11/09/2025
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Signing Agent vs Notary: Which Is the Best Choice? Don’t be Overcharged!
The state licenses notary publics to provide important legal services surrounding signature and identity verification. Notaries provide a valuable service because they are trained and equipped to confirm that the authorized individuals sign legal documents, including affidavits, contracts, and powers of attorney.
It can be challenging to get all the involved parties in the same room, especially in situations in which physical distance separates some of those involved. A notary is valuable in these circumstances because they can witness the signing of important documents and confirm the signatory’s identity. Even though the other parties did not witness the signing firsthand, the notary vouches that it was signed by the individual in question.
Notaries in Florida can also perform wedding ceremonies for anyone with a valid marriage certificate.
Remember that all loan signing agents are notary publics.
Signing agent certification takes extra time and money. It’s an investment beyond the initial steps taken to become a notary. As we pointed out above, certification isn’t legally required in Florida, but it may be important to the lenders and real estate agencies you want to work with. The industry is certainly more complex than standard notarization; you need to ensure you haveve the right person forr the job.
However, the state of Florida caps the fee for a regular notarization at $10 per signature, and that applies whether it’s a legal contract or a mortgage agreement. However, certain other fees are allowed as long as they are agreed to upfront and kept distinct from the actual notarization fee. For example, a notary might charge a travel fee if they must meet the signatories to notarize their document.
An LSA offers more complex services for which they might charge additional fees. For example, it might fall to the signing agent to prepare a large loan document package. The expertise and time required to do so is skilled work and deserves compensation. Additionally, multiple notary signatures may be required for these complex documents. It all adds up—even if you only charge $10 per notarized signature.