The honest answer is: less than most people expect for the notary stamp itself, plus a travel fee for the convenience of not having to go anywhere. Here’s exactly how it breaks down in San Diego County.
The state-set notary fee
California law caps what a notary can charge per signature notarized — not per document, and not per visit. As of 2026 that maximum is $15 for each signature on a standard notarial act (an acknowledgment or a jurat).
So if you have one document that needs one notarized signature, the notarization itself is up to $15. A document that needs two people to sign is up to $30, and so on. This cap is the same whether you go to a bank, a shipping store, or have a notary come to you — it’s set by the state, not the notary.
Note: a bill was introduced in early 2026 to raise this to $20 per signature. Until it becomes law, $15 is the ceiling. Kristin will always tell you the exact figure before anything is signed.
The mobile (travel) fee
Here’s the part that’s different for a mobile notary: because Kristin travels to your home, office, hospital, or escrow office, there’s a travel fee on top of the per-signature charge. In California this travel fee is set by agreement between you and the notary — it isn’t capped like the signature fee — so the right way to handle it is simple: you get the number up front, before anyone drives anywhere.
What affects the travel fee:
- Where you are in the county and how far that is from La Mesa
- When you need it — a standard daytime appointment costs less than a late-night or same-day rush
- How many signers and documents are involved
There are no games here. You’ll hear one all-in number, agree to it, and that’s what you pay.
Loan and real estate signings are usually a flat fee
If you’re signing a full loan package — a purchase, refinance, HELOC, or reverse mortgage — that’s not billed per signature. A certified loan signing agent is typically paid a single flat fee for the whole appointment, and in most transactions that fee is arranged through the escrow or title company, not paid by you directly at the table. If you’re a homeowner or borrower, ask your escrow officer — often it’s already built into your closing costs.
So what will it actually cost me?
- A single notarized signature at your location: the $15 (max) signature fee + an agreed travel fee.
- A few documents at one visit: $15 per signature notarized + one travel fee (you don’t pay travel per document).
- A full loan signing: usually a flat fee, frequently handled through escrow.
The fastest way to a real number is a 60-second phone call. Tell Kristin what you’re signing and where you are, and you’ll get an exact, all-in quote — no obligation.
A word on “cheap” notaries
The point of hiring a professional isn’t to shave five dollars off a stamp. It’s that the document is done right the first time — correct wording, correct ID check, nothing that gets rejected by the county recorder, the bank, or escrow. A rejected notarization can cost you days and a second trip. For loan packages especially, an error can blow a closing date. That reliability is the whole value, and it’s why hundreds of San Diego agents and escrow officers call Kristin first.
Have a document ready? See what to bring to your appointment, or just call and Kristin will walk you through it.