Work From Home as a Notary Public

What is A Notary Public?

A Notary Public is someone who is appointed by their state government to be an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. These documents could include property transfers, wills, trusts, and any document that needs a witness to the signing. The notary confirms the identity of the person signing the document and insures that the person is signing of their own free will and are not under duress.

How Do You Become A Notary?

The requirements for becoming a Notary Public vary from state to state. For instance, California requires completion of a course, passing a test, fingerprints and a picture. New Mexico is not as stringent, only requiring that you purchase an official seal stamp and a bond. To find about the requirements for your state you should check with your state’s Secretary of State office. You could also check www.nationalnotary.org and www.notaryofamerica.com (Not affiliate links) Both sites sell notary training and supplies, as well as provide information on state requirements for notaries in all 50 states.

Once you have been appointed by the state you are free to offer your services to the public. Many notaries work from home and have their clients come to them for signing. But many notaries offer a mobile notary service and come to their client’s place of business to provide notary services.

How Much Can You Charge As A Notary Public?

How much a notary can charge is set by the state. The amount a notary can charge for a single page signing vaires widley from state to state. It can be as low as $1 (Minnesota),or as high as $10. (California and Florida. There are some states that do not have a maximum fee, but those states do require that the notary fee be reasonable. Puny.org has a chart showing the maximum a notary can charge for a one page document. Regulations can change at any time to see what the current fees are in your state.

Although the state allowed fees may be low, notaries are allowed to charge for other services they may provide. These could include travel, supplies, and proofreading of the document.

How Do Notary Publics Find Clients?

As a notary as with many occupations, finding clients when you are just starting out can be difficult. It may be a more difficult than usual for notaries because there are banks and such that will provide free notary services to their clients. However, when looking for your first clients think of professionals that frequently need notaries and offer your services. Real Estate agents and title companies are frequently in need of notaries. Also contact attorneys who practice family law. Many legal documents require notarized signatures.

Can You Earn a Full Time Income as a Notary Public?

I think it would be difficult to provide a full time income only providing notary services. However, it is relatively quick and inexpensive to become a notary, and it works well as an add-on service to other service occupations.

Do you work from home as a notary public? As you able to achieve a full time living providing notary services? Let me know in the comments!

~Kat~