Page Summary
- A mobile notary bill usually has two parts: the notarial fee for the notarizations themselves and a separate travel or service fee for coming to you.
- For in-person notarizations, Tennessee law (T.C.A. 8-21-1201) allows “reasonable fees” rather than a fixed per-signature amount, while online notarizations are capped at $25 each (T.C.A. 8-16-311).
- Travel fees are not capped by statute and depend on distance, timing, the setting (such as a hospital) and how involved the signing is. The market ranges on this page are general, not our prices.
- Priority Mobile Notary Services, based in Hixson, does not publish set prices. Call Karen at (423) 401-8316 with your document, number of signers, location and deadline for an exact quote before you book.
The short answer: two charges, one quote
When you hire a mobile notary, the bill usually has two parts. The notarial fee pays for the notarizations themselves. The travel or service fee pays for the notary coming to you. Tennessee law sets the rules for the first part. The second part is set by each mobile notary, based on distance, timing and how involved the signing is.
Priority Mobile Notary Services does not publish set prices. Karen McCormick quotes each appointment from its details. Tell her what you are signing and where, and she will give you the full amount before you book.
What Tennessee law actually says about notary fees
A lot of confusion comes from outdated fee charts. Here is what the current rules say:
- In-person notarizations: Under T.C.A. § 8-21-1201, a notary public or the notary’s employer may charge “reasonable fees and compensation” for the notary’s services. The statute does not set a flat per-signature dollar amount. The University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service summarizes it the same way.
- Record-keeping when a fee is charged: The same section says a notary who charges a fee must keep a record of each notarial act, either electronically or in a well-bound book. Expect your name, the document type and your ID details to be written down. That is a legal requirement, not an upsell.
- Online notarizations (RON): T.C.A. § 8-16-311 lets a Tennessee online notary charge up to $25 for each online notarization, in addition to any other fees the chapter authorizes. The Tennessee Secretary of State explains this in its notary FAQ.
- Travel fees: No Tennessee statute sets a dollar limit on what a mobile notary charges to travel. That is why travel fees vary so much from one provider to the next, and why you should ask for the travel portion in writing or by text before the appointment.
If a website says Tennessee caps notary fees at a specific dollar amount per signature, check its date and source. Several fee charts online still show figures that do not match the current “reasonable fees” language.
General market ranges (not our prices)
People search for “how much does a mobile notary cost” because they want a ballpark. The ranges below are general, national observations taken from how mobile notaries commonly advertise. They are not Priority Mobile Notary Services’ rates. Real quotes can fall outside them, especially for after-hours, rural or complicated signings.
| What you are paying for | What is typical in the market (general) | What moves it up or down |
|---|---|---|
| Travel or trip fee for a nearby appointment | Commonly quoted somewhere from roughly $25 to $75 or more | Distance, traffic, evenings and weekends, short-notice requests |
| Longer-distance or rural travel | Often noticeably higher than a local trip | Round-trip drive time and how remote the location is |
| Loan signing package (signing agent) | Frequently a flat fee, often in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars | Page count, printing, number of borrowers, courier return |
| Online notarization in Tennessee | Notarial fee capped at $25 per online notarization by statute | Platform or technology fees charged on top |
Use these ranges to spot a quote that seems way off in either direction. Do not treat them as a price list. The only way to know what your signing will cost is to ask for a quote.
What goes into a mobile notary quote
Two appointments that look alike can be priced very differently. These are the usual reasons:
- How many notarizations. One affidavit with one signer is simpler than three documents with two signers each. Every notarial certificate is its own act.
- Where you are. A kitchen-table signing a few minutes from Hixson takes less time than a drive up Signal Mountain or out toward Dunlap in the Sequatchie Valley.
- When you need it. Evenings, weekends and “can you come in the next hour” requests usually cost more everywhere, because they take a slot that would otherwise go to someone who planned ahead.
- The setting. Hospitals and assisted living facilities can mean parking, check-in, waiting for a nurse or waiting until the signer is alert. See the hospital and bedside signing guide for what those visits involve.
- Printing and paperwork. If documents are emailed to the notary to print, as often happens with loan packages, printing is part of the job. The loan signing service page explains how closing packages are handled.
- Witnesses. Some documents, such as wills, need witnesses as well as a notary. If you need help arranging them, say so when you ask for a quote.
Fees around Chattanooga, Hixson and Harrison
Karen’s office is on Highway 153 in Hixson, and she travels throughout the Chattanooga area. In practice, the biggest local difference between quotes is geography. North Hamilton County communities near the office take the least driving. Places like Harrison and Ooltewah on the east side, or Signal Mountain to the west, take longer to reach. Communities outside Hamilton County take longer still.
The appointment itself does not change with the zip code. The same ID check, the same attention to the notarial certificate and the same journal entry apply whether you are in downtown Chattanooga or at home in Hixson. The quote simply reflects the drive and the time you need.
How to get an accurate quote in one call
Have this ready when you call and you will get a firm number instead of a guess:
- The type of document or documents, for example a power of attorney, an affidavit, a deed or a loan package
- How many people are signing and roughly how many signatures need notarizing
- Whether anything needs an oath (a jurat) or witnesses
- The address, and whether it is a home, office, hospital or care facility
- The day and time you need, and how firm the deadline is
- Whether the documents are already printed or need to be printed
Five ways to keep the cost down
- Bundle. If other family members or co-signers need something notarized, do it all in one visit instead of two trips.
- Book ahead when you can. Short-notice and after-hours slots cost more with most notaries. If the deadline is a week away, schedule now. If it really is today, the same-day booking guide shows how to make it go smoothly.
- Do not pre-sign. A document signed before the notary arrives usually has to be printed again and re-signed, which wastes time.
- Check your ID first. An expired or mismatched ID can end the appointment before it starts, and you may still owe the trip fee.
- Confirm the receiving office’s requirements. Ask the lender, court or agency whether they need a specific certificate wording or original ink signatures. That avoids a second visit.
Mobile notary, bank notary or online notary: which costs less?
If money is the only concern, a bank where you have an account is often cheapest, as long as you can get there during business hours and the bank will take your document. A remote online notarization can also be inexpensive for simple documents, provided the receiving party accepts electronic notarization. Our comparison of mobile notary and RON explains when that works.
A mobile notary makes sense when getting to an office is the real problem: someone in the hospital or assisted living, a signer who cannot drive, several people who need to sign together, or a deadline that will not wait until the bank opens.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a notary charge in Tennessee?
For in-person notarizations, Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 8-21-1201) lets a notary or the notary’s employer charge “reasonable fees” rather than a fixed per-signature amount. For an online notarization, T.C.A. § 8-16-311 caps the fee at $25 per notarization, in addition to other fees the law allows. Travel is a separate charge that mobile notaries set themselves.
Why do some websites say Tennessee caps notary fees at $10 or $15?
Older articles and national fee charts often repeat figures that do not match Tennessee’s current wording. The statute says “reasonable fees,” so check the date and source of any fee chart you read before relying on it.
Is the travel fee part of the notary fee?
No. The notary fee covers the notarial act itself: checking ID, watching you sign or taking your oath, and completing the certificate. A travel or trip fee pays for the drive, the time and the scheduling. Ask for both parts when you get a quote.
Does Priority Mobile Notary Services publish a price list?
No. Every appointment is quoted on its own details, such as the documents, the number of signers and notarizations, where you are and when you need it. Call (423) 401-8316 and you will get the total before you book.
Is a bank notary cheaper than a mobile notary?
Often, yes. Many banks notarize for their own customers at little or no cost. You still have to go there during business hours, and some branches will not handle certain documents. A mobile notary costs more because the notary comes to you.
Ready to set up a signing? Call Karen at (423) 401-8316 or send the details through the contact page, and she will tell you what she can do and what it will cost before anything is booked.
Priority Mobile Notary Services
Karen McCormick is a Tennessee Notary Public, bonded and insured through the National Notary Association, serving Hixson, Chattanooga and the surrounding communities. This page is general information, not legal advice. Call (423) 401-8316 or email prioritymobilenotaryservices@gmail.com.
