.”

An acknowledgment involves the signer (you) verifying your identity to the notary and affirming that you signed the document willingly.

The following documents often require acknowledgments:

  • Mortgage agreements
  • Loan agreements
  • Powers of attorney
  • Deeds of trust
  • Rental agreements
  • Contracts

A “jurat” is another type of notary service that involves the signer (you) verbally swearing or affirming that the contents of a document are true. Jurats are often used for affidavits and depositions.

If you’ve paid more for any of these services than the amount listed next to your state in the chart above, you may have been charged an illegal fee.

How Can a Lawsuit Help?

A class action lawsuit, if successful, could help people get back money for illegal overcharges. It could also stop companies and other entities from charging excessive notary fees in the future.

What You Can Do

If you believe you’ve been overcharged for notary services, fill out the form on this page. An attorney may contact you directly to tell you more about how you can help file a class action.

Remember, it doesn’t cost anything to contact us or speak with the attorneys we work with. Plus, you’re never obligated to take legal action if you don’t want to.

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