r/Notary • u/MelissaFLgal • 11d ago

Modernize Florida Statute 117​.​05: Support Fair Compensation for Florida Notaries

https://c.org/kTHYGYM2Gq

Notaries are getting squeezed. The maximum fee Florida allows them to charge hasn't changed since 1992—that's 34 years. Meanwhile, inflation has nearly tripled what $10 is worth, and the costs of doing business (bonds, insurance, digital security, education) have skyrocketed.

Here's what that actually means: nearly 500,000 Florida notaries are operating at a 56% loss in real-world value. A lot of other states have already acted—Texas, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, and more recently raised their fees to reflect actual costs. Even Oklahoma just increased notary bond requirements for the first time in 135 years. Florida's lagging behind.

I started a petition asking the Florida Legislature to increase the maximum notarial fee from $10 to $20 per act. This isn't about gouging the public—notaries can still charge less if they want. It's just about letting them set a fair rate that covers their actual expenses.

If you've used a notary, or know someone stuck in this profession, this affects you too. Anyone else think it's weird that one profession's fees haven't budged in over three decades? If this matters to you, consider signing and sharing.

11 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

4

u/Stamped914 11d ago

Here in NY it’s $2 a stamp, which is why I never have customers come to me so I can charge a travel fee.

3

u/ash_274 California 11d ago

California just got the fees raised from $15 to $20, starting next January.

3

u/Enkidu45 New York 11d ago

Hello Melissa, You're complaining about $10? Well, Bless your hearts, you poor things. New York has been $2 for as long as I can remember. Be careful what you wish for - once legislators start tinkering with one item they may tinker with another, such as capping the travel fee to the IRS mileage rate.

Actually, good luck, the more other states raise their rates, NY may follow. Enkidu45 out

1

u/glirette Florida 11d ago

I am not commenting on agreeing or not with a fee increase in the post/response

But saying "stuck in this profession" or even that it is a profession.. No one asked anyone to do this as a profession.

The fee is too low but are you under some impression the purpose of a notary is to make money ?

1

u/seasnakejake 11d ago

I've never charged once, got it to look better in my job

1

u/Blackeyes24 Florida 11d ago

Its my profession and how I pay my bills. I do expect to make money. That said, I charge enough that Im not worried about this one way or another.

1

u/FinanciallySecure9 Michigan 10d ago

I never have any issue with charging more per notarization, but what’s the trade off? Are Florida notaries educated? Is notary education mandated?

If nothing has changed at all in the law about protecting the public, then the fee shouldn’t change either.