Notary Public Educational Information

Introduction

A Notary Public is a public servant with statewide jurisdiction who is authorized to take acknowledgments, protest instruments permitted by law to be protested (primarily negotiable instruments and bills and notes), administer oaths, take depositions, and certify copies of documents not recordable in the public records.

A Notary Public is, in the true sense of the word, "a public servant" and "an officer of the State of Texas", conveniently located in the community so that the notary may be of service to the public. Each Notary Public takes an official oath of office to faithfully perform the duties of the office, and to insure such performance, a notary public is required to post a $10,000.00 bond with the Secretary of State.

The primary duty of a Notary Public is to show that a disinterested party (the Notary Public) has duly notified the signer of an instrument as to the importance of such document, and the signer of such document has declared that the signer’s identity, signature, and reasons for signing such instrument are genuine. The signature and seal of a Notary Public do not prove these facts conclusively, but provide prima facie proof of them, and allow persons in trade and commerce to rely upon the truth and veracity of the Notary Public as a third party who has no personal interest in the transaction.

A Notary Public is personally liable for negligence or fraud in the performance of the duties of the office. The bond is to insure that the person injured can recover at least $10,000.00, but this does not protect the Notary Public from personal liability for the full extent of damages caused by a breach of official duty. In addition to civil liability, Notaries Public may be subject to criminal prosecution and the revocation or suspension of their notary public commission by the Secretary of State's office.

Statutes

Record Book and Public Records

Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 406.014 requires that a Notary Public maintain a record book. This record book must be maintained whether or not any fees are charged for your notary public services.

A notary public other than a court clerk notarizing instruments for the court shall keep in a book a record of: (1) the date of each instrument notarized; (2) the date of the notarization; (3) the name of the signer, grantor, or maker; (4) the signer's, grantor's, or maker's residence or alleged residence; (5) whether the signer, grantor, or maker is personally known by the notary public, was identified by an identification card issued by a governmental agency or a passport issued by the United States, or was introduced to the notary public and, if introduced, the name and residence or alleged residence of the individual introducing the signer, grantor, or maker; (6) if the instrument is proved by a witness, the residence of the witness, whether the witness is personally known by the notary public or was introduced to the notary public and, if introduced, the name and residence of the individual introducing the witness; (7) the name and residence of the grantee; (8) if land is conveyed or charged by the instrument, the name of the original grantee and the county where the land is located; and (9) a brief description of the instrument.

NOTE: 1 T.A.C. §87.40 prohibits a notary from recording in the notary's book of record the identification number that was assigned by the governmental agency or by the United States to the signer, grantor or maker and that is set forth on the identification card or passport; or any other number that could be used to identify the signer, grantor or maker of the document. Section 87.40 does not prohibit a notary from recording a number related to the residence or alleged residence of the signer, grantor or maker of the document or the instrument.

Entries in the notary's book are public information. A notary public shall, on payment of all fees, provide a certified copy of any record in the notary public's office to any person requesting the copy.

A notary public who administers an oath pursuant to Article 45.019 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is exempt from the requirement of recording that oath in the notary public’s record book.

Notary Seal

Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 406.013 requires a Notary Public to use a seal of office to authenticate the Notary Public’s official acts. Section 406.013 states:

  1. A notary public shall provide a seal of office that clearly shows, when embossed, stamped, or printed on a document, the words "Notary Public, State of Texas" around a star of five points, the notary public's name, and the date the notary public's commission expires. Notaries public commissioned for the first time on or after January 1, 2016, and notaries public renewing their commissions on or after that date must have their notary ID number on their seal of office. See Section 406.013 of the Texas Government Code as amended by HB 1683 (PDF). The notary public shall authenticate all official acts with the seal of office.
  2. The seal may be a circular form not more than two inches in diameter or a rectangular form not more than one inch in width and 2½ inches in length. The seal must have a serrated or milled edge border.
  3. The seal must be affixed by a seal press or stamp that embosses or prints a seal that legibly reproduces the required elements of the seal under photographic methods. An indelible inkpad must be used for affixing by a stamp the impression of a seal on an instrument to authenticate the notary public's official act.
  4. Subsection (c) does not apply to an electronically transmitted authenticated document, except that an electronically transmitted authenticated document must legibly reproduce the required elements of the seal.

Change of Address

Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 406.019 requires a Notary Public to notify the Secretary of State of any change of address within ten (10) days of the date on which the change is made. You may fill out a Notary Public Change of Address form or send a letter with your name, social security number, old address, and new address to: Secretary of State, Notary Public Unit, P. O. Box 13375, Austin, Texas 78711-3375. You may also file your change of address online. The failure to update your address may result in revocation of your commission if you fail to respond to a complaint or a request for information (1 TAC §87.50(b)).

Unauthorized Practice of Law

An attorney or similar trained legal professional often holds the position of a Notary Public in Mexico and many foreign countries. To avoid deception by such persons and to dispel erroneous assumptions, the Texas Legislature enacted § 406.017 of the Government Code. Section 406.017 states:

  1. A person commits an offense if the person is a notary public and the person:
    1. states or implies that the person is an attorney licensed to practice law in this state;
    2. solicits or accepts compensation to prepare documents for or otherwise represent the interest of another in a judicial or administrative proceeding, including a proceeding relating to immigration to the United States, United States citizenship, or related matters;
    3. solicits or accepts compensation to obtain relief of any kind on behalf of another from any officer, agency, or employee of this state or the United States;
    4. uses the phrase “notario or “notario publico” to advertise the services of a notary public, whether by signs, pamphlets, stationary or other written communication or by radio or television.
    5. advertises the services of a notary public in a language other than English, whether by signs, pamphlets, stationary or other written communication or by radio or television; if the person does not post or otherwise include the notice with the advertisement a notice that complies with Subsection (b).
  2. The notice required by Subsection (a)(5) must state that the notary public is not an attorney and must be in English and in the language of the advertisement and in letters of a conspicuous size. If the advertisement is by radio or television, the statement may be modified, but must include substantially the same message. The notice must include the fees that a notary public may charge and the following statement:

    "I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN TEXAS AND MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE."

  3. It is an exception to prosecution under this section that, at the time the conduct charged, the person is licensed to practice law in this state and is in good standing with the State bar of Texas.
  4. Except as provided by Subsection (e) of this section, an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
  5. An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has previously been convicted under this section.
  6. Failure to comply with this section is, in addition to a violation of any other applicable law of this state, a deceptive trade practice actionable under Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code.

Revocation or Suspension of Commission by the Secretary of State

Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 406.004 requires that if the secretary of state discovers, at any time, that an applicant to be a notary public or a commissioned notary public is not eligible to serve as a notary public, the secretary of state shall:

  1. reject the application; or
  2. revoke the commission.

Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 406.009 gives the Secretary of State the authority to reject an application, or suspend or revoke the commission of any Notary Public for "good cause".

  1. The secretary of state may, for good cause, reject an application or suspend or revoke the commission of a notary public.
  2. An action by the secretary of state under this section is subject to the rights of notice, hearing, adjudication, and appeal.
  3. An appeal under this section is to the district court of Travis County. The secretary of state has the burden of proof, and the trial is conducted de novo.
  4. in this section, "good cause" includes:
    1. a false statement knowingly made in an application;
    2. the failure to comply with Section 406.017;
    3. a final conviction for a violation of law concerning the regulation of the conduct of notaries public in this or another state;
    4. the imposition on the notary public of an administrative, criminal, or civil penalty for a violation of a law or rule prescribing the duties of a notary public;
    5. performing any notarization when the person for whom the notarization is performed did not personally appear before the notary at the time he notarization is executed.

Fees Posted

Section 603.008 of the Government Code requires a Notary Public to keep posted the fees that a notary is authorized by law to charge.

A county judge, clerk of a district or county court, sheriff, justice of the peace, constable, or notary public shall keep posted at all times in a conspicuous place in the respective offices a complete list of fees the person may charge by law.

Fee Book

Section 603.006 of the Government Code requires a Notary Public who charges a fee for notary services to keep a fee book.

An officer who by law may charge a fee for a service shall keep a fee book and shall enter in the book all fees charged for services rendered.

To Itemize Costs

Section 603.007 of the Government Code states that a Notary Public must itemize or be prepared to itemize the fees that the notary charges for performing notarial services.

A fee under this chapter is not payable to a person until a clerk or officer produces, or is ready to produce, a bill in writing containing the details of the fee to the person who owes the fee. The bill must be signed by the clerk or officer to whom the fee is due or who charges the fee or by the successor in office or legal representative of the clerk or officer.

Fees

Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. § 406.024 sets out the maximum fees a Notary Public, or their employer, may charge for notary public services. A Notary Public who charges more than the maximum set out below subjects the notary to possible criminal prosecution and suspension or revocation of the notary’s notary public commission by the Secretary of State's office.

Notaries Public may charge the following fees:

Service
 Fee
Protesting a bill or note for non-acceptance or non-payment, register and seal
$ 4.00
Each notice of protest
1.00
Protesting in all other cases
4.00
Certificate and seal to a protest
4.00
Taking the acknowledgment or proof of any deed or other instrument in writing, for registration, including certificate and seal:
(1) for the first signature
10.00
(2) for each additional signature
1.00
Administering an oath or affirmation with certificate and seal
10.00
All certificates under seal not otherwise provided for
10.00
Copies of all records and papers in the Notary Public's office, for each page
1.00
Taking the depositions of witnesses, for each 100 words
1.00
Swearing a witness to a deposition, certificate, seal, and other business connected with taking the deposition
10.00
All notarial acts not provided for
10.00

Questions Frequently Asked

The following section consists of questions Notaries Public often have about their office. If you have any questions about notarizing a document you should contact the maker of the document, the Notary Public Unit of the Secretary of State's office, or an attorney.

  1. May I Notarize my Spouse's Signature?

  2. May I Notarize for my Spouse's Business?

  3. May I Notarize for my Relatives?

    The basic rules are: the act of taking and certifying acknowledgments cannot be performed by a notary public financially or beneficially interested in the transaction; and one who is a party to an instrument, cannot act as a notary public. There is no specific prohibition against a notary public notarizing another spouse's signature or a notary public notarizing for a spouse's business. The facts in each situation will determine whether such action is proper.

  4. May I Alter or Change the Instrument I Notarize?

    To answer this question, a distinction must be made between the instrument and the acknowledgment. A Notary Public is not authorized to change, alter or draft any instrument. However, a Notary Public may correct the certificate of acknowledgment to reflect the proper facts. For example, if an acknowledgment is taken in Webb County and the certificate shows Marion County, the certificate may be corrected as follows:

    The State of Texas
    County of Marion Webb

    Before me, (Notary Public's name), a Notary Public, on this day personally ... etc.

  5. May I Perform Notarial Acts in Other Counties?

    Yes. A notary public has statewide jurisdiction and may perform notarial acts in any county in the state of Texas.

  6. May I Perform Functions Other Than Those Outlined in Tex. Gov't Code §406.016 and may I Charge Fees in Excess of Those Authorized in Tex. Gov't. Code § 406.024?

    No. A notary public’s authority is limited to those acts authorized in §406.016. A Notary Public may not charge more than the prescribed fees for performance of notarial acts.

  7. What if There is a Difference Between the Date the Instrument is Signed and the Date the Acknowledgment is Actually Taken?

    To answer this question, an example is given. If an instrument ends with the wording: "Signed and executed at Tyler, Smith County, Texas, this 25th day of October, 2001," and the party whose name appears on such instrument appears before the Notary Public on October 27th, 2001, the Notary Public would fill in the acknowledgment with the true and correct date when the signer personally appeared before the Notary Public.

  8. May I Take an Acknowledgment Over the Telephone?

    No. The person whose signature is notarized must personally appear before the notary at the time the notarization is performed.

  9. May I Change my Name From the Name Shown on my Notary Public Commission?

    Yes. A Notary Public may change the name on their commission by sending the Secretary of State a name change application, your current certificate of commission, a rider or endorsement from the insurance agency or surety, and a $20.00 filing fee. The above four elements must be sent at the same time. For an instruction sheet, please contact the Notary Public Unit at (512) 463-5705.

  10. May I Make a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate or a Marriage License:

    No. Birth certificates and marriage licenses are recordable documents. A recordable document is one that is recorded with some type of entity whether it be the Secretary of State's Office, a court of law, a county clerk, or the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Certified copies may be obtained by contacting such entities.

    A non-recordable document is one that has not been nor will ever be recorded with any type of entity. For instance, a letter is not recorded with anyone but there are times the sender of the letter would like to obtain a certified copy of that letter for his or her file.

  11. May a Notary Public Determine Which Type of Notarial Certificate Should be Attached to a Document?

    No. A Notary Public who is not an attorney should only complete a notarial certificate which is already on the document or type a certificate of the maker's choosing. If a notary public is brought a document without a certificate and decides which certificate to attach, that notary public would be "practicing law."However, a notary public is provided copies of sample notarial certificates with his or her notary commission. A person for whom a notarization is performed may choose the notarial certificate, and the notary may add such certificate to the document.

  12. Should a Notary Public Rely Only on a Credit Card in Determining the Identification of a Signer?

    No. If the signer is not personally known by the Notary Public or identified by a credible witness, the Notary Public must use an identification card issued by a governmental agency or a passport issued by the United States to identify the signer.

  13. Is a Notary Required to Administer an Oath to a Deponent Served Deposition Upon Written Questions?

    Yes. The deposition officer (“notary public”) must: record the testimony of the witness under oath in response to the written questions and prepare, certify and deliver the deposition transcript in accordance with Rule 203 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

Prohibited Acts

The section below provides a notary public with a list of prohibited acts that a notary public may not do in carrying out the duties of the notary's office. If a notary public performs any of the following acts, the notary may be subject to possible criminal prosecution, civil liability, including liability under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and the revocation or suspension of the notary's notary public commission.

A Notary Public may not:

  1. perform acts, which constitute the practice of law;
  2. prepare, draft, select, or give advice concerning legal documents;
  3. use the phrase “notario” or “notario publico” to advertise notary services;
  4. overcharge for notary public services;
  5. notarize a document without the signer being in the notary’s presence;
  6. notarize the notary’s own signature;
  7. issue identification cards;
  8. sign a notarial certificate under any other name than the one under which the notary was commissioned;
  9. certify copies of documents recordable in the public records;
  10. record in the notary’s record book the identification number that was assigned by the governmental agency or by the United States to the signer, grantor or maker and that is set forth on an identification card or passport; or any other number that could be used to identify the signer, grantor or maker of the document. (This does not prohibit a notary from recording a number related to the residence or alleged residence of the signer, grantor or maker of the document or the instrument.); or
  11. using the translation into a foreign language of a title or other word, including "notary" and "notary public" in reference to a person who is not an attorney in order to imply that the person is authorized to practice law in the United States.

Notarial Definitions

Acknowledgment: A formal declaration before an authorized official, such as a notary public, by someone who signs a document and confirms that the signature is authentic. Also, the certificate of the officer on such instrument indicating that the document has been so acknowledged.

Affidavit: A voluntary declaration of facts, written down and sworn to or affirmed by the declarant (“affiant”) before a Notary Public or other officer having the authority to administer an oath.

Affirmation: The act of affirming the truth of a document, not an oath. "I solemnly affirm and declare the foregoing to be a true statement...” Note that an affidavit may appear in two forms: a sworn affidavit with oath, or an affirmed affidavit with affirmation. Each has the same legal import.

Jurat: A certification added to an affidavit or document stating when, where and before whom such affidavit was made.

Oath: A solemn declaration, accompanied by a swearing to God or a revered person or thing, that one’s statement is true or that one will be bound to a promise. The person making the oath implicitly invites punishment if the statement is untrue or the promise is broken.

Protest: A Notary Public’s written statement that, upon presentment for payment or acceptance, a negotiable instrument was neither paid nor accepted.

Verification: A formal declaration by which one swears to or affirms the truth of the statements in a document. Also, the statement of a Notary Public that the person appearing before the notary has been properly identified as being the person purported to be appearing.