Notary Public
E-commissions are now available. By providing your email address on your application for Appointment as a Texas Notary Public your commission will be emailed to you resulting in faster receipt than if sent by mail. E-commissions also have a fresh new look. Samples of the notary commissions issued by the secretary of state are available for review.
Notaries public are governed primarily by Chapter 406 of the Texas Government Code and the secretary of state’s administrative rules found in title 1, Chapter 87 of the Texas Administrative Code. Other statutes, such as Chapter 121 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, also govern certain notary conduct.
The secretary of state commissions notaries public and has the authority to discipline notaries, including suspension or revocation of commission, for good cause. For information on filing a complaint against a Texas notary public with the secretary of state, see our FAQs Relating to Notary Public Complaints.
¿Notario Público? Not in Texas! (En Español)
- A notary public is not a notario or notario público.
- A notary public is not authorized to practice law.
- A notary public may not give legal advice or prepare legal documents.
- A notary public may not charge a fee for preparation of immigration documents or represent someone in immigration matters.
- Please report any notaries public disobeying these rules to the Office of the Secretary of State.
Educational Materials
- Informational materials that accompany notary commissions
- Video: Texas Notary Training (approx. 45 minutes)
- PC (Zip file, 108 mb). Requires WinZip 7.0 or higher. Please refer to Instructions for opening a zip file if you are unfamiliar with this format.
- Mac (Zip file, 112mb). WinZip Mac edition may be required. Please refer to Instructions for opening a zip file if you are unfamiliar with this format.
- PowerPoint Presentation: Notary Public Educational Information (PPS) PowerPoint presentation.
- Lost in Translation: Texas Notary Public v. Mexico Notario Publico by Jonathan A. Pikoff and Charles J. Crimmins
- Educational information may also be available from your notary association
These materials are offered as a public service for educational non-commercial use and are not intended to provide legal advice. While these materials are believed to be accurate, the Secretary of State makes no representations or warranties and disclaims any liability or responsibility for any errors.
The Secretary of State retains any underlying ownership and copyright in these materials (with the exception of the Pikoff and Crimmins article), and the materials should not be reproduced, redistributed, published, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the Secretary of State.