Notary Public in India: Role, Fees, Seal and How to Verify One

A notary public is a senior lawyer or qualified person appointed by the central or a state government under the Notaries Act, 1952. A notary attests signatures, administers oaths, takes affidavits and certifies copies. The Notaries Rules, 1956 cap the fee at ₹35 for attesting a document or taking an affidavit, and ₹10 a page (minimum ₹20) for true copies.

Key facts

Who can be a notary and how they are appointed

Section 3 lets the central government appoint notaries for all or part of India, and each state government for all or part of its state. Rule 3 sets who is eligible on the date of applying:

• a lawyer with at least 10 years of practice;
• a lawyer with at least 7 years of practice who is a woman, belongs to the SC, ST or OBC categories, or has a benchmark disability;
• a member of the Indian Legal Service; or
• a person with 10 years in the judicial service, a government post needing legal knowledge, or the armed forces’ legal departments.

Once appointed, the notary’s name goes on the government’s Register of Notaries (Section 4). The notary gets a certificate of practice for five years, renewable for five years at a time (Section 5). The government charges ₹2,000 to issue the certificate and ₹1,000 to renew it. Each state also has a ceiling on how many notaries can be appointed. The Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025, notified on 17 October 2025, raised it for Gujarat to 6,000, Tamil Nadu to 3,500, Rajasthan to 3,000 and Nagaland to 400.

What a notary can and cannot do

Section 8 lists a notary’s functions. The ones most people need are:

• verify, authenticate, certify or attest that a document was signed;
• administer oaths and take affidavits;
• prepare, attest or authenticate documents meant for use abroad;
• translate a document and verify the translation;
• present, note or protest dishonoured promissory notes, hundis and bills of exchange; and
• act as a commissioner to record evidence, or as an arbitrator, mediator or conciliator, when asked.

Rule 11(8) adds that a notary may draft and attest documents, prepare a will and prepare affidavits. Our guides on what an affidavit is and power of attorney explain two of the documents people most often get notarised.

A notary cannot register a document. Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908 makes registration compulsory for gifts of immovable property, other documents creating rights in immovable property worth ₹100 or more, and leases longer than a year. Those must go to the sub-registrar, and a notary’s stamp does not replace that step. A person without a valid certificate of practice cannot act as a notary (Section 9).

Notary fees under the Notaries Rules

Rule 10 sets the most a notary may charge. The current rates date from 4 March 2014:

A notary must display these rates inside and outside the office (Rule 10(2)). Every notary must also give a receipt and keep a register of fees collected (Rule 11(9)).

The notary fee is separate from stamp duty. Your affidavit or agreement needs stamp paper at the state’s rate, and some states also charge duty on the notarial act. Maharashtra, for example, charges ₹25 under Article 42 of its Stamp Act. See our guide on how to make an affidavit for the stamp paper side.

Seal, stamp and register: what a valid attestation looks like

Check these before you leave the notary’s office:

How to check a notary’s registration

1. Read the seal and note the registration number, area and appointing government.
2. Ask to see the certificate of practice and check that it is within its five-year validity.
3. For a central government notary, check the Department of Legal Affairs’ state-wise list of notaries, or the notice section of the Notary Portal.
4. For a state government notary, check the list the state publishes in its Official Gazette every January (Section 6), or ask the state law department or district court.
5. If something is wrong, complain to the appointing government in Form XIII under Rule 13.

The Notary Portal says its online services are available only for central notaries at present.

Validity of a notarised document

The Notaries Act sets no expiry date for a notarised document. The office that receives it (a bank, court, embassy or government department) decides how recent it must be, so ask them first. Notarisation only confirms who signed and when; it does not prove the contents are true or lawful. Documents for use abroad may also need an apostille or attestation from the Ministry of External Affairs, which covers affidavits and powers of attorney. For a property transaction or a disputed document, speak to a lawyer rather than relying on notarisation alone.

Frequently asked questions

Notary kya hota hai?

Notary ek senior vakil hota hai jise central ya state government Notaries Act, 1952 ke tahat appoint karti hai. Notary signature attest karta hai, affidavit leta hai aur copies certify karta hai.

What is the notary fee for an affidavit?

Up to ₹35 under Rule 10 of the Notaries Rules, 1956. Stamp paper is extra.

How much does notarisation cost per page for copies?

Up to ₹10 a page, with a minimum of ₹20.

Can a notary register a rent agreement or sale deed?

No. Documents that need registration under Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908 must be registered at the sub-registrar’s office. Our rent agreement guide covers when that applies.

How do I know if a notary is genuine?

Check the seal for a registration number and appointing government, ask for the certificate of practice, and match the name against the government’s list of notaries.

Does a notarised document expire?

The Notaries Act sets no expiry, but the office receiving it may ask for a recent one.

Can a notary prepare a will?

Yes. Rule 11(8) of the Notaries Rules allows a notary to prepare a will or other testamentary document. Notarising a will is optional and does not make it registered.

Sources

• The Notaries Rules, 1956 (as amended) — Department of Legal Affairs, Notary Portal (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• The Notaries Act, 1952 — Registration and Stamps Department, Andhra Pradesh (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Notary Portal — Department of Legal Affairs, Government of India (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025 — Press Information Bureau (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• State-wise list of notaries appointed by the central government — Ministry of Law and Justice (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Maharashtra Stamp Act, Schedule I (Article 42, notarial act) — Department of Registration and Stamps, Maharashtra (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Attestation and apostille — Ministry of External Affairs (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Registration Act, 1908, Section 17 — Indian Kanoon (checked 16 Sep 2026)