The Short Answer
There is no single price for the whole country. The price depends on the kind of document, where you are, and whether the notary only notarizes it or also writes it for you. Many local lawyers' groups (IBP chapters) publish a price list for their area, and a Deed of Sale is often charged as a percentage of the price. Ask for the price before you start, and ask for an Official Receipt.
Example: Two Documents, Two Prices, in San Pablo City
Names and details in this example are made up.
Rowena Dizon lives in Barangay San Jose, San Pablo City, Laguna. Her husband Arnel works as a seaman. In one week she needs two things done at a notary near the city hall.
An Affidavit of Loss for her UMID card. Rowena types it herself using a template, fills in every blank, and leaves the signature line empty. At the notary she shows her passport, signs in front of the notary, and swears to it (jurat). Because she brought it ready, she pays only the notary's fee for an affidavit, which she checked beforehand against what notaries in Laguna usually charge.
A Deed of Absolute Sale for a small lot. Rowena and Arnel are buying a 100-square-meter lot from Mang Celso for ₱1,200,000. They did not have a deed yet, so they ask the notary to write it and notarize it. The price list the notary shows them charges a Deed of Sale by the selling price, not a flat amount. Writing the deed is extra. Rowena asks for the full amount in writing before they agree, and gets an Official Receipt after.
What Rowena learned. The affidavit and the deed were priced in completely different ways. A flat price for an affidavit does not tell you what a deed will cost. She also kept the receipt with the deed, because the BIR deadlines for the sale start from the date of notarization.
Why There Is No Single National Price
The Supreme Court's 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice (A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC) say a notary may charge up to the highest fee allowed for that kind of notarization, or charge less, or nothing at all (Rule V, Sec. 1). The rules do not print one price list for the whole country.
In practice, many local lawyers' groups (IBP chapters, the city or provincial chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines) publish their own price lists for their area. Many post them on their Facebook pages rather than on a website. They differ from place to place and are updated at different times, so a list from another province, or an old one, may not match what notaries near you charge today.
What Changes the Price
- The kind of document. A simple affidavit sworn before the notary (jurat) is usually priced differently from a deed or contract where you confirm you signed it (acknowledgment). See jurat vs acknowledgment.
- The value involved. Many price lists charge a Deed of Sale, a mortgage or a similar deed as a percentage of the price or value, often with a minimum. This site's estimate for a Deed of Sale of land is 2% to 3% of the price, but actual fees vary.
- Notary only, or written and notarized. If you bring the document ready, you pay for the notarization only. If the notary writes it for you, expect to pay more, because drafting is legal work on top of notarizing.
- Number of signers and pages. Some price lists add a charge for each extra signer, copy or page. Ask.
- Travel. A notary may charge travel costs, for example to go to a hospital, only if you agree to them before they travel (Rule V, Sec. 2).
How to Use This Site's Price Guide
Our notary price guide shows what notaries usually charge, by document and by area. You can also browse prices by document, such as affidavits, Special Powers of Attorney and deeds.
- Pick the document that matches yours. A Deed of Sale of land and a Deed of Sale of a car are priced differently.
- Treat the result as an estimate, not a fixed rate. The notary's own posted price list is what counts at the counter.
- For a land sale, remember the notary's fee is the small part. The taxes and registration fees come after. See what a Deed of Sale costs.
What the Rules Say About Fees and Receipts
- A notary may charge only the fees the rules allow, and nothing else for the notarization itself (Rule V, Sec. 3).
- A notary must post their full price list (schedule of fees) where people can see it in the office (Rule V, Sec. 5).
- A notary who charges a fee must give a receipt registered with the BIR (an Official Receipt) and keep a record of fees (Rule V, Sec. 5).
- Unless you agreed otherwise, a notary should not ask you to pay before the notarization is done (Rule V, Sec. 4).
- The fee is written in the notary's record book (notarial register) together with the entry for your document (Rule VI, Sec. 2).
If you think you were overcharged or got no receipt, see what to do if a notary did something wrong.
Common Questions
Bakit Iba-iba ang Singil ng Notaryo?
Because there is no single national price. Local lawyers' groups (IBP chapters) set price lists for their own area, and the price also depends on the document, its value, and whether the notary writes it for you. Check our price guide for your area and ask the notary for their posted price list.
Is It Cheaper If I Bring My Own Document?
Usually, yes. Notary only costs less than written and notarized. Bring it complete, with no blanks, because a notary may not notarize a blank or incomplete document (Rule IV, Sec. 6). Our templates can help you prepare it.
Do Notaries Have to Give a Receipt?
Yes. A notary who charges a fee must issue a BIR-registered Official Receipt (Rule V, Sec. 5 of the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice). Ask for it, and keep it with your document.
Why Is a Deed of Sale More Expensive Than an Affidavit?
Many price lists charge a Deed of Sale as a percentage of the price or value, not a flat amount, so a bigger sale costs more to notarize. Use the Deed of Sale price estimate for your area.
Is Online Notarization Cheaper?
Not necessarily. From 19 October 2026 it is offered through platforms the Supreme Court approves, and each notary or platform sets its price within the rules. Ask before you book. See getting a document notarized online.
Not legal advice. This is general information. For advice on your own situation, consult a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) or an IBP legal aid office may help for free.
Government fees, rules and requirements change, so always check with the office concerned before you go. This page explains the general rules; it cannot tell you how they apply to your own family or case. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.