Frequently Asked Questions

Texas requires an identifying document or card relied on by a Notary to identify a stranger must be current and issued by a federal or state governmental agency and must contain a photograph and signature of the bearer (TCPRC, Sec. 121.005 and NPEM); such as the following:

·     State driver’s license and/or official nondriver’s IDs

·     U.S. passports 

·     U.S. military 

·     IDs and resident alien IDs or green card issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 

** IDs should have the following: 

photograph, a physical description, and a signature of the bearer, and be original current/valid/unexpired

Please be sure you have the appropriate forms of identification prior to appointment.

Without valid appropriate forms of ID, notarization cannot/will not be completed.

No. A Texas Notary cannot accept expired forms of identification.

Please be sure you have the appropriate forms of identification prior to appointment.

Without valid appropriate forms of ID, notarization cannot/will not be completed. 

Texas State offers two other methods for identity verification:

· Personal Knowledge: if your notary already knows you personally. The notarial statute bearer (TCPRC, Sec. 121.005) says that a notarial officer “may accept, as satisfactory evidence of the identity of an acknowledging person, only: if the oath of a credible witness is personally known to the officer.”

· Credible Witness: In order to use this method, a third-party witness must swear an oath and sign that the signing party to the document is who they say they are. The witness must be credible and personally known to the notary and needs to provide current/valid/unexpired identifying documents to prove their identity. Finally, both the signer and the witness must appear physically in front of the notary during the notarial act.

Please be sure you have the appropriate forms of identification or credible witness and their proper identification prior to appointment. 

Without valid appropriate forms of ID by signer and/or credible witness, notarization cannot/will not be completed.

May want to consider:

·  What type of document needs to be notarized?

·  Do all signers have valid, government-issued photo ID?

·  Will all parties be present at the time of notarization?

·  Does the document require witnesses (and will they be provided)?

·  Do you prefer mobile, remote, or in-person service?

·  Are there any deadlines or time-sensitive needs?

Having this info ready helps ensure a smooth, efficient appointment.

· Have valid up-to-date government issued photo ID ready to present

· Ensure the name on your ID matches the name on your document(s)

· Have all signers (and witnesses, if needed) present, aware, and willing to sign

· Know what type of notarization/notarial act is needed

· Complete any blank sections on the documents; however, please DO NOT sign the documents until you are in the presence of the notary

· Know what you will be paying

Each appointment is usually approximately 30 minutes; unless additional time is requested.

·  All signing parties and witnesses must have a valid state ID, drivers license or passport; please have it readily available

·  Document can not be signed or initialed before hand

·  All parties must be coherent and of sound mind

·  Have your documents out and ready. The notary will need to look over them to determine the type of notarial act to be performed.

·  The notary will document the notarial act in notarial act  journal and you will sign the notarial act journal.

·  The notary will then notarize your documents after the necessary steps are completed for each document.

·  Payment is expected at the time of service; unless specified otherwise.

Per Texas Government Code 406.024, the maximum fees a Notary Public may charge for notarization are as follows:

·         Acknowledgment or proofs for the first signature: $10 and $1 for each additional signature

·         Administering an oath or affirmation, with certificate and seal: $10

·         Taking a deposition for the oath: $10 certificate, seal and other business connected with the deposition, plus $1 per 100 words

·         Protesting for nonacceptance or nonpayment: register and seal, $4; each notice of protest, $1; certificate and seal to a     

    protest, $4; protesting; in all other cases, $4

·         Certificate under seal not otherwise provided for: $10

·         Certifying a photocopy: $6

·         Performing any other lawful notarial act: $10

We accept cash and all major credit/debit cards for your convenience, as well as Zelle, PayPal, and Venmo.

Please note: if paying with a card, there is a 3% merchant processing fee.

A Notary Public of the common law is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with general financial transactions, estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business.

A notarization is the official fraud-deterrent process that assures the parties of a transaction that a document is authentic,

and can be trusted. 

Yes, we can. 

Please be aware, in order to remain compliant with Texas notarial statutes (TCPRC, Sec. 121 and NPEM), 

a notary must be satisfied that a signer is competent, knowingly, and understanding what they are signing,

and are signing voluntarily. 

What is an Apostille?

An Apostille is a special form of authentication issued to documents for use in countries that are part of the Hague Convention. 

It serves to certify:

• The authenticity of the signature on the document.

• The capacity in which the person signing the document acted.

• The identity of any stamp or seal attached to the document.

** It is important to note that an Apostille does not validate the content of the document itself but merely verifies its legitimacy for international use.

Types of Documents That Require an Apostille

Apostilles are commonly required for various types of documents, including personal, educational, corporate, legal, and government-issued records. Below is a breakdown of the most common document categories that may require an Apostille:

Personal Documents:

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates

• Adoption papers

• Divorce decrees

• Background checks (e.g., police clearance letters)

• Passport copies, driver’s licenses, and other personal identification documents
  Note: These documents must be issued by an official authority, such as a state health department for birth certificates, and must bear an official seal or signature certifying their authenticity.

Educational Documents:

• High school, college, and university diplomas

• Transcripts

• Professional licenses and certificates
  Note: Most educational documents require verification from the issuing institution. Some states also require notarization before they can be apostilled.

Corporate and Commercial Documents:

• Articles of incorporation

• Commercial invoices

• Certificates of origin

• Power of attorney

• Board of directors meeting minutes
  Note: Corporate documents must be certified by the relevant state official, often the Secretary of State where the company is registered.

Legal Documents:

• Court orders

• Judgments

• Patents

• Trademarks

Note: Legal documents typically need to be certified by the court clerk or the relevant authority that issued them.

Government-Issued Documents:

• Naturalization certificates

• Immigration documents

• Federal background checks
  Note: Federal documents such as FBI background checks can be apostilled directly by the U.S. Department of State, whereas local or state-issued documents may first require authentication at the state level.

Key Considerations for Apostille Authentication

• Original Documents: Apostilles can only be issued for original documents or certified copies from the relevant authority.

• Official Seals and Signatures: Documents must include an official seal or signature to be eligible for authentication.

• Country-Specific Requirements: Ensure the receiving country is part of the Hague Convention and accepts Apostilles as a valid form of authentication.

What is the Form I-9?
The I-9 form, issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), verifies the identity and employment eligibility for employees hired in the U.S. The form is to be completed by both the employee and the employer (or authorized representative). As part of the process, the employee must present documents verifying eligibility to work in the U.S., and the employer (or authorized representative) must physically examine these documents. 

Is I-9 verification required?
Yes, all employers must verify the identity and employment eligibility of their employees using the I-9 form.

Is a notarization required for Form I-9?

No. The I-9 form itself does not require notarization, and notaries should not affix their seal to the form. 

We are not licensed attorneys and cannot by law in the state of Texas, interpret or explain the contents of any legal documents to you.

If you have any important questions about your documents, please contact an attorney or the person who provided the documents to you.

We are not allowed to draft legal documents, give advice on legal matters, or charge a fee for those services.