1. The notarial fee is not always the entire appointment price
Illinois law currently sets maximum fees for the official notarial act: up to $5 for a non-electronic act and up to $25 for an electronic act, subject to the statute’s provisions. Illinois also requires an itemized receipt and requires the notarial fee to be shown separately from other charges.
A mobile appointment may include a disclosed travel or service charge. Asking for itemized pricing makes it easier to understand what applies to the notarial act and what applies to the broader appointment.
2. The notary does not automatically choose the certificate
Documents may call for an acknowledgment, jurat, verification, signature witnessing, or another authorized act. Choosing the legally appropriate act can be a legal determination. Texas expressly says a non-attorney notary may not select a notarial certificate for a customer.
When the document does not say what is required, the signer can seek direction from the document recipient, issuing agency, document preparer, or legal counsel.
3. A commission is not a license to practice law
A non-attorney notary can explain the appointment process and perform authorized acts. The notary should not draft legal documents, interpret their legal effect, tell a signer which estate-planning form to use, or decide what legal provisions a document should contain.
Barnes Notaries works with documents that have already been prepared and does not provide legal advice or select legal documents for customers.
What to confirm before the appointment
A short preparation conversation can prevent delays without requiring you to send sensitive information.
- The general document type and number of signers
- Whether the document already contains notarial wording
- Whether witnesses are required and who will provide them
- The signer’s location and whether the appointment is mobile or online
- Identification requirements and an itemized estimate of charges
Official references