Chapter 5 of 520% of exam
Prohibited Acts, Fees, and Liability
The limits that keep an Indiana notary impartial: fee caps, continuing-education duty, disqualifying conflicts, the ban on the unauthorized practice of law, and the consequences of misconduct.
Maximum fees
Indiana caps notarial fees for standard acts.
A standard in-person notarial act is capped at $10.
Remote notarizations follow separate fee rules under the remote-notary statute.
A notary may charge less than the cap or nothing.
Record any fee charged in the journal.
Continuing education
Indiana's long commission comes with an ongoing education duty.
Notaries must complete continuing education every two years.
Missing required education can jeopardize the commission's standing.
Education keeps the notary current on changing law, including remote notarization.
Conflicts and unauthorized practice
Impartiality and staying clear of legal advice are core duties.
A notary may not act with a disqualifying interest in the transaction.
A notary may never notarize their own signature.
A non-attorney notary may not give legal advice or choose the notarial certificate.
A non-attorney notary may not advertise as a 'notario publico.'
Liability and discipline
Misconduct carries consequences the bond does not erase.
Knowingly making a false certificate can bring civil liability and criminal charges.
The Secretary of State may investigate and revoke a commission for cause.
The bond compensates the public; the notary remains personally responsible.