How to find an affordable notary public overseas

[jgombos]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? fed

The US embassy charges $50 to simply notarize two documents. I am not willing to pay this. Is there a way to find out if there are any American notary publics in a given city abroad?

 

[xylene]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? fed

The US embassy charges $50 to simply notarize two documents. I am not willing to pay this. Is there a way to find out if there are any American notary publics in a given city abroad?

That works out to 25 per document. While high, it is not insane.

Since you are not in the United States, state limits on fees do not apply.

The embassy is not doing this service to rip you off. They are offering a US law service, probably at cost or a minor loss as a service to US citizens.

You are being a cheap skate, and should be thankful this service is available compared to the cost of a US return voyage to deal with paperwork.

You are also more than welcome to voice your discontent to the consular officers, and the Department of State. The ideal way would be in writing.

 

[Dandy Don]

Ask someone locally in the city where you are for suggestions about where to find a notary. You can usually find one in almost any bank.

 

[Ohiogal]

Jeez and when I received my notary I was told I could not charge more than a few dollars to notarize unless I wanted to put my self at risk. Twenty five dollars is insane.

 

[jgombos]

That works out to 25 per document. While high, it is not insane.

Presumably, you're new to the US. Notarization in the US has a different meaning than abroad. Perhaps you're confusing US notaries with those who close house deals.

I've never been asked to pay more than $2 to notarize a document, and that's at the top end -- it's usually free. In fact I've walked into a privately held law office, and received notary service for free. The US embassy charges $30 for the first document; 1500% more than what's charged in the the state that the notary public received their privilege to notarize. BTW, the cost of becoming a notary public is $16.

The embassy is not doing this service to rip you off.

Intent is a red herring. It's not the means, but it's the ends. The effect is indeed a ripoff, intentional or not.

They are offering a US law service, probably at cost or a minor loss as a service to US citizens.

They are quite obviously exploiting their virtual monopoly. It's called business. Supply and demand. It really doesn't matter to me what their profit is. I only care about my price; value for the dollar - and $50 for two documents justifies door service - along with a pizza. I can become a notary public for $16 and recover that loss after the first customer.

You are being a cheap skate, and should be thankful this service is available compared to the cost of a US return voyage to deal with paperwork.

To be able to effectively fling that kind of ad hominem attack ("cheap skate"), you would have to understand the value of service in question -- a service where quality of service doesn't come into play. And no, availability of this absurdly priced service is not something to be thankful for, when USPS relaxes the notarization requirements in regions there a notary is not available. So intentional or not, the embassy has effectively removed the option to use a cheaper alternative service (signature of a foreign witness), locking customers in to their predatory rate.

You are also more than welcome to voice your discontent to the consular officers, and the Department of State. The ideal way would be in writing.

This thread was a request for information, and you turned it into a rant, making gross assumptions of value of service w/out even knowing what's being notarized. FYI, the notarization is for a service that costs ~$10/month, 1/5th the cost of the notary.

I intend to simply not sign up for the service that's calling for the notarized documents at this point, because the service isn't worth the notarization costs. If these documents were for a marriage, and someone were to back out because of the notarization costs, then your "cheap skate" claim would be justified (but it would still be an ad hominem).

 

[Zigner]

Presumably, you're new to the US. Notarization in the US has a different meaning than abroad. Perhaps you're confusing US notaries with those who close house deals.

I've never been asked to pay more than $2 to notarize a document, and that's at the top end -- it's usually free. In fact I've walked into a privately held law office, and received notary service for free. The US embassy charges $30 for the first document; 1500% more than what's charged in the the state that the notary public received their privilege to notarize. BTW, the cost of becoming a notary public is $16.

Intent is a red herring. It's not the means, but it's the ends. The effect is indeed a ripoff, intentional or not.

They are quite obviously exploiting their virtual monopoly. It's called business. Supply and demand. It really doesn't matter to me what their profit is. I only care about my price; value for the dollar - and $50 for two documents justifies door service - along with a pizza. I can become a notary public for $16 and recover that loss after the first customer.

To be able to effectively fling that kind of ad hominem attack ("cheap skate"), you would have to understand the value of service in question -- a service where quality of service doesn't come into play. And no, availability of this absurdly priced service is not something to be thankful for, when USPS relaxes the notarization requirements in regions there a notary is not available. So intentional or not, the embassy has effectively removed the option to use a cheaper alternative service (signature of a foreign witness), locking customers in to their predatory rate.

This thread was a request for information, and you turned it into a rant, making gross assumptions of value of service w/out even knowing what's being notarized. FYI, the notarization is for a service that costs ~$10/month, 1/5th the cost of the notary.

I intend to simply not sign up for the service that's calling for the notarized documents at this point, because the service isn't worth the notarization costs. If these documents were for a marriage, and someone were to back out because of the notarization costs, then your "cheap skate" claim would be justified (but it would still be an ad hominem).

Our foreign friend seems to be smoking something stronger than tobacco!


And, out here on the left-coast...you can expect to pay $10 to Kinkos for a notarization (that's per signature)

 

[Antigone*]

Look, you came to a website for FREE advice and got it. If you don't like it Mr. Cheapskate, go pay for your advice somewhere else.

Your insult to one of our members was way out of line. The only mistake Xylene made was answering your stupid question. This site is for US law only, and if you are looking for a notary to sign your document outside the US, then US law does not apply. An American notary outstide the US will be found in the US Embassy or consular office. You pay their fee or not. No skin off their backs. You have no clue what a notary charges here in the US and since the service your a looking for is not US based you will not find a correct answer here.

Sorry quincy, if you're reading this one. I'm not offering this jerk a refund; I will just ask him to politely to close the door on the way out.

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? fed

The US embassy charges $50 to simply notarize two documents. I am not willing to pay this. Is there a way to find out if there are any American notary publics in a given city abroad?

Remember, you are looking for an AMERICAN notary outside of America. I can see them charging a premium...in fact, it makes sense.

 

[jgombos]

Look, you came to a website for FREE advice and got it.

And indeed, I got less than I paid for. In fact, I would be willing to a pay a fee to not get the sort of advice xylene and you have offered in this thread.

If you don't like it Mr. Cheapskate, go pay for your advice somewhere else.

Why should I limit myself to pay service?

Your insult to one of our members was way out of line.

What insult? Learn to quote. If you managed to find an inadvertent ad hominem, it was well deserved. The types of posters that use ad hominems tend to be affected by them. I see the quality of your posts haven't improved any. I just need to update my ignore list, and this forum will remain useful.

The only mistake Xylene made was answering your stupid question.

Yes, you're making my case for me - he had nothing to offer, and shouldn't have said anything.

This site is for US law only, and if you are looking for a notary to sign your document outside the US, then US law does not apply.

Of course US law applies. USPS is a US entity, it's a US contract, and must meet their standards in the US.

An American notary outstide the US will be found in the US Embassy or consular office. You pay their fee or not.

Among other places. Are you trying to claim that a public notary not employed by the embassy would not be operating outside the country? If that's true, it will be the one useful contribution you've made here.

No skin off their backs. You have no clue what a notary charges here in the US and since the service your a looking for is not US based you will not find a correct answer here.

How do you figure a USPS service is not US based? Why would you think a non-US service would be requiring a US notary service, and only make exceptions in the absence of one?

 

[jgombos]

Remember, you are looking for an AMERICAN notary outside of America. I can see them charging a premium...in fact, it makes sense.

See the first post. The intent of the thread wasn't to bash the embassy - it's to locate US public notaries abroad.

I agree with you. In fact, in the absence of caps, it's interesting they aren't charging $100 per document, because they can. The embassy should be charging whatever they can get away with. The failure is in the overseeing government bodies that have the power to cap them.

 

[Zigner]

USPS has nothing to do with notaries...

 

[Zigner]

And, in fact, a Notary Public is controlled by the STATE, not the FEDS.

 

[jgombos]

And, in fact, a Notary Public is controlled by the STATE, not the FEDS.

In that case, what state controls the notaries in the embassies? The USPS does not specify which state their document must be notarized in, so presumably they will accept any notary nationwide.

 

[Antigone*]

Zig, Xylene,

You know, since I am a notary, and I am in the capital of the world whenever you need notarial services (very cheap - in fact free for you two) give me a jingle .

btw...popcorn anyone???

 

[Zigner]

Zig, Xylene,

You know, since I am a notary, and I am in the capital of the world whenever you need notarial services (very cheap - in fact free for you two) give me a jingle .

btw...popcorn anyone???

Sounds good to me!