Who Can Become a Texas Notary?
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:
1. Be a Texas resident.
Texas notary law does not specify how long a person must reside in Texas to qualify to become a Texas notary. As long as you reside in Texas and have a physical address and claim Texas as your resident state, you are qualified to become a Texas notary.
2. Be 18 years of age or older.
If you are under 18 years of age, you do not qualify to become a notary, and your notary application will be rejected if received by the Texas Secretary of State before your 18th birthday.
3. Have no felony convictions.
You do not qualify to become a notary public if you were convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or a felony and the conviction has become final, has not been set aside, and no pardon or certificate of restoration of citizenship rights has been granted. A crime involving moral turpitude includes the commission of a crime involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, deliberate violence, or moral depravity, or is a crime that reflects adversely on the applicant's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a notary public. A class C type misdemeanor convictions is not considered a reason for ineligibility.
If you have a conviction that is set aside, you must attach to your application documentation regarding your criminal convictions to assist the Secretary of State’s office in determining qualification. Processing time for applications with criminal convictions is approximately four to six weeks.
If you have a conviction and it has been set aside, the American Association of Notaries will help you become a Texas notary. Click here to download the Texas notary application forms.
Legal Disclaimer: The American Association of Notaries seeks to provide timely articles for notaries to assist them with information for managing their notary businesses, enhancing their notary education, and securing their notary stamp and notary supplies. Every effort is made to provide accurate and complete information in the American Association of Notaries newsletters. However, we make no warrant, expressed or implied, and we do not represent, undertake, or guarantee that the information in the newsletter is correct, accurate, complete, or non-misleading. Information in this article is not intended as legal advice. We are not attorneys. We do not pretend to be attorneys. Though we will sometimes provide information regarding notaries' best practices, federal laws and statutes, and the laws and statutes of each state, we have gathered this information from a variety of sources and do not warrant its accuracy. In no event shall the American Association of Notaries, its employees, or contractors be liable to you for any claims, penalties, loss, damage, or expenses, howsoever arising, including, and without limitation, direct or indirect loss or consequential loss out of or in connection with the use of the information contained in the American Association of Notaries newsletters. It is your responsibility to know the appropriate notary laws governing your state. Notaries are advised to seek the advice of their states' notary authorities or attorneys in their state if they have legal questions. If a section of this disclaimer is determined by any court or other competent authority to be unlawful and/or unenforceable, the other sections of this disclaimer continue in effect.
Texas notary bonds and errors and omissions insurance policies provided by this insurance agency, the American Association of Notaries, Inc., are underwritten by Western Surety Company (established 1900). American Association of Notaries is owned by Kal Tabbara, a licensed insurance agent in Texas.