UPDATE: Assembly Bill A03360 and Senate Bill S06268 has been reintroduced for this Legislative session. We need as much involvement as possible to get the Notary Fee raised from $2 to $5. Please sign the petition and visit the New York Notary Alliance Legislation Page for additional ways you can get involved. 

At New York Notary Alliance we strongly advocating for the passing of this bill. Notaries in New York have not had a fee increase since 1991. 

Many notarial acts occur at the convenience of the signer, such as nights and weekends when the typical "free" notary is unavailable.

Maintaining and keeping a journal, a needed addition, is more work and responsibility for a notary.

Notaries face full and unlimited liability whether the error is intentional or inadvertent.

Many notaries waive their fees entirely for charitable organizations, military members, the elderly, impoverished at their discretion as a public service.

If notaries are essential to society, keeping in mind we are there for many milestones such as starting a business, getting married, getting divorced, adoption, etc., shouldn't the pay reflect that?

The importance of the work we do is trivialized by a $2 fee.

Here are ten reasons why the notary fee in New York should be raised:

Inflation and Cost of Living: The current fee of $2 was established in 1991. Since then, inflation and the cost of living have risen significantly, but the notary fee has not adjusted accordingly.
Unchanged Fee, Increased Expenses: Notaries incur expenses for their licenses, renewal fees, exam fees, supplies, and potential liability insurance. These costs have risen while the fee they can charge has stayed stagnant.
Value of Notary Services: Notaries provide an essential service by deterring fraud and ensuring the proper execution of legal documents. Their role deserves fair compensation.
Alignment with Other States: Many states have notary fees higher than New York's current $2. Raising the fee would bring New York in line with more typical standards.
Recognizing Professionalism: Many notaries attend trainings, conferences and purchase study materials for continuing education. A higher fee would acknowledge their knowledge and expertise.
Deterring Undercutting: A low fee can lead to notaries undercutting each other, potentially compromising the quality and professionalism of their services.
Supporting Notary Sustainability: A higher fee would enable notaries to invest in updated technology (important for remote online notarization), continuing education, and better serve clients.
Attracting Qualified Individuals: Raising the fee might encourage more qualified individuals to pursue becoming notaries, benefiting the public.
Potential for Increased State Revenue: Even a modest increase to $5 could result in additional revenue for the state from licensing and renewal fees.
Fair Compensation for Essential Service: Notaries dedicate their time and expertise to serve their communities, and they deserve to be fairly compensated for their crucial role.

If you believe that New York Notaries are entitled to a pay raise, then please sign this petition and share it. Let the community's voice be heard. If you want to further get involved in the advocacy campaign for the passage of this bill, please visit New York Notary Legislation (nynotaryalliance.com)