A Guide: How To Become Online Notary In Texas

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Become a commissioned traditional notary public in Texas first
• Apply through the Secretary of State's office to become a Texas online notary
• Partner with a platform like NotaryLive to start notarizing documents online after approval

If you are a notary public in the state of Texas, and looking to expand on your notary services, there is a great opportunity to become a Texas online notary. 

1. Steps To Becoming An Online Notary In Texas 

The following will be a guide on how to become an online notary in Texas.

Complete the pre-requirements 

Before applying to become an online notary, make sure you have the following: 

1. Currently possess active traditional notary public commission in Texas.
2. Have the following:
   • current traditional notary public commission name
   • secretary of state-assigned notary ID number
   • date of birth
   • your SSN (Social Security Number).
3. Cannot have a felony conviction or crime on your record
4. Digital Certificate containing your electronic signature
   • must be issued by a third-party provider
   • must use PKI technology
   • must be x.509 compliant
   • must clearly show changes made to the document afterward
5. Electronic seal that has the following requirements:
   • “Notary Public, State of Texas” around a five-pointed star
   • Notary's name
   • Notary's ID number
   • Expiration date of commission (Online and traditional expire at the same time)
6. Seal can be:
   • circular
   • up to 2 inches in diameter or rectangular
   • no wider than 1 inch
   • no longer than 2-½ inches
   • Must have serrated or milled edge border
7. Keep an electronic record of RON (remote online notarization)
8. Utilize a third party (NotaryLive) to conduct remote online notarizations that follow the specific requirements:
   • identity proofing technology
   • credential analysis

Application Process 

1. Make sure you have the following information:
   • Notary Identification number
   • Date of birth
   • The last 4 digits of the SSN
   • Last name (make sure it matches the last name you were already commissioned for traditional notary)
   • Valid email address
2. During the application process, you will be required to agree to specific statements involving standards set forth in the Texas Administrative Code, agree to use a third-party provider, meet eligibility requirements, and provide instruction/technique to the secretary of state if prompted.
   • If you do not agree to the statements the application provides, you will not be able to continue the process.
3. Download and sign the Statement of Officer using your digital certificate
   • Save the signed document to your computer
   • Upload it to the Secretary of State Online Notary Application System
   • Maintain up-to-date digital certificate and electronic seal.
4. Upload your electronic seal into the state online notary application system.
5. You'll be prompted to enter your credit card information.
6. Once reading the summary of the information you entered, submit your application. You will be provided a notary application number and receive an email.

To apply to become a Texas Online Notary visit the following: https://direct.sos.state.tx.us/onlinenotary/OnlineNotaryLogin.aspx

As a traditional notary, you are confined to your general location, and there are only so many people in Dallas, Houston, Austin, or wherever you may be in Texas that need a document notarized.

Becoming an online notary in Texas provides you the capability to notarize documents from all over the country, making your potential client base that much larger. 

2. Become An Online Notary With NotaryLive

NotaryLive is currently onboarding remote online notaries in Texas!

Once you have been commissioned as an online notary in the state of Texas, be sure to visit NotaryLive.com to learn more about how you can start notarizing documents online from the comfort of your home or office.

Curious how to notarize those documents online? Visit our guide.

3. How NotaryLive Works 

Using NotaryLive is as simple as 4 steps: 

Click the button below to get started.

Notarize Online! 

FAQ For RON Texas 

• How much does it cost to be an online notary in Texas?
  • It costs $50 for the application fee.
• How much can I charge as a remote online notary in Texas?
  • Up to $25 per notarial act.

Relevant Blogs 

• Ensuring Security & Trust: NotaryLive's Vetting System for Notaries 
• Online Notary Is The Best New Side Hustle