A traveling notary comes to you. That is the whole proposition, and the reason it exists is that the documents most likely to need a notary are the ones people are least able to leave the house for. A parent in a hospital bed. A closing that moved up. A signer who cannot drive. A business with fourteen employees who all need the same form signed on the same afternoon.
Here is how it works in New York City, what it costs, and when it is the right choice over the alternatives.
What a traveling notary actually is
The terms mobile notary and traveling notary mean the same thing: a commissioned notary public who travels to the signer instead of the signer traveling to them.
The notarial act is identical to one performed behind a bank counter. Same law, same certificate, same legal effect. What changes is location, timing and the fact that somebody arrives prepared for your specific document rather than seeing it for the first time and deciding they would rather not.
That last point matters more than people expect. Bank notaries frequently decline unfamiliar documents, will not travel, serve account holders only, and keep banking hours. None of those constraints apply here.
How New York prices this, and why there are two numbers
This confuses almost everyone, so it is worth being precise.
The notarial act is capped by state law at $2 per signature. That is the fee for the notarization itself, and no notary in New York may charge more for it.
Travel is separate. Driving to Canarsie at eight in the evening is not a notarial act, so it is not covered by that cap. The travel fee is what you are actually paying for.
So a mobile appointment is always quoted as two things: a travel fee based on where you are, plus $2 for each signature notarized.
Our travel tiers
| Area | Travel fee |
|---|---|
| Rockaways (our home base area) | $45 |
| S. Richmond Hill / Jamaica / Ozone Park | $65 |
| Astoria / Flushing / Maspeth & other Queens | $80 |
| Brooklyn | $95 |
| Manhattan / the Bronx / Staten Island | $135 |
| Nassau County | $150 |
| Suffolk County | $200 |
Add $5 for weekend or holiday appointments, $30–$60 for evening appointments (6:30pm–9:29pm or later), and $100 for a rush appointment needed within 3 hours — all added automatically based on what you book. See the exact zip-based calculator on our mobile notary page.
Worked examples. One signature in the Rockaways is $45 plus $2, so $47. Three signatures in the Rockaways is $45 plus $6, so $51. One signature in Jamaica is $67. Two signatures in Manhattan on a Saturday is $135 plus $5 plus $4, so $144.
The travel tier is confirmed before we depart, and the two fees are billed separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Where we go
Homes and apartments. Offices and job sites. Hospitals, rehabilitation and nursing facilities. Correctional facilities. Hotels. Airports. Coffee shops and libraries when a neutral location is easier.
Hospital and facility signings are worth a note of their own. They are frequently urgent, often involve a signer who is unwell, and sometimes involve family who disagree. A notary must be satisfied that the signer understands the document and is acting willingly, and can decline if not. That is not obstruction. It is the safeguard that makes the document hold up later, and it is far easier to assess in a room than over a video call.
When mobile beats online
Online notarization is cheaper and faster for most documents, so this is a real question rather than a sales pitch.
Estate documents. We sign wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies and DNR consents in person, on paper. New York State Technology Law § 307 lists these among documents excluded from electronic signature, so we take the cautious route. See the explanation.
Anything needing witnesses. Two witnesses around a table is simpler than two witnesses on a call, and we coordinate them.
Capacity or pressure concerns. Being in the room tells you things a screen does not, including who else is present.
Technology barriers. Remote sessions need a working camera, a stable connection and passing an identity quiz. For some signers that is a genuine obstacle rather than an inconvenience.
Recipients who will not accept remote notarization. Some banks, courts and foreign consulates decline it regardless of what the law permits.
For everything else, online is usually the better answer, and we will tell you so.
What to have ready
- Valid, unexpired, government issued photo identification for every signer
- The complete document, unsigned
- Any witnesses, if you are supplying your own
- The correct notarial wording already on the document, or knowledge of which certificate the receiving party wants
Do not sign in advance. The notary has to witness the signature or administer the oath as you sign. A document signed at the kitchen table an hour earlier cannot be properly notarized, and it is the most common reason an appointment is wasted.
Check the identification date. An expired ID cannot be accepted under any circumstances, and it is the second most common reason.
Acknowledgment or jurat
Two certificates, different jobs, and using the wrong one is a substantive defect rather than a formatting quibble.
An acknowledgment confirms that you signed the document voluntarily. A jurat confirms that you swore the contents are true, and it is what affidavits require.
A notary cannot choose for you, because selecting the certificate is a legal decision. If you are unsure, ask the party receiving the document which they need. It takes one question and prevents a rejected filing.
Bulk and recurring work
Onboarding sessions, benefits enrollment, closing packages, and recurring programs are scheduled rather than booked one at a time, and priced per visit rather than per signer. If you have a group signing the same form, one appointment covers all of them and the $2 per signature applies to each.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mobile notary cost in NYC?
A travel fee from $45 to $200 depending on your exact zip code, plus $2 per signature set by state law, plus any evening, weekend, or rush surcharge.
Can you come tonight?
Often yes. Evening and weekend appointments are available, with a surcharge after 6:30pm.
Do you come to hospitals?
Yes, across all five boroughs, including nursing and rehabilitation facilities.
Can you bring witnesses?
Yes, with notice. Tell us when booking rather than on arrival.
Is the travel fee refundable if we cancel?
Once travel has begun, the travel fee is earned. Cancel before we depart and there is no charge.
Do you notarize documents you have not seen?
We notarize signatures, not contents. What we will not do is proceed where the signer does not understand the document or is not acting freely.
When the signer cannot physically sign
This comes up on hospital and nursing home visits more than anywhere else, and it is worth knowing before the appointment rather than discovering it at the bedside.
A signer who cannot write may be able to sign by mark, typically an X, with the notary noting the circumstances and additional witnesses present. A signer who cannot sign at all may be able to direct another person to sign on their behalf, in their presence and at their express direction, again with the circumstances documented.
Both routes have requirements, and whether they are appropriate depends on the document and on what the receiving institution will accept. Tell us the situation when you book so we arrive prepared and with the right number of people in the room.
What no procedure can substitute for is capacity. If the signer does not understand what they are signing, or is not acting freely, the notarization does not happen. That is not a judgement about anyone. It is the reason the document will still be standing when a bank or a court examines it later, which is the only test that matters.
Bring the document complete
Blank spaces are a problem. A notary should not notarize a document with blanks in it, because what gets filled in afterwards is not what was witnessed. Complete every field, leave only the signature line, and if a section genuinely does not apply, write N/A rather than leaving it empty.
Related reading
- Mobile notary service and full pricing
- Online notarization vs in person
- How much a notary costs in NYC
- Areas we serve
- All notary services
This is general information, not legal advice. A notary public cannot select a document or certificate for you, or explain a document’s legal effect.
See also: mobile notary vs online notary