On the settlement statement, who is charged for notarizing a warranty deed?

On the settlement statement, it is typically the seller who is charged for notarizing a warranty deed. This charge is considered part of the closing costs associated with the transfer of property ownership. The seller usually pays for costs that are necessary to complete the sale, and notarizing the deed falls under that category.

In real estate transactions, the warranty deed serves as a crucial document that provides a guarantee regarding the title of the property from the seller to the buyer. Since the seller is the one who needs to ensure that the deed is properly executed and legally valid, it is standard practice for them to cover the notary fees as part of the larger closing process.

This is aligned with the principle that sellers incur costs that facilitate the transfer of ownership, while buyers typically have costs related to getting a mortgage, inspections, and other related expenses. In other contexts, such as the costs associated with the actual real estate transaction, buyers and sellers may share some costs, but the notarization of the warranty deed falls squarely on the seller.