How much does a mobile notary cost in Illinois?

Two separate charges: the notary fee and the travel fee

A mobile notary bill has two parts, and Illinois treats them differently. The first is the notary fee for each notarial act, such as an acknowledgment or a jurat. Under the Illinois Notary Public Act, 5 ILCS 312/3-104, that fee can't be more than $5 per act for a traditional, in-person notarization.

The second part is the travel and service fee for driving to you, waiting, and working at your kitchen table or bedside. The statute doesn't set that fee. What it does require is an itemized receipt, with the notarial fees shown separately from every other charge. I agree my travel and service fee with you before I leave, so there are no surprises.

So when you see a mobile notary advertise a "$150 notary fee," that's not accurate. The notary part is $5 per act. The rest is travel and service.

My mobile notary prices

Every visit is the travel and service fee plus $5 per notarized signature.

Worked examples

Here's how the math works on real visits.

• Three signatures at home. A couple in Oak Lawn signs a vehicle title and two affidavits at their kitchen table: $120 travel and service + 3 × $5 = $135.
• Two signatures in a hospital. A patient at Advocate Christ Medical Center signs a power of attorney for property and a health care POA, both notarized: $145 + 2 × $5 = $155.
• One signature at a nursing home. A resident signs one bank form: $145 + $5 = $150.
• Four signers on one deed, at an office. Each signer's signature is a separate notarial act: $145 + 4 × $5 = $165.
• A long drive. For trips to places like Aurora, DeKalb or far Will County, added mileage may apply. I quote it before I leave.

Why facility visits cost more than home visits

Hospitals, jails and nursing homes take longer. There's parking, check-in at the front desk, finding the unit, waiting for a nurse or a guard, and sometimes waiting for the patient to be ready. A jail visit can take much longer than the signing itself. The $25 difference covers that time.

If you're comparing quotes, ask each notary for the total for your exact visit, including every signature. A low base price with extras added at the door isn't a deal.

What's included in the travel and service fee

Driving to you anywhere in my regular area, from the southwest suburbs to downtown Chicago and north to O'Hare. A reasonable amount of waiting at a hospital or facility. Checking ID, recording each act in my notary journal, and completing each certificate.

It doesn't include legal advice, filling in documents, or choosing forms. No Illinois notary can provide those. For loan signings, ask about printing when you book. My same-day mobile notary visits use the same prices, 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Red flags when hiring a mobile notary in Illinois

• A "notary fee" of more than $5 per signature. The cap is set by law.
• No written or itemized receipt, or one that lumps everything into a single "notary fee."
• Offers to fill in your documents, pick your forms or explain your legal options. That's the practice of law; see what a notary can and cannot do.
• Anyone advertising as a "notario." Illinois law bars non-attorney notaries from using the term (5 ILCS 312/3-103).
• Willingness to notarize without the signer present, or with a family member answering for them.
• A total that changes after arrival with no reason you agreed to.

How to get an accurate mobile notary quote

When you call, I'll ask a few quick questions so the price I give you is the price you pay.

1. Where is the signing?A home, or a hospital, nursing home, jail, funeral home, office or hotel. The address or facility name tells me the base fee and whether any mileage applies.
2. What are you signing?The type of document, such as a power of attorney, vehicle title, affidavit or deed. I don't need to read it, but it helps me plan.
3. How many signatures need notarizing?Count every signer and every notarized signature. Two people signing one deed is two notarial acts.
4. Are witnesses needed, and are they arranged?Some documents need witnesses in addition to a notary. I don't supply them.
5. When do you need it?Same-day, evening or weekend. My prices are the same any day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

What if the signing can't be completed?

Sometimes I arrive and the signing can't happen: the ID is expired, the document is missing pages, a witness didn't show, or a patient is too drowsy to talk with me. When that happens after I've traveled, the travel and service fee may still apply, because the trip and the time were real. You don't pay the $5 notary fee for acts that didn't happen.

If plans change before I leave, call as early as you can. Most failed visits are preventable with a five-minute call beforehand, so I'd much rather answer questions up front. My hospital notary visits and loan signings follow the same rule.

How to keep the cost down

Book one visit for everyone who needs to sign. Each signature is only $5 once I'm there, so a second document or a second signer is cheap compared with a second trip.

Have every signer's current photo ID ready, finish the documents before I arrive, and line up any witnesses. A visit that can't be completed costs you the travel fee and a second appointment. Questions about a quote? See my full pricing page or call (708) 787-8868.

Questions people ask

Sources

1. 5 ILCS 312/3-104, Illinois notary maximum fee and itemized receipts
2. Public Act 104-0083 (effective January 1, 2026)
3. 5 ILCS 312/3-103, Foreign language advertising and "notario"

Written by Alex G Koch, Illinois notary public (commission no. 1040610, verify with the Illinois Secretary of State). This guide is general information, not legal advice.

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