Notary Public Underwriters Blog
How to Become a Notary in Texas
- Details
- Published: May 6, 2024
Are you considering becoming a notary in Texas? The process of becoming a notary in Texas is easy and only requires you to complete a few simple steps. In this blog post, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to become a notary in the Lone Star State.
Meet the Requirements
To become a notary in Texas, you must be at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the state, and have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude. Texas escrow agents living in an adjoining state are eligible to become a Texas notary without meeting the residency requirement.
Please note that the Secretary of State's office conducts background checks on all notary applicants.
Obtain a Surety Bond, Complete the Notary Application, and Pay the Necessary Fees
As a part of the application process, you must obtain a $10,000 surety bond, also known as a notary bond, from a bonding agency such as Notary Public Underwriters Agency of Texas. This bond is intended to protect the public from any financial loss caused by notarial misconduct.
Next, you will need to complete the application. Don't worry; our online application process will guide you through all of the application questions and help you avoid any errors.
Becoming a notary in Texas is generally inexpensive. The state filing fee is $21, and our 4-year $10,000 notary bond is $50. You will also need to purchase a notary stamp and record book so that you can carry out your duties. These vary in price depending on the style you like.
Although not required by law, it's wise to invest in notary E&O insurance. Too many notaries confuse an E&O policy with the notary bond, yet they are entirely different products. As mentioned above, the notary bond is designed to protect the public. If a claim is made against your bond, you are required to pay it back. Notary E&O insurance is designed to shield the notary from financial liability in the case of any unintentional mistakes or oversights up to the policy limit. There is no deductible, and you are not required to pay it back. Without this policy, you would be responsible for all fees or expenses related to defending yourself as a notary.
It's also a good idea to be educated on notary public laws in Texas and best practices, even though it's not mandated by law. The Secretary of State provides educational materials in accordance with Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §406.008(b) on their website. For a better understanding of the laws and protocols, you should consider taking a notary course like the one that Notary Public Underwriters Agency of Texas offers. Our course, priced at $25.00, can be conveniently added to your order during the application process.
By taking our course, you will gain a full understanding of a notary’s responsibility in society and the obligation to execute the duties lawfully and ethically. The Texas Notary Course will help you become familiar with the most current notary laws in Texas as well as completely understand your notarial duties.
Additionally, consider adding the Texas Notary Handbook to your order for $15.25. This handbook serves as a handy reference to notary statutes and administrative rules when you are in the field.
You may be wondering how much it costs to become a notary. Not to worry, we have created a breakdown of the items we discussed above. We selected our popular rectangular self-inking notary stamp, which is available in several colors. For the E&O policy, we chose the most commonly purchased policy. Please note that these prices are accurate as of May 1, 2024.
Cost to Become a Notary$10,000 Notary Bond: $50 Total: $167.95 |
When you break down this total for a 4-year term, that comes to less than $0.15 a day!
Submit Your Paperwork
If you used our online application process, you will be able to download the documents you need to send to us at the end of checkout. These documents would include instructions on where to sign and a reminder to include proper documentation to assist the Secretary of State's Notary Unit in determining your eligibility if you have been found guilty of a crime other than a class C misdemeanor.
Once we receive your paperwork, we will review it for accuracy and file it with the state upon determining it will be accepted.
Receiving Your Certificate and Supplies
We will begin manufacturing your order and ship it within three business days upon notification of approval from the State. Please be aware that your notary certificate will be emailed to you directly from the Secretary of State's Office. You will need to take your notary certificate to another commissioned Texas notary for them to administer the Oath of Office and notarize the document. You will be responsible for keeping it on file.
Start Notarizing
Congratulations, you are now a duly commissioned notary public in the state of Texas! You can begin offering your services to the public, whether as an independent notary or as part of your existing profession.
If you have any questions on how to become a notary, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 800.821.0822. We are always happy to assist.
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