Does anyone make a living being a notary public?

Is anyone making a living from being a notary public, someone asked on Yahoo Answers. He'd heard people can make $50,000-$100,000 doing this.

That would probably be a surprise to most of you!

I'd guess the majority of notaries have a tough time recouping their costs for application, seal and insurance. State limits on fees are usually low.

Six or seven years ago I had a notary friend making $50,000 a year. He was doing mortgage loan signings.Besides his notary charge-per-signature, he was paid to make sure the docs got signed correctly. (In some states, such as South Carolina, notaries are not permitted to do this.) Since the mortgage collapse following 2006, this kind of volume is not possible.

Notaries may be able to perform marriages (as in Florida and Maine) or issue marriage licenses (California if specially trained; some notaries then offer to do the service in a non-notary role). Proctoring traffic school exams is another way to use the commission.

If a notary dusts the commission and waits for the public to come, it's likely to be a lonely job. Knowing how to market what you offer will bring better results.

But being a notary public is at best a second job right now.




~ ~ ~
Nebraska--The spring 2011 Notary Bulletin is out. The Secretary of State reminds that a notary public's signature must be consistent and that Nebraska notaries are not required to join a notary associaton.


--brought to you by 12 Tips to Make More Money as a Notary Public. Probably tax deductible as business expense--ask your accountant. Available for just 99 cents from Kindle or Nook. Or instant PDF download


Image courtesy of Michal Marcol

If you want to perform weddings ...

A few states, such as Maine, authorize notaries public to do weddings.

In California, a notary with special training from a county clerk can issue confidential marriage licenses but is not authorized to solemnize marriages.

Some notaries there are going the next step performing the ceremony not as a notary but as a minister.

If you'd like to try, check with the country clerk and make sure this won't be seen as a conflict of interest. (The clerk's office probably does both--issuing licenses and performing the ceremony--but it's better to ask up front about you doing the same.)

The second step for a California notary public will be qualifying as a minister. Family Code 400(a) reads "Marriages may be solemnized by any of the following who is of 18 years or older ... a minister ... of any religious denomination." This isn't as hard as it sounds.

The Monastery (Universal Life Church) will make you a minister online for free in seconds. You can print out your credential. (If anyone requires more documentation, the Monastery will supply that for a fee. A Letter of Good Standing, for example, costs $18.)

They claim if you get static from the local clerk's office, they will provide legal counsel: "Legal Counsel is available to all ULC Monastery Ministers experiencing problems with registration." (Doesn't say anything about being free though!)

I don't get any kickbacks if you use them. I have tried their online system and it works easily. It's the quickest, least expensive way I know to get the credential to perform weddings so am passing it along in case you need this.

Update: 4-22-11: In Armenia, notaries perform weddings. Rampant overcharging for these services (one might call it "bribes") has the Prime Minister promising to crack down.

Lots more tips available in 12 Tips to Make More Money as a Notary Public

99 cents (probably tax deductible as business expense--ask your accountant)
Available for
Kindle or Nook or as an instant PDF download:


Image courtesy of Sharron Goodyear