how to become a notary in texas

In Texas, a notary public has the power, given by the state of Texas, to make documents and other statements "official." Becoming a notary in Texas is a straightforward process, and as long as you fit the eligibility criteria you can become a notary. If you are a private citizen you will have to take out a surety bond to become a notary. If you work for a state agency, you can become a notary without a surety bond. In that case, your commission as a notary public will end whenever your employment with the state ends.

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Be 18 years of age or older. You can only become a notary public in Texas if you are at least eighteen years of age.^[1] Proof of your age is provided by your birth certificate.
- Get a copy of your birth certificate. If you don't already have one, you might have to write, call, or (e)mail a form and fee to the Office of Vital Records in the city, town or county where you were born.
- Links to the Offices of Vital Records in every state can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm^[2]
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Know that certain crimes make you ineligible. If you have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or a felony, you are automatically ineligible to apply to become a notary in the State of Texas.^[4]
- If you have been found guilty of a crime that was neither a felony, nor involved moral turpitude, you can still apply to become a notary in Texas. Get your legal documents ready, though, because you'll have to submit them with the application form.
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Fill out Form 2301 or Form 2301-NB. You can either fill out this form online, and then print it out, or print it out first and fill it out by hand.
- You'll need to have a social security number, an email address, a work address, and either valid state identification or driver license.
- Make sure that your name is consistent of all these forms of documentation.
- If you have been found guilty of a crime that was neither a felony, nor involved in moral turpitude, you are still eligible to apply, but you do have to note this on the form and provide documentation of your court order and sentence, papers pertaining to release from probation, a statement of the nature, circumstances, date and location of the crime and whether the case is under appeal or not.
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Provide proof of a surety bond. If you are a private individual, you must provide proof of a $10,000 surety bond and obtain a signature of the surety provider.
- There is a section on Form 2301 where the surety company has to fill out and sign that you have taken out the bond, so don't forget to bring it with you so that you can have this signed in person.
- The surety bond is common for many official offices, and is meant to act as a guarantee that you will perform your duties honestly and faithfully as a holder of "public trust."
- The surety bond covers associated costs that may arise if you fail to correctly perform the duties of the public notary, or that arise directly from your notarial acts.
- This bond must be provided by a surety company and/or insurance company licensed in the state of Texas. ^[7]
- The bond must be in the amount of $10,000.^[8]
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Pay a $21 filing fee. The fee covers the processing of your application materials.
- You can pay this fee by filling out Payment Form available at https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/forms/payment.pdf^[9]
- You can pay by personal check or credit card, though the credit card payment is subject to a 2.7% transaction fee.^[10]
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Mail or deliver the form, the fee and its form and any additional materials to the correct office.
- If you are going to mail the documents, send them to: Notary Public Unit, P.O. Box 13375, Austin, TX 78711-3375.
- If you happen to be Austin and want to deliver them in person, go to James Earl Rudder Office Building, 1019 Brazos, Austin, TX 78701.
- It's always a good idea to make a copy for your own records. For a little practice, and to make the copy "official," you can even have this done by a Notary Public of Texas to see one in action!
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Maintain a notary's record book. The notebook is a public state record, and is it a requirement.
- Blank notary public notebooks are widely available for purchase.
- Be as complete as possible, and follow the guidelines recommended in the commission packet you are sent by the Texas Secretary of State.
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Charge the correct fee for your services. The fees for notary public services are set by the state of Texas in Texas Governmental Code Section 406.024, which can be found at http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.406.htm ^[13] ^[14]

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Renew your commission 90 days before it expires. Your commission lasts for 4 years, but you should renew it 90 days (3 months) before it expires. For renewal, follow the same steps in Becoming a Notary in Texas, above.
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Continue to fulfill the duties of a notary public honestly. People may lodge complaints against a notary public at any time, and the Texas Secretary of State can revoke a public notary commission at any time.^[15]
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Make sure your surety bond is paid on time and that your account is in good standing. This is one bill you want to pay on-time or earlier, because a lapse in your bond coverage puts you at risk for being dismissed and your commission revoked.

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Add New Question

Question

Can I notarize any documents while outside the U.S.for American citizens?

No, for notary you need to be in the U.S. and go in-person, as they need to check your original document.
Question

Can I transfer my California Notary commission to my new state of residency in Texas?

Yes, you can, but first, you have to get the transfer verified at your local court.
Question

Can I become a public notary if I have a working permit?

Yes, because all you need is to prove your residency in Texas. I personally know a notary public who had a working permit.
Question

How much are surety bonds?

Most websites and agencies offer an average price of about $50.00.
Question

Is the cost of the surety bond $10,000.00? Does it need to be paid once I'm applying for the notary license?

It needs to be paid during the application process. You will not get commissioned if you do not pay.
Question

Can I notarize documents without charging a fee?

No. The S.O.S. dictates the fees to be charged. Check the S.O.S. website for more details.
Question

What is the wait time to become a notary in Texas?

About a month. It depends on the application volume, etc. It also depends also if you follow the instructions on the application and provide all the requested information.

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Things You'll Need

Proof of age
Proof of residency
Clean background check
Completed Form 2301 or Form 2301-NB
Signature and proof of $10,000 surety bond
Payment Form
$21 Filing Fee
Notary record book
Notary seal

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To become a notary in Texas, you'll need to be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the state. If you meet those requirements, download the necessary forms online and fill them out. You'll also need to get a surety bond worth $10,000. Once you've filled out the forms and acquired proof of a surety bond, mail them, along with a $21 filing fee, to the notary public unit in Austin, Texas. For tips on how to be a notary in Texas once your application is approved, scroll down!

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