Notary Blog

As of January 21, 2025, the Texas Secretary of State no longer accepts paper notary applications. All notary applicants will be required to submit their applications electronically using one of the options below.

A Texas notary signing agent (NSA)—sometimes referred to as  a loan signing agent (LSA)—is a notary commissioned in Texas  who guides customers through the complicated loan signing process.  Notary loan signing agents primarily work for the real estate and mortgage industries.

Texas House Bill 255 was passed on June 10, 2023 and will go into effect on September 1, 2023. This new notary law allows a Texas notary to record in their notary journal, the expiration date of an identification card issued by a governmental agency

A Texas notary public is a public official appointed by the Secretary of State to administer oaths and affirmations, take acknowledgments, and perform other authorized notarial acts.

A Texas notary is a person or proven integrity appointed by the Secretary of State for a four-year term to serve the public as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. The notary’s seal and official signature on a document proves that the notary is commissioned by the Secretary of State to perform such notarial acts and has identified the signers properly,

Texas Notaries play a vital role in society. As authorized public officials, they serve the public as impartial witnesses to important legal and commercial transactions by verifying the identities of the individuals involved in notarizations and by witnessing them sign documents. Before you use a Texas notary locator to search for a notary near you, ask yourself the following five questions to decide what kind of notarization and which type of notary you need. 

A Texas notary public is responsible for serving as an unbiased and disinterested witness to the signing of important legal documents. This means a Texas notary is tasked with the important role of ensuring that a signer’s identity has been verified and that he or she signed a particular document willingly and without coercion. Given a notary’s responsibility to play an unbiased and disinterested role, can a Texas notary perform notarizations for members of his or her family? This article will explore that pertinent question

A Texas notary is a public officer appointed by the Texas Secretary of State to serve the public as an impartial witness to signing of documents. Having a document notarized by a Texas notary protects the integrity of the transaction. For example, properly notarized documents can bind individuals to an agreement indefinitely,

It happens all the time. You get the call for a notary job in Texas and the person who’s arranging the notary appointment is NOT the person who will be signing the documents. Their mom is in the hospital and needs a POA. Their dad is in the nursing home and wants to transfer property with a quitclaim deed . The person requiring the service has entrusted someone else with the responsibility of securing your services. When this happens, follow these three tips to ensure that the signing goes smoothly:

Texas notaries are appointed by the secretary of state's for a four-year notary term. To become a notary in Texas, an individual must meet the eligibility requirements (i.e., be over the age 18 and a state resident) and complete and submit a signed notary application Form #2301 (Application for Appointment as Texas Notary Public). Along with the form, applicants must submit proof of a $10,000 notary bond and a $21.00 application fee.

It is inexpensive and straightforward to become a notary in Texas. It costs less than $100 for a four-year notary term. This includes the state application fee, the four-year, $10,000 Texas notary bond, your notary stamp, notary journal, and shipping fee. The American Association of Notaries is a one-stop-shop for all your notary needs.

Here is a breakdown of the cost to become a Texas notary:

Texas Notaries hold a variety of responsibilities including taking acknowledgments, administering oaths, certifying copies of nonpublic records, and other duties authorized by Texas law. If you are ready to become a Texas notary, the information listed below will guide you through the Texas notary application process.

Becoming a Texas notary is a noteworthy undertaking. There are many reasons why a person may apply to become a Texas notary. Some become Texas notaries to broaden their professional credentials and skills for employment. Others become Texas notaries at the request of an employer or as a service to their business clients. Law firms, shipping centers, banks, and post offices are a few of the many types of businesses that have notaries on staff.

A Texas Notary Public is a public servant with statewide jurisdiction appointed by the Texas Secretary of State to deter fraud  by identifying signers and witnessing  the signing of important documents. A notarized document will assure the receiving party that the identities of the signers have been verified and the document was signed on the date stated on the notarial certificate.  

Over four million people in the United States (over 400,000 in Texas alone!) are notaries public. A common impression among most people is that a Texas notary is just someone who “witnesses” or “verifies” signatures. However, a Texas notary’s duties are a lot more complicated than that. Here is a more complete description:

Compared to other states, Texas has few eligibility requirements to become a notary. Any applicant wishing to become a Texas notary must meet only three qualifications: