Posted by TD/CALIF. on 8/24/04 1:39am
Msg #6583

Customary Notary Charges in CA for Adoption Documents

If anyone has any experience with notary charges in the state of California with respect to adoption documents please advise how you calculated the charges.

It is my understanding the Russian government requires more documents than the Chinese government, requiring each page of the 40+ pages to be notarized.
At $10 per signature per page with two signers may seem costly.

Please reply if anyone has had any experience on what to charge if 40 pages have to be signed and notarized. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and valuable input.

Reply by redonthehead on 8/24/04 1:26pm
Msg #6613

I've never done this type of notarization but you'll probably just have to use your conscience on this one. Good Luck!

Reply by Marie/CA on 8/24/04 1:47pm
Msg #6617

Very true! I thought most notaries do this type of work for free. Isn't that the case? I understand there is a website that you can sign up on to do volunteer notary work for adoptions.

Reply by sa on 8/24/04 3:31pm
Msg #6625

Don't do it for free

Don't do adoption notary work for free!

Reasons:
*This is a lot of work on your part and we notaries are having a tougher and tougher time making a living as we deal with market saturation, SS's low fees, and decrease in volume due to rising rates. Don't sell yourself or us short.

*People who are adopting are usually in good financial shape or the adoption wouldn't be approved.

*You will be supporting the child's education and other expenses with your taxes. Don't feel guilty.

*People think notary services are only worth $5 or so. Don't bring the price down to free.

Don't get me wrong - I do tons of volunteer work and do free or deeply discounted notarizations when the people are low income.

I agree with you: I would probably cut them a price break on 40 notarizations at one sitting. I would still charge something respectable. And I would be certain to let them know what the fees would be if I charged per signature or seal. $100 would be a good deal to me and save them at least $100. And you will get a check on the spot!

You might want to get an acknowledgement wording stamp or print out some labels with the wording so you can fit the seal and wording on each page.

Let us know how this goes. I would like to start doing adoption work, too.

Reply by CaliNotary on 8/24/04 4:33pm
Msg #6632

Re: Don't do it for free

Well said. Nobody else involved in an adoption has any qualms about being paid for their services, we shouldn't either. With all of the thousands and thousands of dollars involved, I'd imagine a couple of hundred dollars to a notary would be the least of their concerns.

I wouldn't charge $10 per notarization if 40 were needed at once, I'd probably charge $5 per page ($2.50 per notarization).

Reply by TD/CALIF on 8/24/04 5:18pm
Msg #6635

Re: Don't do it for free

Thank you for your constructive input. I have also found out they require three original copies of 40 documents each requiring a notary stamp/signature. I checked with an agency that assists couples at adopting and they charge the full $10. I agree $10 may be steep. Most adoptions cost between $15,000 to $25,000 and the attorneys and adoption agencies don't feel any remorse about charging a fee for their services. I agree that our services as notaries has a value. This adoption signing may take 2 to 3 hours which is time away from other signings. Thanks again! I will let you know how the signing goes.

Reply by Mary on 1/11/05 12:13am
Msg #16181

Re: Don't do it for free

I'm going to be notarizing some documents for a family that is adopting from the ukraine.
I would be interested in how it is going for you. What docs have you had to notarize so far?

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/25/04 7:47am
Msg #6669

Marie wrote:

"I understand there is a website that you can sign up on to do volunteer notary work for adoptions."

Yes, it is www.Celebrateadoption.com
A lot of people wanting to adopt, are prevented because of the high cost of adoptions, they get help from various organizations, so they can adopt. From their site I believe most of the adoptions are of overseas children.
I am signed up with them to donate notary services free. Any notary can sign up with them, they want notaries who will provide their services free - except for a travel charge for the traveling notary services.
Please check out their website and think about signing up.