Your Signing Agent Is a Service You Can Shop For
Notaries who conduct real estate closings are called Notary Signing Agents. In most transactions, your title or Settlement Agent assigns the signing service - usually whoever they already work with. What most buyers and sellers don’t realize is that the Signing Agent fee is listed on your Closing Disclosure as a service you can shop for - and requesting a specific agent is usually all it takes.
One important caveat: your lender’s instructions govern the transaction. Some lenders require or pre-approve specific signing services, and when that’s the case, their requirement takes precedence. But in most standard residential transactions, the choice of Signing Agent belongs to your title or Settlement Agent - not the lender - and a simple request from you moves it.
Title and Settlement Agents aren’t doing anything wrong by defaulting to a familiar service. They’re managing dozens of files at once. It just means the choice quietly goes to whoever they’re used to - which may not be who gives you the best experience or the most competitive price.
The Signing Agent fee is a settlement service cost - it shows up on your Closing Disclosure and is paid after closing as part of your closing funds, not directly out of pocket at the signing table. Our Maryland rate for a Buyer’s or Refinance signing is $225, all-in, the same rate we quote the professionals directly. Every package and add-on is on our full pricing page.
If your title or Settlement Agent is wondering whether working with us means extra steps for their team - it doesn’t. Our order platform integrates directly with the title production software they’re already using, including Qualia, ResWare, SoftPro 360, RamQuest, E-Closing, Closer’s Choice, LandTech, TitleDesktop, and AccuTitle. Orders come in through their existing system, status updates flow back automatically, and nothing changes about their workflow. We fit into the process they already have.
What to say: Tell your title or Settlement Agent, “We want Gold Coast Notary for our signing,” and have them reach out to orders@goldcoastnotary.co or call us at (323) 220-3526. We coordinate directly with their office on their timeline - no extra work on their end.
What Federal Law Says About Your Closing Costs
Two pieces of federal law are directly relevant to this:
- RESPA Section 8 (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) prohibits kickbacks and undisclosed referral fees between settlement service providers. Signing agent fees are settlement services under RESPA. Any arrangement where a signing service compensates an escrow or Title Officer for steering business their way is a federal violation.
- Your Closing Disclosure - the federally required closing summary your lender provides before closing - lists the signing/notary fee under “Services You Can Shop For.” That language comes directly from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s disclosure rules. It means exactly what it says: you are permitted to shop for and select your own provider for this service. The CFPB explains this directly on their website.
This consumer right is recognized industry-wide. The National Notary Association certifies and credentials Notary Signing Agents specifically for real estate closings, and reputable escrow and Title Companies will accommodate a consumer’s request for a specific signing service when lender instructions permit it.
Gold Coast Notary is a proud member of both the National Notary Association and the American Land Title Association (ALTA) - the two primary professional bodies governing Notary Signing Agents and the title industry, respectively. Our notaries carry individual NNA certification, pass annual background screenings, and hold their own Errors & Omissions insurance. ALTA membership means our real estate closing services are built to the standards title and Escrow Companies expect from a trusted signing partner. When you ask for us by name, you can trust we’ll get your closing to the finish line - on time, done right.
Note: This page describes how the Signing Agent selection process generally works in residential real estate transactions. It is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your specific transaction, refer to your Closing Disclosure, speak with your title or Settlement Agent, or visit the CFPB’s consumer resources at consumerfinance.gov/owning-a-home.
