The Stamp Doesn’t Celebrate Labor Day. I Do.

Ahhh, a holiday weekend. Three days off.

Backyard barbecues. Pool days. Road trips. A chance to sleep in. And apparently…

A fantastic time to realize you need something notarized. 😂

With a holiday approaching, the calls inevitably start:

“Are you open on Monday?” Possibly! Then comes the next question:

“Wait… why is there an additional fee?”

And I couldn’t help but wonder…

Why do we understand holiday pricing everywhere else, but question it when the person giving up their holiday is a small-business owner?

Yes, I’m Available. That’s the Point.

Here’s the thing: I don’t mind working holidays. n fact, one of the advantages of using an independent notary is that we can often provide availability when traditional offices are closed. Banks closed? Title office closed?

It’s Sunday evening of a three-day weekend and you just remembered that document you need Tuesday morning? Call me. If I’m available, I’ll happily help.

But that availability has value. “But It’s Only One Signature…” Ah, yes. The famous five-minute notarization.

And sometimes, they’re right. The actual notarial act may only take a few minutes.

But holiday pricing isn’t based on making your signature somehow more complicated because it’s Labor Day.

You’re paying for access and availability. You’re asking a professional to make themselves available on a day most people expect to have off.

That may mean stepping away from family. Changing plans. Interrupting dinner. Leaving the pool. Or—perhaps most importantly—putting pants back on.

Surely that’s worth something. 😂

The Notarial Fee and the Holiday Fee Aren’t the Same Thing

This distinction matters. Texas regulates the fees a notary may charge for performing notarial acts.

A separately disclosed holiday, travel, rush, after-hours, or convenience charge is about the additional service surrounding the notarization—not an excuse to inflate the statutory notarial fee.

That’s why transparency matters.

At DocsxBrenda, our additional fees and policies are disclosed so clients can make an informed decision before booking.

No surprise fee when I arrive. No mysterious “Holiday Tax” appearing afterward. You know what the service costs before you confirm it.

Then you decide whether the convenience is worth it. You’re Allowed to Say No And this applies to notaries, too. You don’t have to work the holiday. You don’t have to answer the phone at 8 PM.

You don’t have to rearrange your barbecue because someone suddenly discovered a document needs notarization tomorrow morning.

But if you choose to offer that availability, it’s okay to place a value on it. We’re business owners. Our time doesn’t become less valuable simply because someone else has a deadline.

So yes…

DocsxBrenda may be open this holiday.

The stamp is ready. The seal is ready. The notary is ready.

And if you suddenly need me while everyone else is enjoying their three-day weekend, I’ll do my best to help.

Just remember: The stamp doesn’t celebrate Labor Day. I do.

And if your notarization interrupts my barbecue…

Well…

There may be a premium for the potato salad. 😂