Looking for notary services and not sure which option actually fits your schedule? Most banks, UPS Stores, libraries, and courthouses offer notary services during standard weekday business hours, usually for free or a small per-signature fee – but availability isn’t guaranteed and none of them are open nights or weekends. Online notary platforms like BlueNotary are the one option available 24/7, starting at $25, with no appointment needed. Here’s exactly how every option compares.
Where Can You Get Notary Services Today?
You can get notary services at a bank or credit union, a UPS Store, a public library, a courthouse or county clerk’s office, through a mobile notary who travels to you, or through an online notarization platform available any time of day. Cost and speed vary widely depending on which you choose.
| Option | Typical Hours | Typical Cost | Typical Wait | Online Alternative |
| Bank / credit union | Mon–Fri ~9am–5pm; limited/no weekend hours | Free for customers/members | Same-day if a notary is on shift; call ahead | BlueNotary – 24/7, from $25 |
| UPS Store | Daily, often incl. weekends until 5–6pm | $5–$15 per signature (state-capped) | Usually walk-in, minimal wait | BlueNotary – 24/7, from $25 |
| Public library | Limited hours; varies by branch, rarely weekends | Usually free | Availability inconsistent; call first | BlueNotary – 24/7, from $25 |
| Courthouse / county clerk | Mon–Fri business hours only | Free or small statutory fee | Appointment often required | BlueNotary – 24/7, from $25 |
| Mobile notary | By appointment; can include evenings/weekends | $50–$200 (notarial fee + travel) | Same-day to next-day, by appointment | BlueNotary – 24/7, from $25 |
| Online notary (BlueNotary) | 24/7 | From $25 | About 10 minutes, no appointment |
The pattern is consistent across nearly every in-person option: lower or no cost, but limited to weekday business hours and dependent on a notary actually being on shift when you arrive.
In-Person Notary Services: Banks, UPS, Libraries, and Courthouses
In-person notary services are typically the cheapest option, but every one of them is bound by weekday business hours and staff availability. Banks and credit unions usually notarize for free, but only for account holders, and only if a notary happens to be working that shift.
- Banks and credit unions: Usually free for customers or members. Call ahead – not every branch has a notary on staff, and hours are typically weekday 9am–5pm with limited Saturday coverage.
- UPS Store locations: Widely available and often open evenings and weekends. Fees run $5–$15 per signature, capped by state law – California, for example, sets a $15-per-signature ceiling for many notarial acts under California Government Code Section 8211.
- Public libraries: Often free, but hours and notary availability vary significantly by branch, and many require calling ahead or booking a slot.
- Courthouses and county clerks: Usually free or a small statutory fee, but limited strictly to weekday business hours, and some offices require an appointment.
Mobile Notary Services: When It’s Worth the Extra Cost
A mobile notary travels to your home, hospital, or office and can work around evenings and weekends, but that convenience comes at a price – typically $50 to $200 once travel is included. Some states cap the travel fee outright, while others tie it to the IRS standard mileage rate, set at 72.5 cents per mile for 2026.
Mobile notaries make the most sense for hospital or bedside signings, same-day closings, or situations where the signer genuinely cannot travel – for anything that doesn’t require in-person physical presence, an online notary session usually accomplishes the same result in a fraction of the time and cost.
Online Notary Services: How Remote Online Notarization Works
Remote online notarization (RON) lets you connect with a commissioned notary over live video, verify your identity, sign electronically, and receive a notarized document – all without visiting a physical location. BlueNotary, a virtual notary platform, runs this process 24/7 starting at $25, with sessions typically taking about 10 minutes.
You can see the full notarization process walkthrough for exactly what to expect during a session, from ID verification through the final signed certificate.
Because online notarization isn’t tied to a branch’s opening hours or a single notary’s shift, it’s the only option on this list that’s genuinely available nights, weekends, and holidays – with more than 20,000 certified notaries on BlueNotary’s platform to keep wait times short.
Which Option Is Actually Fastest and Cheapest?
For most people, online notary services end up being both the fastest and the most predictable option once you factor in travel time, wait time, and the risk of showing up when no notary is on shift. In-person options can be free, but only if the timing lines up; online notarization starts at $25 whenever you need it.
For anyone comparing options across many documents or a business account, the BlueNotary pricing page breaks down volume plans alongside the $25 starting rate.
If your document qualifies, remote online notarization is generally the option worth trying first before planning a trip anywhere.
FAQ Section
1. What is the cheapest way to get a document notarized?
Banks and credit unions are usually free for account holders, and public libraries are often free too – but both depend on a notary being available when you arrive.
2. Where can I get notary services on nights or weekends?
Online notary platforms are typically the only 24/7 option. Some UPS Store locations offer weekend hours, but banks, libraries, and courthouses generally don’t.
3. How much does a mobile notary cost?
Mobile notaries typically cost $50 to $200 once travel is included, depending on distance, timing, and your state’s travel-fee rules.
4. Is online notarization as legally valid as in-person notarization?
Yes, in states that authorize remote online notarization. A properly completed online session carries the same legal weight as an in-person notarization.
5. How long does an online notary session take?
A typical BlueNotary session, including identity verification, takes about 10 minutes from document upload to a completed, notarized file.
6. Do I need an appointment for online notary services?
No. Online notarization is available on demand 24/7, unlike banks, libraries, and courthouses, which generally require a notary to be on shift.
