State guides
Mobile notary rules by state
Researched and edited by Junaid KhalidUpdated Quick answer
Mobile notary rules by state come down to four things: the commission term, the bond, the course and exam, and the fee cap per act. Pick your state for the full guide, from how to get commissioned to travel fees and journal rules, with every number linked to the statute.
More states are on the way. Until then, the fee table covers 50 states and DC.
How do notary rules differ by state?
Notary rules differ by state in four ways that matter to a mobile notary: how long the commission lasts, whether you need a bond, whether a course and exam come first, and how much you may charge per act. The table compares the 10 states with a full guide.
| State | Term | Bond | Course | Exam | Acknowledgment cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4 years | $10,000 surety bond | Required since January 1, 2026: the Secretary of State's own education course, up to two hours, $20 per attempt, finished before you apply | No separate exam[1] | $10 |
| Florida | 4 years | $7,500 surety bond from a surety company for hire | First-time applicants: at least three hours of interactive or classroom instruction within one year before applying | None[2] | $10 |
| California | 4 years | $15,000 official surety bond | Required: six-hour Secretary of State approved course (three-hour refresher for timely renewals) | Required: written state exam, 70 or more to pass[3] | $15 |
| New York | 4 years | None required | Not required | Required ($15), except attorneys admitted in New York and Unified Court System court clerks[4] | $2 |
| Georgia | 4 years | None required | Required: free GSCCCA course before the first appointment and within 30 days before each renewal | No state exam[5] | $2 |
| Illinois | 4 years | $5,000 surety bond for 4 years | Required: a course from an SOS-certified provider with at least 180 minutes of instruction, for new and renewing notaries | Required: pass the exam at the end of the course, then apply within 2 years[6] | $5 |
| North Carolina | 5 years | None required | Required: an approved course of at least six hours within three months before applying (State Bar members exempt) | Required: written exam, 80% to pass[7] | $10 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 years | $25,000 surety bond | Required: 3-hour preapproved course within six months before every application, no exemptions | Required for new applicants and anyone without a current, unexpired commission[8] | $5 |
| Ohio | 5 years | Not required | Required: 3-hour authorized course within 12 months before applying | Required for non-attorneys[9] | $5 |
| Michigan | See guide | $10,000 surety bond filed with the county clerk (licensed Michigan attorneys are exempt) | Not required | Not required[10] | $10 |
Which states regulate mobile notary travel fees?
Most states cap only the notarial act and say nothing about travel, so the travel fee is yours to set and agree with the signer before you go. Of the states we cover, North Carolina and Ohio and Michigan write travel into the fee law itself: You may charge actual mileage at the federal business mileage rate, and only if the signer agrees in writing before you travel[7]. Ohio law allows a reasonable travel fee on top of the notarial fee, but only if the notary and the signer agree it before the notarial act[11]. Michigan law allows a separate travel fee but sets no dollar cap[12].
Every state guide quotes the exact rule, and the notary fees by state table covers 50 states and DC.
For any notarial act under this Chapter, actual mileage at the federal business mileage rate if the travel reimbursement is agreed to by the principal in writing prior to the travel.[7]
Is there a separate mobile notary license?
No state we cover issues a separate mobile notary license. A mobile notary holds the same notary commission as any other notary and travels to the signer, adding a travel fee where the state allows one. Loan signing agents are also regular notaries, usually with extra training and a background check required by the title or signing companies that hire them, not by the state. The Texas Secretary of State puts it plainly:
The Office does not commission or register signing agents. Accordingly, the Office does not have any information on this profession.[13]
Sources
Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages. We read them on October 1, 2026.
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov. statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Florida Statutes 117.01(4)(i) (grounds for suspension). leg.state.fl.us
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Notary Public. dos.ny.gov
- Fill in the application. gsccca.org
- 5 ILCS 312/2-101.5, Course of study and examination. ilga.gov
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 10B-31, Fees for notarial acts. ncleg.gov
- Get your $25,000 bond and register within 45 days. pa.gov
- Ohio Revised Code 147.03 (term). codes.ohio.gov
- Michigan Department of State, Notary FAQ. michigan.gov
- Ohio Revised Code 147.08. codes.ohio.gov
- MCL 55.285(7), Michigan Law on Notarial Acts. legislature.mi.gov
- Texas Secretary of State, Notary Public FAQs. sos.state.tx.us
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