Texas mobile notary guide
How to Become a Notary in Texas and Work as a Mobile Notary
How to become a notary in Texas: the short answer
You must be a Texas resident, at least 18, with no felony or crime of moral turpitude. Since January 1, 2026 you must first pass the Secretary of State's $20 education course. The state charges $21 to file your commission and bond, and you need a $10,000 surety bond. Fees are capped at $10 for the first signature on an acknowledgment.
Texas mobile notary rules at a glance
| Rule | Texas |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment fee cap | Up to $10 for the first signature and $1 for each additional signature, including the certificate and seal[1] |
| Jurat fee cap | Up to $10. A jurat is an oath or affirmation with certificate and seal, which Texas caps at $10[1] |
| Travel fee | Texas law does not mention travel fees. Section 406.024 lets a notary charge only for the acts it lists, at no more than the listed amounts, and travel is not one of them. The Secretary of State publishes no guidance on travel charges. If you charge for travel, agree it with the signer in advance, keep it separate from the notarial fee, and itemize it on the bill.[1] |
| Commission term | 4 years[2] |
| Bond | $10,000 surety bond, approved by the Secretary of State and payable to the governor[2] |
| Training | Required since January 1, 2026: the Secretary of State's own education course, up to two hours, $20 per attempt, finished before you apply[2] |
| Exam | No separate exam. The course includes questions and you must answer at least 70% correctly[2] |
| Journal required | Yes, for every notarization |
| Remote online notarization | Allowed[3] |
How to become a mobile notary in Texas
First, check you qualify. Texas requires that you are:
- At least 18 years old[4]
- A resident of Texas[4]
- No conviction for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. The Secretary of State runs a background check on every applicant[5]
- Pass the Secretary of State's notary education course (70% of questions answered correctly) before you apply[6]
- Get a $10,000 surety bond from a company authorized in Texas[7]
- Take the oath of office before another notary or officer; you cannot swear yourself in[7]
Then follow these steps.
- Check that you are eligibleYou must be a Texas resident, at least 18, and have no felony or crime of moral turpitude conviction. The Secretary of State rejects or revokes if it later finds you are not eligible.[5]
- Create an SOSPortal account and take the education courseThe course is set by the Secretary of State, runs no more than two hours, and you must answer at least 70% of questions correctly. Finish it within 90 days of paying or the fee is lost. You may attempt it no more than three times in three months.[6]
$20 per attempt - Get a $10,000 surety bondThe bond must come from a solvent surety company authorized in Texas. It protects the public, not you: you stay personally liable for damage you cause.[7]
Premium set by the surety company - Submit your application and state feesApply through the SOS Notary Portal. The law sets a $10 bond filing fee, a $1 fee, and a $10 commission fee.[8]
$21 - Take your oath of officeSign the oath in front of another notary or a person authorized to give oaths in Texas.[7]
- Order your seal and record bookYour seal must show a five-point star, the words Notary Public, State of Texas, your name, your notary ID number and your commission expiration date. Keep a record book of every notarization.[9]
Set by the vendor - Optional: add an online notary commissionAny Texas notary can apply for an online commission through the SOS system. No extra bond is required, and the online commission runs with your regular one.[3]
$50 application fee
for taking the acknowledgment or proof of a deed or other instrument in writing, for registration, including certificate and seal, a fee of $10 for the first signature and $1 for each additional signature
What it costs to get commissioned in Texas
These are the amounts the state sets. Bond, training and supply prices vary by vendor, so we list the legal requirement rather than a price.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Notary education course (each attempt) | $20[6] |
| Bond filing fee | $10[8] |
| Investigator and materials fee | $1[8] |
| Commission fee | $10[8] |
| Surety bond (legal amount, not the premium) | $10,000[7] |
| Online notary application (optional) | $50[3] |
| Name change on a commission | $20[9] |
How much can a mobile notary charge in Texas?
The notarial fee is capped by law: $10 for the first signature on an acknowledgment, $1 for each extra signature, and $10 for an oath or jurat. Any travel charge is a separate amount you agree with the client in advance, because Texas law sets no figure for it.
| Notarial act | Maximum fee |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | Up to $10 for the first signature and $1 for each additional signature, including the certificate and seal[1] |
| Jurat | Up to $10. A jurat is an oath or affirmation with certificate and seal, which Texas caps at $10[1] |
| Oath or affirmation | Up to $10 for administering an oath or affirmation with certificate and seal[1] |
| Copy certification | Texas notaries may certify a copy only of a document that is not a recordable public record. The fee falls under 'a certificate under seal not otherwise provided for', capped at $10. Copies of records kept in the notary's own office are $1 per page[1] |
| Copy of a record or paper in the notary's office | $1 per page |
| Taking a deposition | $1 for each 100 words |
| Swearing a witness to a deposition, with certificate and seal | $10 |
| Protesting a bill or note for nonacceptance or nonpayment, register and seal | $4 |
| Each notice of protest | $1 |
| Protesting in all other cases | $4 |
| Certificate and seal to a protest | $4 |
| Any notarial act not provided for | $10 |
| Remote online notarization | Online notarization: up to $25 per notarization on top of the regular fee. One signer on an acknowledgment is up to $35 in total ($25 + $10)[3] |
Travel fees in Texas
Texas law does not mention travel fees. Section 406.024 lets you charge only for the listed notarial acts, at no more than the listed amounts, and the Secretary of State gives no guidance on travel. If you charge for travel, agree it with the signer before you go, keep it separate from the notarial fee, and itemize it, because notaries must be ready to itemize fees.[1]
Price a signing in Texas with the fee calculator, which uses these caps.
The Office does not commission or register signing agents. Accordingly, the Office does not have any information on this profession.
Journal, ID and seal rules for mobile work
Journal
Keep a record book with the date of the document, the date of notarization, the signer's name and mailing address, how you identified the signer, witness details, the grantee's name and address, land details for property documents, and a brief description of the document. Do not record ID numbers. Keep records for the longer of your commission term or three years after the notarization. Your records are public information.[10]
Need one? Our free printable notary journal has a column for every field most states ask for.
Identifying the signer
The signer must personally appear. Identify them by personal knowledge, a current government-issued ID card or a U.S. passport, or a credible witness who knows them. Notarizing over the phone is not allowed.[11]
Seal or stamp
Circular seal up to 2 inches across or rectangle up to 1 by 2.5 inches, with a serrated or milled edge, showing a five-point star, Notary Public, State of Texas, your name, notary ID number and commission expiration date, in ink that photocopies.[1]
A notary is required to keep, in a safe and secure manner, copies of the records of notarizations performed for the longer of: 1) the term of the commission in which the notarization occurred; or 2) three years following the date of notarization.
Working as a loan signing agent in Texas
Texas has no license or registration for notary signing agents. The Secretary of State says it does not commission or register them. At a loan signing you act under your regular notary commission, so the $10 cap, the record book and the ID rules all apply.[12][1]
Remote online notarization in Texas
Yes. A Texas notary can apply for a separate online notary commission for a $50 fee, with no extra bond. Online notaries may charge up to $25 per notarization on top of the regular fee, and must keep the audio and video record for five years.[3]
Apostilles and authentications
Clients often ask a mobile notary about apostilles. A notary does not issue them. In Texas, the office that does is the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit, 400 West 15th Street, Austin, and the fee is $15 per document ($10 per document for adoptions, up to $100 per adoption).[13] Apostilles are issued only by the Secretary of State. Walk in on Monday or Friday, book an appointment Tuesday to Thursday, or mail Form 2102 with the original notarized document (about a two-week turnaround). Documents must be properly notarized by a Texas notary.
Mistakes that get Texas notaries in trouble
- Charging more than the 406.024 maximums exposes you to criminal prosecution and suspension or revocation of your commission.
- Skipping the record book: every notarization must be logged, and you must keep the records for the longer of your term or three years.
- Notarizing for someone who is not in front of you. Phone notarizations are not allowed; only a separately commissioned online notary can work remotely.
- Calling yourself a notario publico or advertising in another language without the required notice and fee list is a crime under Texas law.
- Certifying copies of recordable documents such as birth certificates. Those copies must come from the agency that holds the record.
Watch: Texas notary basics
SOS Notary Portal, from Texas Secretary of State. Official walkthrough of the portal where you take the course and apply, embedded on the SOS notary guide page.
How to Become a Notary in Texas (Step-by-Step Guide), from National Notary Association. Step-by-step overview of the Texas commission process from the national notary association.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to become a notary in Texas?
The state charges $21: a $10 bond filing fee, a $1 fee and a $10 commission fee. Since 2026 you also pay $20 for each attempt at the Secretary of State's education course. On top of that you buy a $10,000 surety bond, a seal and a record book. Those last items are priced by vendors, not set by law, so costs vary.
How long does it take to become a notary in Texas?
The education course runs no more than two hours, and you must finish it within 90 days of paying the $20 fee. After that you apply, file your bond and take your oath. The official sources we checked do not state an application processing time. Once commissioned, your term lasts four years from the date you qualify.
How much money can you make as a notary in Texas?
Texas caps what you can charge per act: $10 for the first signature on an acknowledgment, $1 for each extra signature, and $10 for an oath or jurat. Online notaries can add up to $25 per notarization. Travel fees are not set by law. We do not know of an official source for notary earnings, so income depends on your volume.
Is being a notary a good side hustle?
It can fit around other work because the state costs are low: $21 in fees plus the $20 course. Your commission covers the whole state, and you can add an online commission for $50. The limit is the fee cap of $10 for the first signature, so earnings come from volume and any travel charges you agree in advance.
Is there a downside to becoming a notary?
Yes. The $10,000 bond protects the public, not you, so you stay personally liable for damage caused by a mistake. Charging more than the legal maximum can lead to criminal prosecution and loss of your commission. You must keep a record of every notarization, and those records are public information that people can request.
Can you live off of being a notary?
The notarial fees alone are small because Texas caps them, for example at $10 for the first signature on an acknowledgment. Any full-time income would have to come from high volume, online notarizations at up to $25 extra each, and travel fees you agree with clients. We found no official data on notary incomes, so we cannot give a figure.
Sources
Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages. We read them on October 1, 2026.
- Texas Government Code 406.024. statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov. statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Texas SOS, Online Notary Public Educational Information. sos.state.tx.us
- statutes.capitol.texas.gov. statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Check that you are eligible. sos.state.tx.us
- Create an SOSPortal account and take the education course. sos.state.tx.us
- Get a $10,000 surety bond. statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Submit your application and state fees. statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Texas SOS, Notary Public Educational Information (Fees). sos.state.tx.us
- Texas Government Code 406.014 (record book). statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Texas Government Code 406.013 (seal). statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Texas SOS, Notary Public FAQs. sos.state.tx.us
- Request a Universal Apostille. sos.state.tx.us
- Texas Government Code Chapter 406, Notary Public. statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Texas Government Code 603.008, Posting of Fees. statutes.capitol.texas.gov
Junaid runs Ertiqah LLC and edits this site. He is not a notary or a lawyer. His job here is narrow: read the statute and the Secretary of State page for each rule, quote it, and link it, so you can check every number yourself. How we check facts.
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