A notary public in Texas is a public officer commissioned by the state to serve as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts. Notaries verify the identity of signers, ensure they understand the documents they are signing, and are willing to sign without coercion.

A notary provides several services, including:

• Acknowledgments: Verifying that a signer willingly signed a document.

• Jurat: Administering oaths and affirmations and witnessing the signing of documents.

• Oaths/Affirmations: Verifying a person's commitment to truthfulness.

• Copy Certifications: Verifying that a copy of an original document is true and correct (only for certain documents in Texas).

• Protests: Noting dishonor of negotiable instruments.

Yes, a notary can notarize a document in a foreign language as long as the notary is able to communicate with the signer and the notarial certificate is in English (or the official language required). The notary does not need to understand the content of the document.

Notaries can notarize a wide variety of documents, including:

- Real estate documents (e.g., deeds, mortgages)

- Loan documents

- Affidavits

- Wills and trusts

- Powers of attorney

- Business contracts

- Adoption papers

To see a list of common documents that are notarized visit our Resource Library for more information.

Note: Notaries in Texas cannot certify copies of birth certificates, death certificates, or any document issued by a governmental entity.

We do! We offer online and mobile notary services. We can assist with online notarizations any time of day or night. See our services page to obtain details or schedule an appointment.

No, notaries are not responsible for the content of the documents. Their role is to verify the identity of the signers and ensure the documents are signed willingly and knowingly.

A notary cannot refuse to notarize a document based on its content if all legal requirements are met. However, the notary can refuse if the document appears incomplete, contains blanks, if the notary suspects coercion or fraud, or if the signer does not meet identification or willingness criteria.

Signature witnessing is a notarial act where the notary witnesses the signing of a document, verifies the identity of the signer, and then signs and dates the document. This is different from an acknowledgment or jurat.

You will need to bring the document(s) to be notarized, a valid form of identification (such as a driver's license or passport), and any additional witnesses if required by the document.

You can verify a notary's legitimacy by checking their commission details with the state's notary public database or contacting the state's notary regulatory agency. A valid notary will have an active commission number and credentials.

Yes, a notary can certify a copy of certain documents, such as passports or academic transcripts, by verifying that the copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. This service varies by state law.

In addition to having the proper identification, signers must be present in person (or virtually for online notarizations) and willing to sign the documents without duress.

Notaries in Texas do not typically offer fingerprinting or background checks as part of their services. These services are usually conducted by law enforcement agencies or specialized third-party providers. However, we can guide you on where to obtain these services if needed.