FAQ List -
Do you provide mobile notary services?
Yes. For an additional mileage fee of $0.50 per mile, I will come to your home or office.
Do you provide any other services?
We can also officiate at your wedding. Please see Weddings for more information.
What areas do you service?
We service all of Houston and surrounding areas.
What kind of notice is needed for appointments?
Most appointments can be set and fulfilled within 1 hour.
What are your rates for a notary signature?
Please see the Fees page for complete listing of fees.
All notarization fees are based on Texas statutory code, with a maximum fee of $6.00 per signature. Travel fees, after hour fees, administrative fees and other fees are additional and separate from the notarization.
Do you notarize certified copies?
No. The document must be an original (not a photocopy -- or a copy from another certified copy).
Can you certify other documents?
Yes, with certain conditions. We can not make certified copies of the following:
“Recorded” or “Filed” documents
Birth or Death Certificates
Marriage or Divorce Records
Student Transcripts
Drivers Licenses
Probated Wills
Photographs
Powers of Attorneys
Foreign Passports
Naturalization Certificates
Real Estate Deeds or Mortgages
We can make certified copies of the following:
Business Transactions
Personal Letters
Social Security Cards
Living Wills
Contracts
Medical Treatment Consent Forms
Lease Agreements
Diplomas
Invoices
Do you provide process serving?
No, we are not process servers.
Are residential and business accounts available?
Yes, both are welcome to use our services.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept cash only at this time. Please be sure to bring exact payment.
How long is a Notary Public Commission?
A Notary Commission is a 4 year term of office, beginning on the date the Secretary of State issues the commission.
What are the powers and duties of a Notary Public?
The primary duties are to prevent fraud by verifying that the signer’s identity is who he/she claims to be, and that the person, in the presence of a notary, has voluntarily signed a document on a given date. A notary public has the power to take acknowledgments, protest instruments, administer oaths, take depositions, and certify copies of documents not recordable in the public records.
Can a notary public notarize without the person being present or take acknowledgments over the phone?
No. A notary public can only perform notarial acts by requiring a personal appearance. The person signing the document must always appear before the Notary for notarization. Remember: The primary duty of a Notary Public is to prevent fraud, and this is done by requiring the physical presence of the signer and by verifying the identification of the signer.
Does the document have to be signed in the presence of the Notary?
Yes.
Can a Notary prepare legal documents?
No. Unless the Notary is also a lawyer, he/she does not have this authority. All documents needing to be notarized should have the correct form of notary certificate already on them. A notary’s duty is to perform the notarial act and complete the notarial certificate.
Can a Notary notarize a document that is not completed filled out?
Yes, however, a responsible notary will have to mark through all spaces that are not filled out to prevent fraud and possible lawsuits. It is not the notary publics responsibility to make sure the form is filled properly.
Can a notary decide which type of notarial certificate should be attached?
No. A Notary public who is not a lawyer should only complete a notarial certificate that is already on the document or type a certificate of the maker’s choosing. However, a notary public is provided with copies of sample notarial certificates with his/her notary commission. The signer of the document may choose a certificate, and the notary may add such certificate to the document.
Can a notary perform notarial acts in other counties?
Yes, a Texas notary public has statewide jurisdiction and can notarize in any county in the state of Texas.
Can a Texas notary notarize documents in other states?
No, a Texas notary has jurisdiction only in Texas. Other states have their own notary laws.
Can a Texas notary notarize documents from other states?
Yes, documents that originate in other states may be notarized by a Texas notary only if the notarial act is performed in the state of Texas.
Can you issue Apostilles?
No, written requests must be made to the appropriate office of the secretary of state.
Can a notary refuse to serve people?
Notaries should not refuse to serve anyone because of race, religion, nationality, lifestyle, or because the signer is not a client or customer.
However, a notary can refuse service if:
The signer asks for legal advice prior to signing the documents.
The notary suspects the signer is being pressured, coerced, or threatened by another person to execute the documents being signed.
The signer requests notary services before or after regular hours.
The prospective customer is unreasonable.
Can a notary sign a document for an individual with a disability?
Yes, a notary can sign the name of an individual who is physically unable to sign or make a mark on a document presented for notarization if asked to do so by that individual, in the presence of a witness who has no legal or equitable interest in any real or personal property that is the subject of, or is affected by, the document being signed. In this section, “disability” means a physical impairment that impedes the ability to sign or mark on a document.
What kinds of identification can a notary accept?
According to Texas law, the following forms of identification are acceptable for notarization purposes:
US passport
Drivers license
Or, any card issued by a state or federal government agency that has a photo and signature of the person making the acknowledgment or taking the oath. The card must not be expired.
Notices:
A Notary should not notarize if the signer appears to be mentally incapable of understanding the nature and effect of the document at the time the transaction takes place.
A Notary should not take the acknowledgment of a person who does not speak or understand the English language on a document written in English, unless the nature and effect of the document to be notarized is translated into a language that the signer does understand.
A Notary must not certify the accuracy of a translation. Instead, the notary may notarize an affidavit from an unbiased translator certifying the accuracy of the translation.
A Notary must not certify the authenticity of objects such as art, coins, or collectibles.
A Notary must never certify residency or citizenship. Certification should be made either by the resident or by an official at the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
For any questions not listed here, please contact us.
