TX Notary - Texas Notary Notarial Certificates and Seal Questions and Answers

Question 1

According to Texas Government Code § 406.013, which of the following is an essential element required to be on a Texas Notary Public's seal?

Accepted Answer

The words "Notary Public, State of Texas" around a star of five points.

Answer

Texas Government Code § 406.013 explicitly requires a notary's seal to show the words "Notary Public, State of Texas" around a star of five points, the notary's name, their identifying number, and their commission expiration date. The county of residence, state seal, or business address are not required elements on the seal itself.

Question 2

A Texas notary is notarizing a document and notices the pre-printed notarial certificate is missing the venue. Which of the following correctly identifies the venue?

Accepted Answer

The state and county where the notarization is taking place.

Answer

The venue in a notarial certificate specifies the location of the notarial act. It must state the jurisdiction in which the notary is acting, which in Texas is formatted as "State of Texas, County of ______". It is not the signer's residence, the recording county, or the date of signing.

Question 3

A notary's official seal is lost or stolen. Under Texas law, what is the FIRST action the notary must take upon discovering the loss?

Accepted Answer

Report the loss or theft to the Texas Secretary of State.

Answer

While filing a police report is recommended, especially in cases of theft, the primary required action is to notify the Secretary of State. The SOS website provides instructions to log in to their portal to report the lost or stolen materials. A notary must obtain a new seal before resuming notarial services.

Question 4

When affixing the official seal to a notarial certificate, which of the following practices is required?

Accepted Answer

The seal impression must be clear, legible, and photographically reproducible.

Answer

Texas Government Code § 406.013(c) requires that the seal, whether from a press or a stamp, must legibly reproduce all required elements under photographic methods. The seal should not obscure any text or the signature. While an embosser is permitted, an ink stamp is also explicitly allowed and is more common.

Question 5

A client presents a document for notarization that has a signature line but no notarial certificate wording. Which of the following is the appropriate action for the Texas notary to take?

Accepted Answer

Inform the signer that a notarial certificate is required and attach a completed, loose certificate of the signer's choosing.

Answer

A notary cannot perform a notarization without a notarial certificate. The notary is prohibited from choosing the type of certificate for the signer, as this constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. The correct procedure is to explain that a certificate is necessary, present the different types (e.g., acknowledgment or jurat), let the signer choose, and then complete and attach the chosen certificate to the document.

TX Notary - Texas Notary Exam Practice Test

TX Notary - Texas Notary Exam Practice Test

TX Notary - Texas Notary Notarial Certificates and Seal Questions and Answers