Frequently asked questions
How is the online notarization completed?
There are a few required steps necessary to verify identity, but for the most part its simple! See the YouTube link below for a quick guide to the process.
What are the different types of Notarial Acts performed?
There are several different notarial acts a notary can perform. Here are a few examples.
Acknowledgment-Acknowledgement is the name of the process of your notary verifying your identity and that you signed a document willingly. This process includes the notary verifying your forms of identification and consulting any credible identifying witnesses if necessary. They will also ask you a few basic questions to make sure you know what you’re signing and you’re willing to endorse the documents with your signature.
Jurats-A jurat may also be known as an affidavit, a verification on oath or an affirmation depending on the jurisdiction. A jurat requires the signer of a document to swear or put in writing for the notary that the information in the document they’re having notarized is true. Once the signer has put in writing or spoken aloud that the contents of their documents are truthful, they can be prosecuted for lying under oath if the information in the notarized documents turns out to be false.
Copy Certification-A copy certification is the creation of a duplicate document that is a true and confirmed copy of the actual original document. Some items that you may require a “confirmed” copy of could include diplomas, driver’s licenses, passports, leases, social security cards, etc.
Not every state allows for the creation of certified copies. If yours does, you can use a copy of a document certified by a notary just as you would the original document. Look into your state’s notary laws on nationalnotary.org.
Signature Witnessing-Signature witnessing is similar to an acknowledgement in that the notary confirms the identity of a signer or signers. The only difference between an acknowledgement and signature witnessing is that with this type of notarial act, the NSA must actually witness the party or parties signing their documents in person. With an acknowledgement, the parties to a document may sign the paper before bringing it to be notarized as long as their identities are confirmed.
Are your fees mandated by the State of Texas?
Fees for general notary work are set by the Texas Government Code § 406.024 (see link below). Some services are considered additional and separate from the general statutory fees.
Can notarizations be completed for documents in any county?
Yes. As long as the Notary Public will physically be within the state of Texas.
Is the company insured in case of any errors?
Yes. Attention to detail is a major part of services provided. As a Notary Public and a Licensed Signing Agent, I am bonded and insured in case any errors were to arise.
Will an ID card be required for online notarizations?
Yes. ID will be required and verified in-person and online for remote services (oath of a creditable witness to validate identity acceptable in some cases).
What is an Apostille and When do I need one?
An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document (e.g., a birth, marriage or death certificate, a judgment, an extract of a register or a notarial attestation).
You will need an Apostille if all of the following apply:
• the country where the document was issued is
party to the Apostille Convention; and
• the country in which the document is to be used is
party to the Apostille Convention; and
• the law of the country where the document was
issued considers it to be a public document; and
• the country in which the document is to be used
requires an Apostille in order to recognize it as a
foreign public document. See the link below for more information on the Hague Convention
https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/specialised-sections/apostille
When would I need an I-9 Employment Verification Form completed?
Form I-9 is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must properly complete Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form.