Notary Services contract template
Notaries can't use a typical service contract to change what a notarization legally is — state law, not agreement, governs the notarial act itself. What you can set by agreement is the business relationship around it: your fee structure, appointment logistics, and the professional boundaries a client should expect. Use this as an engagement/fee agreement, not a notarial certificate.
Scope of service
State that you provide notarial acts (acknowledgments, jurats, oaths) and, if certified, loan-signing coordination — and that you do not draft, explain the legal effect of, or give advice about the documents themselves.
Fees and travel
Separate the state-capped notarial fee (cite your state's per-signature/seal maximum) from the uncapped travel fee, and state any rush, after-hours, or scan-back charges up front before the appointment is confirmed.
Personal appearance and ID requirement
Every signer must personally appear before you at the time of notarization and present satisfactory, unexpired photo ID — state that appointments cannot proceed without this, no exceptions, since it's a legal requirement you cannot waive.
Impartiality and refusal rights
Disclose that as a commissioned notary you must remain a neutral, disinterested witness — you cannot notarize for immediate family, a transaction you have a financial interest in, or a signer who appears unwilling, confused, or under duress, and you reserve the right to refuse service in those cases even after arriving.
Scheduling and cancellation policy
State your appointment window, notice required to reschedule, and whether a no-show or late cancellation still incurs a trip/travel fee since travel time was already committed.
Document handling and confidentiality
Note how signed originals and copies are handled (e.g. returned directly to the signer or a specified third party) and that you keep only what your state's recordkeeping law requires (typically a notary journal entry, not copies of the documents).
No legal advice disclaimer
State plainly that you are not an attorney, cannot explain what a document means or recommend how to fill it out, and that signers should consult an attorney for legal questions before the appointment.
Payment terms
Specify when payment is due (typically at the appointment) and accepted methods; loan-signing fees are often paid by the signing/title company instead of the borrower, so note who is responsible for payment on that appointment type.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Consider having a local attorney review your final agreement.