Are online notarizations legal in Texas?

Yes, Texas Notaries Public who hold a separate commission as an online Notary are authorized to perform virtual notarizations remotely. On July 1, 2018, Texas became the third state to permit RON services.

How much can online notaries charge for their services?

Online notaries may charge up to $25 for each notarization they perform in addition to regular notary charges. Online notaries are not required to charge for their services, but they are allowed to charge up to $25 plus the regular notary fees authorized by Tex. Gov’t Code §406.024.

How do online notarizations work?

For online notarizations in Texas, the signer appears before the Notary Public in real time via audio-video technology. A notary verifies the signer's identity by knowing the person or by presenting government-issued IDs with the signer's photo and signature, by analyzing the ID, and by verifying the signer's identity through the dynamic knowledge-based authentication (KBA) process. It is also necessary for the Notary to screen the signer for willingness and awareness before proceeding.

Upon completing those steps, a digital certificate and an electronic Notary seal are attached to the notarization. An electronic journal is kept by the Notary after the online notarization, along with a video recording of the session.

Notaries commissioned online in Texas can conduct remote notarizations for signers wherever they are located. However, the Notary must be physically located in Texas when performing the notarial act. Watch the video below to see an example of the process.