We, the undersigned Notaries Public and residents of the State of New York, respectfully petition the Legislature to amend Executive Law § 136 to raise the statutory maximum fee that a Notary Public may charge for performing a notarial act.

New York currently limits notarial fees to two dollars ($2.00) per acknowledgment or oath. This amount is outdated and does not reflect today’s economic realities. The fee does not account for inflation, administrative expenses, compliance obligations, identity verification responsibilities, recordkeeping requirements, continuing education, supplies, or liability exposure.

Notaries serve a critical role in fraud prevention. We verify identity, administer oaths, and protect the integrity of legal, financial, and real estate transactions. In a time of increased identity theft, deed fraud, elder exploitation, and digital document abuse, the responsibility placed upon notaries has grown significantly. The compensation, however, has not.

New York is one of the lowest-paying states in the country for notarial services. Many states allow $10, $15, or even more per notarial act. Some states permit up to $25. Yet New York, the financial capital of the world and one of the most expensive states in which to live and operate a business, continues to cap fees at $2.00. This discrepancy does not make economic or policy sense.

As a global center of commerce, banking, real estate, and international transactions, New York relies heavily on notarized documents. It is unreasonable that the state with one of the highest costs of living maintains one of the lowest statutory notary fees in the nation.

We respectfully request that the Legislature:

Increase the maximum fee for traditional in-person notarial acts to at least $10 per act, aligning New York with national norms.
Include a mechanism for periodic adjustments tied to inflation to prevent future stagnation.
Modernize statutory language to reflect remote notarization and evolving compliance standards.
Maintain transparency requirements so consumers clearly understand fees in advance.
Updating the notary fee structure will:

• Support professional standards
• Strengthen fraud prevention
• Encourage qualified individuals to remain active notaries
• Align New York with other states
• Reflect the true value of notarial services

New York should not remain at the bottom of the nation in compensating an essential public function. We urge the Legislature to take prompt action to modernize Executive Law § 136.