Professional Notary Public Services in Texas
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Reliable notary services across the Lone Star State Our certified notaries provide same-day mobile notary services and secure online notarization throughout Texas.
About Notary Services in Texas
How Texas commissions its notaries
Texas has historically run one of the lighter regulatory regimes for traditional notary commissions among the country's largest states, but that picture is shifting. The Secretary of State's Notary Public Unit issues commissions for a four-year term (Tex. Gov't Code § 406.002). Applicants must be Texas residents, at least 18 years old, with no final conviction for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude (§ 406.004), and must post a $10,000 surety bond filed with the Secretary of State (§ 406.010). Senate Bill 693 from the 89th Legislature added a mandatory online education course delivered through the SOS Notary Portal, plus a 20-question open-book assessment requiring a 70% score, with up to three attempts. That moves Texas closer to states like North Carolina (six-hour course plus 80% exam) and California (six-hour course, written exam, and Live Scan), though the in-person classroom component used in those states is not part of the Texas program. Every Texas notary must keep a written record book of every notarization (§ 406.014) and must use a stamp or seal that includes the notary's name, ID number, and commission expiration date.
Where notaries work in Texas
Texas runs one of the largest notary commission bases in the country, and the geography matters. Houston handles energy industry contracts (oil and gas leases, mineral rights conveyances, lease bonus payments), international shipping documents flowing through the Port of Houston, and the medical document load that comes off the Texas Medical Center. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex carries corporate-headquarters work for American Airlines, AT&T, and ExxonMobil, plus heavy banking and telecom volume. Austin generates startup formation paperwork, equity grant signings, and a residential real estate book that has cooled since 2023 but still runs hot relative to most metros. San Antonio handles military signings tied to Joint Base San Antonio (one of the largest military installations in the Department of Defense) plus a deep healthcare market. For purchase closings in Houston's Memorial corridor, Plano, Travis Heights, or Stone Oak, the title company usually arranges the notary at the closing table itself. Everything else around a Texas real estate deal (refinances where you pick the notary, FSBOs, POAs for absent buyers, quitclaim deeds, lease assignments, Transfer on Death Deeds) routes through this directory.
Remote online notarization in Texas
Texas was an early mover on remote online notarization, with Virginia being the first state and Texas authorizing it shortly after. House Bill 1217 from the 85th Legislature was signed June 1, 2017 and took effect July 1, 2018, making Texas the second state in the country to enable RON. The mechanics live in Tex. Gov't Code §§ 406.101 through 406.111. To perform RON, a Texas notary must hold an active traditional commission and separately apply to the Secretary of State for an online notary public commission. The online notary posts no additional bond beyond the $10,000 traditional bond, and uses a digital certificate plus an electronic seal that meet 1 TAC § 87.4 standards. The online commission runs concurrently with the four-year traditional commission. Texas RON does not require the signer to be physically located in Texas at the time of the act, which makes it useful for cross-border use cases like a Texas expat in Singapore or Mexico City executing a Texas POA. The receiving party still has to accept a Texas notarial certificate, so confirm that ahead of time. The online notary records every appointment, including the audio-video file, and retains the record for five years under § 406.108. Statutory cap is $25 per online notarial act.
What notaries can charge in Texas
The fee schedule in Tex. Gov't Code § 406.024 was updated by House Bill 255 (88th Legislature, effective September 1, 2023). For an acknowledgment or proof of an instrument, the cap is $10 for the first signature and $1 for each additional signature on the same instrument. An oath or affirmation with certificate and seal is $10. A certificate under seal that is not otherwise provided for is $10. Protest of a bill or note for nonacceptance or nonpayment is $4, plus $1 per notice of protest. Deposition services are $1 per 100 words, and swearing a witness to the deposition is $10. Copies of records in the notary's office are $1 per page. Online notarizations are capped at $25 per act under Tex. Gov't Code § 406.111. A Texas notary cannot certify copies of recordable documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, divorce decrees), which must be obtained from the issuing government agency. Travel for a mobile notary is a separate item that must be agreed to in writing before the notary leaves.
What this page covers
This page covers what Texas requires of its notaries, what you'll actually pay, the documents Texas notaries can and cannot handle, and the questions Texas signers ask before booking. The directory below covers Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Arlington, Plano, Corpus Christi, and Lubbock, and you can filter by city, ZIP, and capability.
Notary Services in Texas
State Regulations
Texas notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State and must maintain a $10,000 surety bond.
Average Pricing
Notary services in Texas typically range from $20-$65 for a typical mobile appointment including travel.
Service Features
- Statewide mobile notary coverage
- Remote online notarization available
- Bilingual notary services
- Real estate closing specialists
- 24/7 emergency notary services
Texas Notary Requirements
Statutory requirements for becoming and operating as a notary public in Texas.
Commission Term
4 years
Renewal required before expiration. Recommissioning application opens up to 10 weeks before the term ends.
Surety Bond
$10,000
Bond posted with the Texas Secretary of State, Notary Public Unit.
Training & Exam
Required
Online education course delivered through the SOS Notary Portal under Senate Bill 693 (89th Legislature). Required for new traditional notary applicants and for reappointment as continuing education. Course fee is $20.00 (non-refundable), and the entire program runs through the SOS Notary Portal. A 20-question open-book assessment is administered through the SOS Notary Portal as part of the SB 693 program. Applicants must score 70% or higher and have up to three attempts within three months to pass. Texas does not require the kind of in-person classroom course or proctored exam used by California or North Carolina.
Minimum Age
18+
Residency
State resident required
Texas commissions are limited to legal residents of the state.
Remote Online Notarization
Legal since 2018
Texas was the second state in the country to authorize remote online notarization, after Virginia. House Bill 1217 (85th Legislature) was signed June 1, 2017 and took effect July 1, 2018. The framework lives in Tex. Gov't Code §§ 406.101 through 406.111 and 1 TAC § 87. A Texas notary must hold an active traditional commission and separately apply to the Secretary of State for an online notary public commission, with no additional bond beyond the $10,000 traditional bond. The online commission runs concurrently with the four-year traditional commission. The notary must be physically located in Texas at the time of the act, but the signer can be located anywhere in the world (subject to the receiving party accepting a Texas notarial certificate). Online notaries must retain the audio-video recording of every online notarization for five years (Tex. Gov't Code § 406.108).
Source: Texas Secretary of State, Notary Public Unit. Last verified 2026-05-14.
Texas Notary Fee Schedule
Statutory maximum fees for notarial acts performed in Texas.
| Notarial Act | Maximum Fee |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment, verification, or proof (paper) | $10.00 per signature |
| Jurat (paper) | $10.00 per signature |
| Oath or affirmation (no signature) | $10.00 per person |
| Certified copy | $1.00 |
Per Tex. Gov't Code § 406.024 (as amended by HB 255, 88th Legislature, effective September 1, 2023), statutory maximums are $10 for an acknowledgment or proof of an instrument first signature, $1 for each additional signature on the same instrument, $10 for an oath or affirmation with certificate and seal, $10 for a certificate under seal that is not otherwise provided for, $4 for protest of a bill or note for nonacceptance or nonpayment with register and seal, $1 per notice of protest, $1 per 100 words for deposition services, $10 for swearing a witness to a deposition with certificate and seal, $1 per page for copies of records or papers in the notary's office, and $10 for any notarial act not otherwise provided for. Online notarizations are capped at $25 per act under Tex. Gov't Code § 406.111. Texas notaries cannot certify copies of recordable documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, divorce decrees), which must be obtained from the issuing government agency. Travel fees for mobile notarization are negotiated separately and must be agreed to in writing before the notary leaves.
Statutory maximums set by Texas. Travel and convenience fees may apply for mobile services and are negotiated separately between the notary and the signer.
Documents Commonly Notarized in Texas
The document types that drive most Texas notary appointments, with practical notes on what to expect.
Real Estate Closing Packages and Deeds
Texas is a lien-theory state, which shapes how mortgages and security interests are documented. Warranty deeds, deeds of trust, releases of lien, and full closing packages all require notarization to be recordable in the county clerk's office. Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Travis, and Bexar counties see the heaviest closing volume in Texas. Mobile notaries cover most buyer-side and seller-side signings outside the title-company-arranged closing itself.
Texas Statutory Powers of Attorney
The Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney form (Tex. Est. Code Ch. 752) and the underlying Durable Power of Attorney Act (Tex. Est. Code Ch. 751) require the principal's notarized signature to be effective. Bring the form unsigned along with a current government-issued photo ID. The notary watches you sign and completes the acknowledgment certificate. A Texas POA executed in front of a notary takes effect immediately unless the form itself sets a later trigger.
Transfer on Death Deeds
Texas authorizes a Transfer on Death Deed under Tex. Est. Code Ch. 114, which lets a real property owner designate a beneficiary who takes title at the owner's death without probate. The deed must be signed in front of a notary and recorded in the county where the property sits before the owner dies, or it has no effect. Mobile notaries handle a steady volume of these in Houston, the DFW metroplex, Austin, and the Hill Country.
Oil and Gas Leases and Mineral Rights Documents
Texas runs the largest oil and gas notarization market in the country. Mineral leases, lease ratifications, division orders, lease bonus payment receipts, and assignments of overriding royalty interest all routinely move through a notary. Houston, Midland, and the Permian Basin counties see the heaviest volume, but landman activity reaches into the Eagle Ford and Barnett shale areas as well. Many of these documents need to be recorded in multiple county clerk offices, so they have to be notarized correctly the first time.
Loan Signings and Refinance Packages
Refinances, HELOCs, reverse mortgages, and purchase closings make up steady Texas signing-agent work. Texas home equity loans under Article XVI § 50(a)(6) of the Texas Constitution have specific timing and disclosure rules that the signing agent has to walk through. The directory has notaries with active loan signing experience in Houston, the DFW metroplex, Austin, and San Antonio, plus full-time mobile notaries who run packages in El Paso, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Amarillo, and the Rio Grande Valley.
Medical Power of Attorney and Directive to Physicians
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 166 (the Advance Directives Act) governs the Medical Power of Attorney, the Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates (the Texas living will form), and the Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order. Each of these forms can be executed with two qualifying witnesses or with a single notary acknowledgment. Most Texas signers choose notarization to avoid the witness-eligibility rules that disqualify heirs, attending providers, and facility employees.
Affidavits and Sworn Statements
Used in Texas family-law and civil cases, insurance claims, financial-account disputes, and immigration filings. The Affidavit of Heirship under Tex. Est. Code Ch. 203 and the Small Estate Affidavit under Tex. Est. Code Ch. 205 are two of the most common probate-related Texas forms a notary will see. A jurat is the right notarial act for a sworn statement: the notary administers the oath and watches you sign.
Apostille and Document Authentication
The Texas Secretary of State runs an apostille office out of Austin that issues universal apostilles for Hague Convention countries and authentication certificates for non-Hague countries. The notarization comes first. The apostille is then issued by the SOS to certify that the underlying notarial signature is authentic. Houston's port and energy industry generate heavy international document volume that routes through this pipeline, especially for documents going to Mexico, the UK, the UAE, Singapore, and Brazil.
Vehicle Title Transfer Forms
Routine Texas DMV title assignments do not require notarization, which differs from many other states. Notarization shows up on a few specific forms (the Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle, Form VTR-262, is the most common, used to transfer title to a deceased owner's vehicle without probate when the estate qualifies). If a Texas DMV form has a notary line on it, bring it unsigned and sign in front of the notary.
How to Find a Notary in Texas
Finding a notary in Texas comes down to two things: what you're signing and how soon you need it. For most Texas signers in 2026, the answer is a mobile notary at your location, booked through this directory. Texas also has a mature remote online notarization market, and that's the right call for some signings. A few specific cases route differently. Most don't apply to most signers.
Mobile notaries are the workhorse of the Texas directory. Book one and they come to you: your home, your office, a coffee shop in The Heights, or a hotel room downtown. It might be a hospital room at MD Anderson or UT Southwestern, an assisted-living facility in Plano, a closing table at a kitchen island in Round Rock, or a co-working space on South Congress. Texas mobile notaries on this directory work nights, early mornings, and weekends. No account opening, no membership, no waiting until banking hours. Need a power of attorney notarized at your parent's nursing home in Plano at 7pm? That's the use case. Refinance signing in Travis Heights or in The Heights at 8am before work? Also that. Same-day quitclaim in Bishop Arts on a Saturday because your buyer is wiring funds Monday morning? Book it the same day. After-hours signing at a tech office on South Congress for a founder closing a Series A? Also that. Hotel signing in downtown Houston for an out-of-state energy executive who flies out tomorrow? Same answer. Filter the directory by city, ZIP, and capability to find one near you.
Remote online notarization is the other path, and Texas does this well. Texas was the second state in the country to authorize RON after Virginia, and the program has been operational since July 1, 2018, which means the pool of registered Texas online notaries is deep and the workflows are well understood. RON is a fit when you need a Texas notarized signature for a recipient in another state, when an estate document needs to move quickly, or when you're in a rural Texas county where the closest mobile notary is an hour out. It's also useful for the Texas expat handling a Texas legal matter from Singapore, Dubai, Mexico City, or London. The signer does not have to be in Texas at the time of the act, but the notary does. Statutory cap is $25 per remote act under Tex. Gov't Code § 406.111, separate from any platform fee the technology provider charges. Filter the directory to the RON view to see online-capable Texas notaries.
Real estate is a special case worth calling out. If you're closing on a purchase or sale through a title company, the title company will usually arrange the notary for the closing itself. Texas has a deep title company industry rooted in the state's lien-theory framework, and the closing-table notary is a normal part of how a Texas purchase closes. Everything else in real estate, you source. Refinances where you pick the notary instead of the lender's vendor. Home equity loan closings under the Texas Constitution Article XVI § 50(a)(6) rules. FSBO closings. POA executions when one buyer or seller cannot be at the table. Quitclaim deeds between family members or for trust funding. Transfer on Death Deeds under Texas Estates Code Chapter 114. Lease assignments on rental property in the Hill Country or on the Gulf Coast. The directory has notaries with active loan signing experience in Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Travis, and Bexar counties, plus mobile notaries who run loan packages routinely outside the major metros.
One last option to mention. Some Texas institutions provide in-branch notary as an account-holder courtesy. That works when you have a single document, are an account holder in good standing, can wait until banking hours, and live close enough to a branch that has a commissioned notary on staff that day. That's a narrow set of conditions. Outside it (multi-document signings, after-hours, non-account-holders, anyone who cannot easily travel, anything mobile, anything time-sensitive, anything online), this directory is the right tool.
Texas notaries on this directory are commissioned by the Secretary of State, bonded at $10,000 under Tex. Gov't Code § 406.010, capped under § 406.024 at $10 for the first signature and $1 each additional, and filterable by city, ZIP, and capability. Most Texas signings booked through the directory get done the same day.
Texas Notary FAQs
Answers to the questions Texas residents most often ask before booking a notary.
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