A.) It’s a professional service– A notary public like Greensboro Mobile Notary is a licensed official who provides a legal service, verifying identities and ensuring documents are properly executed. Like any other professional (lawyer, accountant, etc.), their time and expertise have value.
They incur costs
- Notaries have to pay for:
- Licensing and training
- Bonding and insurance
- Supplies (e.g. stamps, journals)
- Travel (if mobile)
- Doing it for free means they absorb all those costs without compensation.
C. Legal and liability risks - When a notary stamps a document, they take on legal responsibility. If something goes wrong (e.g. fraud, improper notarization), they can be sued or penalized.
- Offering this for free means they’re assuming that risk with no return.
D. It’s often against regulations - In some states or countries, notaries must charge set fees or are not allowed to waive fees except under specific circumstances (e.g. for low-income individuals).
- Doing it for free could potentially violate local notary laws or create ethical issues.
E. Undervalues the profession - If notaries work for free, it may set a precedent that undermines the value of the service and hurts the profession overall.
When might a notary do it for free? - For family or close friends, as a personal favor
- As part of volunteer work or community service
- If working in a company where notarization is offered as a free employee benefit
- In special circumstances, like notarizing documents for a nonprofit or emergency situation
Bottom line:– Don’t assume a notary should or will do it for free. Respect the professional nature of the service and offer to pay the standard fee—even if it seems like a small gesture, it acknowledges their time, risk, and expertise.
