Abbr: Tex., TX
28 th
State
Statehood—December 29, 1845
Eligibility: All applicants must meet all of the requirements listed herein:

Be 18 years or older

Be a legal resident of Texas;

Not have been convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude
In order to receive a notary public commission, a person must: Qualification:

Meet the eligibility requirements

Properly complete and submit a notary application form to the Secretary of State with a filing fee of $21, along with a
$10,000 bond. Click here to download the application forms— http://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/index.shtml
.
Non-Residents: Permitted. An out-of-state title insurance escrow officer may hold a license and operate as a notary public in Texas.
Bond: Required. A bond in the amount of $10,000 is required for new and renewing notaries public. Notaries employed by a state agency may secure their bond from the State Office of
Risk Management. Please visit www.usnotaries.com
to purchase and receive a bond via email in one business day.
Errors & Omissions Insurance: Although insurance is optional, the American
Association of Notaries recommends that Texas notaries insure themselves against claims of negligence through Errors and Omission insurance.
Visit the American Association of Notaries’ website at www.usnotaries.com
for more information.
Filing Fee: A $21 filing fees is required for new and renewal notary
applications.

Term: years
Jurisdiction :
Appointment:
Statewide
Secretary of State
Office of the Secretary of State
Notary Public Unit
PO Box 13375
Austin, Texas 78711-3375
512-463-5705 http://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/index.shtml
Renewal: A notary may apply 90 days before the commission expiration date by completing a renewal application form.
Education/Testing: None Required.
Notary Seal: Required
Type —embosser or rubber-inked stamp
Ink color —any color as long as the seal can be reproduced under photographic methods.
Shape —round or rectangular
Dimensions —a circular form not more than two inches in diameter, or a rectangular form not more than one inch in width and 2 ½ inches in length
Required elements —notary’s name, commission expiration date, and the words “Notary Public” and “State of Texas” around a star of five points. The notary seal must have a serrated or milled edge border.
An employer may not retain the notary records and/or seal of an employee who is a notary public upon termination of employment.
Record Book: Required. For notary supplies, contact the American
Association of Notaries by calling (800) 721-

Notary Fees:

Acknowledgments $6.00

Oaths or affirmations $6.00

Jurats

Copy certification

Deposition
$6.00
$0.50 per 100 words

Uncertified copy of notary journal $0.50
Authority: A Texas notary has the authority to:

Take acknowledgments

Administer oaths or affirmations

Protests instruments

Take depositions

Certify copies of non-recordable documents
Address Change: Required.
A notary public shall notify the Secretary of
State of a change of the notary’s address not later than the
10 th
day after the date on which the change is made. To download the Notary Public Change of Address form, go to http://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/statforms.shtml#NPUF .
Name Change:
2663 or visiting our website at www.usnotaries.com
.
Notary fees are set by state law. A notary public is allowed to charge for each notarial act, but not more than:
Optional. Texas notaries must notarize under their commissioned names. To download the Application for
Change of Name as a Texas Notary Public form to change a notary’s name, go to http://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/statforms.shtml#NPUF .
Death/Resignation/Removal: A written notification must be provided to the
Secretary of State if any of these significant events occurs during the current term of the commission.
The notary record books must be deposited with the county clerk of the county in which the notary public resided. The notary seal must be destroyed.
Prohibited Acts : A notary public may not:

Criminal Offense:

Prepare, draft, select, or give advice concerning legal documents

Perform acts which constitute the practice of law

Use the phrase “notario” or “notario publico” to advertise notary services

Overcharge for notary services

Notarize a document without the signer being in the notary’s presence at the time of the notarization

Notarize his or her own signature

Issue identification cards

Sign a notarial certificate under any other name than the one under which the notary was commissioned

Certify copies of documents recordable in the public records
Notaries public who commit official misconduct may be subject to criminal liability, which may include the revocation of their notary public commissions.
Revised: September 2009