Notary Tips

It happens all the time, you get the call for a notary job and the person who’s arranging the 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 Quit Claim deed property. The person requiring the service has entrusted someone else with the responsibility of securing your services. When this happens follow these 3 tips to ensure that the signing goes smoothly.

To become a Texas notary, 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.

To become a Texas notary is inexpensive and straightforward. It costs less than $100 for a four year term to become a notary in Texas, this includes the state application fee, the four-years, $10,000 Texas notary bond, notary stamp, notary journal, and shipping fees. The American Association of Notaries is 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, plus other duties authorized by Texas law. If you are ready to become a Texas notary, the information listed below will guide to through the application process.

Becoming a Texas notary public is a noteworthy undertaking; there are many reasons why a person may apply to become a Texas notary. Some become a Texas notary to broaden their professional credentials and skills for employment. Others become Texas notary 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.

Becoming a notary in Texas is a straight forward process. The simplest way to become a Texas notary is to choose an organization that can handle submitting your notary application to the state, issue a notary bond in the amount of $10,000 as required by the state, manufacture your notary supplies once you are approved as a Texas notary and be around to help in maintaining your notary commission if you ever needed to update your name due to a marriage or divorce or to update your address or to help you answer questions related to notary laws during your four-years notary term.

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 Texas notary. Any Texas resident 18 years of age or older with no felony convictions is eligible to apply to become a Texas notary.