I got a call a few weeks ago from a gentleman who wanted me to go out and get a deed signed and notarized. I said I could do it and he asked me my fee. I told him it would be $10 for the notarization, plus a travel fee of 50 cents a mile with a minimum of $35. The address I had to go to would have made the travel fee around $50, so it would have been around $60 for me to do it, but I told him until I checked the mileage I couldn't give him an exact fee. He said would $100 cover it, and I told him that would be more than enough. He e-mailed me the information. The signer was an elderly lady who couldn't get out to the bank to get the deed notarized which is why the guy called me. But, before I could contact the lady (I had called and left messages for her to call me so I could set up a time), the guy called me back. Apparently the lady's daughter had shown up and driven her over to the bank where she had the deed notarized. But he wanted to thank me for being willing to go out and do it,and I was the most reasonable notary he had contacted. Others in the area had quoted him from $100 to $150. Seems that they were charging him what they would charge for a loan signing. We cannot do that!
If someone calls me for general notary work, I tell them it is $10 per notarization and a travel fee of 50 cents a mile with a minimum of $35. I get quite a lot of those calls and if I can fit them in with my scheduled signings then I will do them.
As you say, we are Notaries PUBLIC, first and foremost.
The local Pak N Ship store sends me a lot of general notary work too, as they don't have a Notary Public there and they get a lot of walk in customers needing a notary.
I won't turn away general notary work, unless I genuinely can't do it.
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