Your Texas Notary Commission is valid for four-years.
Without an automatic renewal process, you must repeat the same steps as first-time notaries. This includes completing the Form 2301, purchasing a $10,000 surety bond, and acquiring a new seal.
You should begin the renewal process three months before your current commission expires.
No. There is no education required to become a Texas Notary. However, the state does offer training.
If you are at least 18-years old, are a Texas Resident, and have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, then you may become a Texas Notary. Additionally, if you are an escrow agent working in a state adjacent to Texas, you may also become a Texas Notary.
No. Just submit your application to us and we'll submit it to the state for you, including the $21 filing fee.
No. Once you receive your Notary Commission Certificate in your email, we will create your notary stamp and send it to you within 10 business days.
No. Your state filing fee is included in the course cost.
Yes. The State of Texas requires all Texas Notaries to hold a $10,000 surety bond. This bond serves to protect the public, not the notary, from any mistakes the notary might make.
No. The State of Texas does not require Texas Notaries to hold Errors & Omissions insurance. However, it is highly recommended as it protects the notary against lawsuits.
Yes. Texas requires all notaries to keep a record of their work. If you're renewing your notary commission, you do not need to purchase a new book unless yours is full.
Two weeks after your application is submitted to the Texas Secretary of State, you'll receive an email of your Texas Notary Commission.
No. A current Texas Notary must notarize your commission. You must also take the Oath of Office before a current Texas Notary.
You will receive your notary stamp within 10 days of receiving your notary commission, as it cannot be made until the state as appointed you as notary.
Our Texas Notary Package simplifies your notary application process and saves you money! The package includes:
After you complete your application, it can take 30 days to receive your commission certification from the Texas Secretary of State and another 10 days to receive your customized notary stamp from us after we get a copy of your commission.
The Texas Secretary of State says the normal processing time for non-expedited documents is 5 to 7 business days. Expedited service is available for $25 per document, and that usually means your documents will be processed by the end of the first business day following the date of receipt.
Once you receive your notary commission certificate from the Texas Secretary of State and get your customized notary stamp from us, you can begin notarizing documents.
No. Only legal Texas residents can become notaries in the state.
Yes, as long as the notarization act itself happens within the state.
It's not against the law, but it's not recommended. According to the Texas Secretary of State, "notarizations should not be performed by a notary public who is a party to the instrument or financially or beneficially interested in the transaction."
No. A notary is supposed to be an impartial third party, and you can't be impartial to yourself!
No. Once a document is notarized, that signature cannot expire.
Yes. Notary stamps display the expiration date of your current notary commission. When the commission expires, so does the stamp.
If you want to continue being a notary public, you must not notarize anything until you renew your commission. If you don't want to be a notary anymore, Texas recommends destroying your seal to prevent "possible misuse by another individual."
Yes, but you will need to satisfy additional state requirements to become a commissioned online notary. Any Texas notary with an online notary commission may perform an electronic notarization if it meets all the requirements of any other notarization. The signer must personally appear before the notary, and the electronic seal must include the same required elements as the physical seal.
You must notify the Texas Secretary of State if your home or business address changes from what you included in your application. You can do this by mailing or faxing a form or submitting a request online!
The easiest way to get a duplicate notary commission certificate is to fill out this form online. But if you'd rather reach out to the Secretary of State directly, here is the contact information for the Notary Public Unit:
Email: notary@sos.texas.gov
Phone: (512) 463-5705
Fax: (512) 463-5255
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