Texas Notary Public Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A credible witness in Texas notarization is someone who:

Is related to the signer by blood
Works for the company involved in the document
Personally knows the signer and swears to the signer's identity (Correct answer)
Has a notary commission themselves

Correct answer: Personally knows the signer and swears to the signer's identity

A credible witness must personally know the signer and take an oath before the notary attesting to the signer's identity.

Question 2: Which of the following is true about the Texas notary seal?

Either a rubber stamp or an embosser (crimper) is acceptable (Correct answer)
The seal must be filed with the county clerk for approval
Only an embosser is legally acceptable
A rubber stamp is acceptable but an embosser is required

Correct answer: Either a rubber stamp or an embosser (crimper) is acceptable

Texas law allows notaries to use either an inked rubber stamp or an embosser (dry seal) as their official seal.

Question 3: Can a Texas notary notarize a document for a person who is visibly intoxicated?

Yes, as long as the signer shows valid ID
No, the notary should refuse if the signer appears unable to understand what they are signing (Correct answer)
No, but only if the signer is driving to the appointment
Yes, intoxication does not affect the validity of a notarization

Correct answer: No, the notary should refuse if the signer appears unable to understand what they are signing

A notary should refuse to notarize for a visibly intoxicated signer because intoxication may impair the signer's capacity to voluntarily and knowingly execute the document.

Question 4: How much may a Texas notary charge for taking an acknowledgment?

$10.00
$1.00
$6.00 (Correct answer)
$20.00

Correct answer: $6.00

The maximum fee for taking an acknowledgment or proof of a written instrument is $6.00 per signature under Texas Government Code §406.024.

Question 5: The phrase 'Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the contents of this affidavit are true?' is an example of:

An oath or affirmation administered by the notary (Correct answer)
An acknowledgment certificate
A notary's self-certification statement
A copy certification formula

Correct answer: An oath or affirmation administered by the notary

This phrase is the verbal oath or affirmation the notary administers to the affiant before completing a jurat.

Question 6: Under Texas RON rules, what happens if the audio-visual connection is lost during a session?

The notary may complete the session from memory
The signer may re-sign documents without the video connection
The session automatically saves and can be resumed from the same point
The notary must immediately stop and the session must be restarted from the beginning (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The notary must immediately stop and the session must be restarted from the beginning

If the audio-visual connection is interrupted, the RON session must be halted and restarted from the beginning to ensure all required elements are properly captured.

Question 7: A Texas notary is asked to notarize a document they believe is fraudulent. What should they do?

Refuse to perform the notarization (Correct answer)
Notarize it anyway since the notary's role is only ministerial
Complete the notarization but note the suspicion in their record book
Contact the Secretary of State before refusing

Correct answer: Refuse to perform the notarization

A notary has both the right and the duty to refuse to perform a notarization when they have good reason to believe the act would facilitate fraud or illegal activity.

Question 8: How long does a Texas notary's surety bond remain in effect?

2 years
1 year
4 years (Correct answer)
5 years

Correct answer: 4 years

The surety bond term matches the Texas notary commission term of 4 years.

Question 9: Which of the following is an example of an improper notarization under Texas law?

Administering an oath to a witness before a deposition
Taking an acknowledgment from a signer who presents a valid passport
Certifying a copy of a non-vital private document
Notarizing a document without the signer physically present for a traditional notarization (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Notarizing a document without the signer physically present for a traditional notarization

Traditional notarizations require the signer to personally appear before the notary; notarizing without the signer present is improper.

Question 10: In Texas, an acknowledgment can be taken from a signer who:

Is present before the notary at the time of acknowledgment (Correct answer)
Signed the document a week before visiting the notary
Faxed the signed document to the notary
Mailed the signed document to the notary

Correct answer: Is present before the notary at the time of acknowledgment

For a traditional acknowledgment, the signer must appear before the notary in person at the time the acknowledgment is taken.

Question 11: Why should a Texas notary consider purchasing E&O insurance in addition to the required surety bond?

It satisfies the state bond requirement at a lower cost
It is required for notarizing real estate documents
It extends the notary's commission term by two years
It protects the notary's personal assets from losses caused by unintentional errors (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It protects the notary's personal assets from losses caused by unintentional errors

E&O insurance shields the notary's personal finances from lawsuits or claims arising from unintentional mistakes made during notarizations.

Question 12: When administering an oath in Texas, the notary must:

Require the affiant to raise their right hand and verbally swear or affirm (Correct answer)
Record the content of the sworn statement
Have a second notary co-sign the jurat
Sign the document on behalf of the affiant

Correct answer: Require the affiant to raise their right hand and verbally swear or affirm

Administering an oath involves a verbal component in which the affiant raises their right hand and swears or affirms the truthfulness of their statement.

Question 13: Who issues a notary commission in Texas?

The county judge
The Governor of Texas
The Texas Legislature
The Texas Secretary of State (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Texas Secretary of State

The Texas Secretary of State is the official body responsible for issuing and overseeing notary commissions.

Question 14: When affixing the official seal to a notarial certificate, which of the following practices is required?

The seal must be affixed using an embosser; an ink stamp is not sufficient.
The seal must be placed in the top-left corner of the page.
The seal impression must overlap the notary's signature for security.
The seal impression must be clear, legible, and photographically reproducible. (Correct answer)

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

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 15: What should a Texas notary do if their official seal is stolen?

Request the county clerk to issue a temporary seal
Report the theft to local law enforcement and notify the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
Continue using a backup seal without reporting the theft
File an insurance claim with their surety company

Correct answer: Report the theft to local law enforcement and notify the Secretary of State

A notary whose seal is stolen should immediately report the theft to law enforcement and notify the Texas Secretary of State to prevent fraudulent use.

Question 16: If a Texas notary is found guilty of the unauthorized practice of law, the consequences may include:

A mandatory refresher course
Temporary suspension for 30 days only
A $25 administrative fine only
Criminal penalties and revocation of the notary commission (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Criminal penalties and revocation of the notary commission

The unauthorized practice of law (UPL) is a criminal offense in Texas and can also result in revocation of the notary's commission.

Question 17: A Texas notary is asked to notarize a document for a person who does not speak English. The notary should:

Refuse to notarize the document
Require a certified interpreter to be present
Proceed only if the signer can communicate their acknowledgment somehow (Correct answer)
Notarize without verifying understanding

Correct answer: Proceed only if the signer can communicate their acknowledgment somehow

The notary must be able to communicate with the signer sufficiently to confirm identity and willingness; an interpreter may help facilitate this.

Question 18: After completing the commissioning process, what official tool must a Texas notary obtain before performing their first notarial act?

An official notary seal meeting state specifications (Correct answer)
A digital signature certificate from the SOS
A notary journal approved by the county clerk
A laminated copy of the Texas notary statutes

Correct answer: An official notary seal meeting state specifications

A Texas notary must have an official seal that meets the specifications in Texas Government Code §406.013 before performing any notarial acts.

Question 19: If a claim is paid out on a Texas notary's surety bond, what is the notary's financial obligation?

The notary's commission is automatically cancelled with no further obligation
The notary must purchase additional bond coverage
The notary owes nothing; the surety company absorbs the loss
The notary must reimburse the surety company for the amount paid (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The notary must reimburse the surety company for the amount paid

Unlike insurance, a surety bond is a credit instrument; if the surety pays a claim, the notary is personally liable to reimburse the surety company for that amount.

Question 20: Which Texas notaries are REQUIRED by law to maintain an electronic record of all notarial acts?

All Texas notaries commissioned after 2020
Notaries employed by financial institutions
Only notaries who also practice law
Remote online notarization (RON) notaries (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Remote online notarization (RON) notaries

Texas law specifically requires RON notaries to maintain an electronic record of each notarial act, including an audio-visual recording.

Texas Notary Public Exam

The Texas Notary Public Exam is a 20-question multiple-choice assessment administered by the Texas Secretary of State, testing knowledge of basic notary principles, authorized notarial acts, and proper procedures required for commissioning.

Questions

30 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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Timer auto-submits when time runs out
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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

statutes.capitol.texas.gov — Eligibility, fees, renewal, score validity · verified Oct 2026
sos.state.tx.us — Test delivery, score release, time limit, fees, passing score, retake policy, test dates · verified Oct 2026