For 2025, if you’re under your full retirement age, you can earn up to $23,400 before your Social Security benefits are affected. If you earn more than that, Social Security will deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no limit to how much you can earn and still receive your full benefits.
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html
I have never been charged by a notary. A friend is a notary. My bank has an employee who is a notary and notarizes stuff for customers. My lawyer has a notary. My real estate agent was a notary.
My friend says he never charges to notarize things, he considered it a service to his friends and his communities.
I was a notary for several years. I’ve never paid for notary services, either – until recently. In Oregon, bank notaries and others are not keen to notarize last wills that are self-prepared. I had to pay a mobile notary to come to my friends’ home (who acted as witnesses) to notarize all our signatures. She charged $40, which I felt was reasonable for her time, gas and potential liability.
I just checked and we still have one mobile notary in my county. She’s the one I used.
Around here (leafy Boston suburb) if someone on our town Facebook page asks for a notary within 15 minutes several real estate agents, justices of the peace, paralegals and assorted others will volunteer their services. Most of them offering to do it for free. I can’t imagine how you’d make any amount of money at it, unless the laws are much stricter on who can be a notary.
My daughter got caught needing something notarized on a Sunday evening (a form for her daughter’s summer camp). Banks were all closed (ours does it for free for customers). The UPS stores were closed. I don’t know how or if she found one, but Facebook marketplace would be a good place for a notary to advertise off-hours services. Then again, my daughter might be an unusual case.
Her other problem was trying to find $40 cash in single dollar bills, after the banks had closed. In that case, the grocery store service desk helped her out.
I’m surprised. I thought the notary is just certifying that the person signing the document is who they claim to be, and isn’t making any judgement on the document itself.
That’s true. It may be nothing more than official institutions not wishing to have their staff put their imprimatur on legal documents prepared by non-lawyers like me.
For whatever reason, I couldn’t get any notary to do it except a free lance one. It surprised me, too.
The fact that we have a mobile notary service person in the area indicates to me there’s a need. Here, at least.
We used a mobile notary when we refinanced. We were on the other side of the country at the time. She had to drive an hour to get to us. Did a lot more than simple notarization, walked us through all the many documents involved in a refi. Mortgage company arranged for her services so I don’t know how much she cost.
It might not have anything to do with lawyers or wills. Contrary to those of you who never pay for notarization , I have always paid for notary services except when someone in my office was a notary. The bank notary only notarizes bank documents, the notary at the real estate agency charges unless it’s related to a real estate transaction, the notary at the pharmacy charges…
I’d be really surprised if anyone could make a living being a notary (except for maybe a mobile notary) In my state - the maximum fee is $2.
My bank notary has notarized a bunch of things having nothing to do with the bank. It’s clearly a service they offer their customers. I know that many banks don’t do that, but mine does. 
Mine does, too. That’s why it surprised me. But it’s a no-go on wills – at least at my credit union.
In PA, automobile title transfers are required to be notarized, so businesses that handle title transfers need to have at least one notary public on staff, and these businesses also provide notary services for other things. Many places that do legal work also offer notary services. The UPS store also has a notary public. Some of the banks also provide notary services.
I couldn’t find anyone who just provided notary services as a standalone business. Even the one mobile notary service I could find did it in addition to providing other services (mostly legal type stuff).
Banks used to be simple, walk-in-and-get-what-you-need-notarized options, but in my experience (Hawaii resident) that went away during Covid.
Now, local banks around me will notarize stuff for you under two conditions: one, you must be a customer of the bank, and two, you need to make an appointment, available for limited hours perhaps 2-3 days/week.
Screw that. I’d happily pay a notary a few bucks for the privilege of sorting a mutually convenient time with no strings attached.
I’m surprised that any ordinary Joe or Jane in the US can become a notary public. Well, not really, because we’ve had this discussion before on the SDMB, but I continue to be surprised by it.
I’m a notary public in and for the province of Alberta. Why? Because I’m a lawyer in the province of Alberta, and therefore, automatically a notary public. Here, as in pretty much all Canadian provinces, only lawyers can be notaries public. Some exceptions apply, but for the most part, you cannot go to a bank, a library, or a real estate agent, among others, to get things notarized by someone without a law degree and who has been admitted to the bar. In the common law provinces and territories of Canada, a notary public must have a legal education and be admitted to the bar.
At the same time, though, we have fewer things that need to be notarized. Guarantees, sure. Child travel certificates, yes. But wills, even holographic wills? No.
Somewhat related, my wife was getting something notarized at the bank. She was a tad frustrated at the wait (after making an appt), and after signing the document she sorta scribbled her name on the register. The notary said she couldn’t notarize the document because the 2 signatures didn’t match. After a kerfluffle and management involvement, it got notarized. But it struck us as quite curious.
I remember having a similar conversation once before, and if I remember correctly, it had to do with the different functions notaries have in the two countries. In the US, notaries are basically verifying that the person who signs a document is who they say they are. They can administer oaths where the person signng a document swears or affirms that it is true. The notary is not ever guaranteeing the truthfulness or accuracy of any documents. They aren’t checking to see whether I answered the questions on a loan application accurately. ( Yes, I’ve had to have loan applications notarized)
At my last job, certified copies of various records were needed. I signed a statement that it’s a true, accurate and complete copy of the original. The notary administered an oath and notarized only my signature - I attested to the truth, accuracy etc of the documents and the notary never even needed to see the original document. My understanding is that in at least some parts of Canada, a “notarized copy” is used rather than a “certified copy” and the notary does in fact attest that it is a true copy.
In my state , an attorney can be commisioned as a notary without taking the examination.
Interestingly, I became a notary while working at a law office because none of the attorneys were registered notaries. So, I, the legal assistant, was tasked with becoming a notary.
This is true. But I suspect it probably has something to do with the likelihood of such documents being legally challenged. In such a case, the notary will likely be required to give a deposition on their actions and the steps they took to ensure the signer’s identity, their state of mind at the time, etc. They won’t be in any trouble, but it’s a hassle they probably don’t want to take the risk of getting involved in.
Plan cancelled.
My thanks, one & all.
The Straight Dope: ruining people’s plans since 1973.