How much does a notary cost? Complete fee guide

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Notaries are legal professionals who authenticate documents for use abroad.

While their role is clearly defined, the fees they charge can feel inconsistent, especially if it’s your first time using notarial services.

We understand that transparent pricing can help you budget effectively. Therefore, in this post, we will answer the question of how much a notary costs, covering notary fees in the UK, and how to find a reliable notary.

Quick answer – How much does a notary cost?

For services provided as a Commissioner for Oaths, the statutory fees of £5.00 for witnessing a declaration, affirmation, or affidavit, and £2.00 per exhibit apply.

However, for other professional services, the cost of notarial services varies widely because each notary sets their own fees. Based on our assessment of the prevailing market rates, expect to pay between £60 and £250, depending on the office, document type, and mode of notarisation.

What are notary fees?

A notary fee is the cost of securing the legal services of a notary public for the authentication, witnessing, and certification of documents.

The notary ensures or verifies that the document is/was executed lawfully. The process typically includes:

Verifying your identity
Verifying your identity
Verifying the document’s authenticity
Ensuring the document is compliant with international standards

Factors that affect notary costs in the UK

Generally, the fees for notarial services in the UK depend on the following factors:

Personal or business documents: Complex business/corporate documents (e.g., a Business LPA) often cost more to notarise because they require verifying the signatory authority, Companies House Records, etc.
Document length: A simple one-pager will typically cost less to notarise than elaborate multi-page documents, e.g., a 40-page shareholders’ agreement.
Location: Notaries based in cities with higher costs of living tend to charge more. London prices, for instance, tend to be higher.
Urgency: If you want expedited services, you’ll typically pay a premium.

Comparison of personal and business documents affecting notary costs

Average costs for standard notarial services

While notary fees in the UK can vary widely depending on location, urgency, and document complexity, there are standard price ranges considered reasonable within the industry.

Below are the typical costs for notarial services involving some standard documents:

ID or passport copy certification (first page only): £60 – £90
Power of attorney: £150 – £200
Name change or deed poll: £120 – £160
Educational certificates: £130 – £180
Corporate certificate of good standing: £140 – £250

Additional fees you might encounter

You may encounter additional fees for the following services:

Travel fees if the notary travels to you, e.g., £25 per mile
Courier fees for secure delivery of documents
If you require an apostille certificate, a £45 fee is paid to the FCDO
Consular fees if you need embassy attestation in addition to the FCDO apostille

London notary public fees vs. regional pricing differences

London is a high-cost-of-living city. Therefore, prices for professional services, including notarial services, are generally higher than the national average.

While notaries in other regions may charge as low as £60 per document, expect prices in London to start from around £90 per document, with some experienced notaries charging over £250 per document.

However, you aren’t just paying for the high living and operational costs in London. London notaries may charge more because:

They are generally more experienced with complex international requirements.
It’s convenient to conduct international business in London, as many multinationals are headquartered in the city.
If you require facilitation for document legalisation, London guarantees a faster turnaround, as it hosts the FCDO and foreign embassies.

Impact of London cost of living on notary service pricing

How to find affordable notary services

You can notarise your personal and business documents affordably. You’ll need to find notaries with fair and transparent pricing, often a full fee for the first document and a marginal fee for each additional document.

At London Apostille Services Ltd, we help individuals legalise their documents for use abroad, and one of the prerequisite steps is often document certification or notarisation.

Therefore, we have a reliable network of notaries in London that we frequently work with. You can leverage the vetted notaries in our network to get your documents notarised affordably.

Further, if you intend to use your documents outside of the UK, we can help you:

Certify documents with the help of notaries or solicitors
Prepare and submit your documents to the FCDO for an apostille
Facilitate embassy attestation if your destination country requires it

We offer an expedited apostille service that can have your documents apostilled by the next working day.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about notary services fees.

Can you get documents notarised for free?

It’s unlikely you’ll get a document notarised for free in the UK, as notaries aren’t civil servants. Besides operational costs, they also have to cover regulatory costs and insurance premiums.

Is there VAT included in notary fees?

Large firms and partnerships, as well as sole practitioners with turnovers above £90,000, will almost always include VAT in the fees.

Do notaries charge per document or per appointment?

Notaries use both pricing models. If you are an individual client, “per document” pricing is common. For corporate clients, a “per appointment” pricing model or hourly rates will likely apply.

Can I negotiate the notary public fee?

Notaries set their own prices, and some may be willing to negotiate prices if you are a business or returning client. You’ll have more leverage if you’re a frequent user of notarial services.

Get a transparent quote from us

You don’t have to guess how much notarial services will cost when you work with the notaries within our network.

We’ll give you an all-inclusive quote. Generally, the notary fees per document will be quoted as follows:

In-person notarisation
- Personal documents from £136
- Business documents from £156
Mobile notary services
- Starting from £136
- + Travel fees: £25 per mile
Remote video notarisation
- Starting from £156
E-notarisations
- Starting from £136
Notarisation and apostille service
- Starting from £210
Courier or postage charges
- DHL UK from £20
- Royal Mail from £12

The “notarisation and apostille service” fee includes our fees, the notary fees, VAT and the FCDO fees.

Contact us today to connect with our vetted network of London notaries and get your documents ready for domestic and international use.