Frequently Asked Questions
- Please ensure all forms are fully completed, except where notarial wording is present, & refrain from signing any signature lines before your appointment.
- Please review all documents to ensure the correct spelling of names & dates before your appointment. Once notarized, no element of the documents can be altered.
- Ensure you have a valid, unexpired ID to present to the notary at the time of your appointment.
- If your signing requires witnesses, please ensure that witnesses are available. If you require assistance in obtaining witnesses, please notify us in advance so that we can make arrangements.
- Please have payment available for services rendered if not paid in advance.
Listed below are the acceptable forms of identification.
- A current U.S. State or Federal government-issued ID that contains a photograph & signature of the signer:
- U.S. State Driver's License
- U.S. State ID
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. Military ID *
- Permanent Resident ID *
- With respect to real estate transactions:
- Foreign Passport
* New version of this identification may not include a signature.
If you don't have an acceptable form of identification, you can still have your document notarized using a Credible Witness. A Credible Witness is an individual personally known to you & who can swear under oath about your identity. The Credible Witness must have a valid, unexpired ID to present to the notary at the time of the appointment.
A Notary Public is a public servant & an official of the State of Texas, available within the community to serve the public. The main responsibility of a Notary Public is to verify the signer's identity, signature, & reason for signing & act as an impartial witness, ensuring that the signer understands the importance of the document they're signing. A Notary Public is not an attorney licensed to practice law in Texas & may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice.
Listed below are the most common types of notarizations.
- Acknowledgment: The signer of the document acknowledges to the notary that they willingly signed & that the signature is genuine.
- Jurat or Verification upon Oath or Affirmation: The signer of the document swears or affirms to the notary that the contents of the document are true & the notary certifies the oath or affirmation.
- Certified Copies: The notary certifies that the document is a true & complete copy of the original document.
The following are fees charged by a Texas Notary Public:
|
Notarial Act |
Fees |
|
Taking the acknowledgment or proof of a deed or other instrument in writing, for registration, including certificate and seal |
$10 for the first signature $1 for each additional signature |
|
Administering an oath or affirmation with certificate and seal |
$10 |
|
Certificates under seal not otherwise provided for |
$10 |
|
Notarial act not provided for |
$10 |
Yes, a document written in a different language can be notarized; however, the notarial certificate is required to be in English. In some cases, a translation may be required & we can provide translation services for your documents. All translations are performed by our trusted partner & we guarantee the accuracy & completeness of every translation. Always confirm with the intended recipient that the document is acceptable for its intended use. Our notaries can notarize documents for individuals who speak English or Spanish. You & our notary must be able to communicate directly without third-party involvement.
Absolutely! Our notaries at Texas Coast Notary & Professional Services complete thorough annual background checks & hold a surety bond along with Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance, ensuring the highest level of professionalism & trustworthiness in our notary services.
We currently only offer mobile services. For any correspondence via mail, please address it to:
Texas Coast Notary & Professional
2436 Pablo Kisel Blvd #1079
Brownsville, TX 78526
An Apostille is a type of certificate that authenticates a document for use in a foreign country that is a member of the Hague Convention. The certificate attached to the document certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, & position of the official who issued it or notarized it, allowing the document to be recognized as valid in that foreign country.
An Apostille may be necessary if you need to use your documents in a foreign country that is a member of the Hague Convention. You must verify the specific requirements of both your home country & destination country to determine if an Apostille is needed. If the document was issued by a county or state authority or notarized by a Notary Public of that state, that state's Secretary of State will issue the Apostille. If the document was issued by a federal authority (i.e., FBI Background Check), the U.S. Department of State will issue the Apostille.
- Your document is county-issued or state-issued:
- Currently, we only facilitate Apostilles for Texas, which is done through the Secretary of State.
- Your document is federal-issued:
- Yes! We're facilitating Apostilles for all 50 states through the U.S. Department of State.
Yes! We not only facilitate Apostilles, but also provide notary services for your documents. Please note, if there are errors in a notarization that we did not perform, we cannot guarantee acceptance by the receiving agency, government, or country. Any corrections & document resubmissions will result in additional fees.
When requesting an Apostille, the submitted document must be the original or a Certified Copy issued by the governing agency; photocopies are not accepted.
Yes! We not only facilitate Apostilles, but also provide translation services for your documents. All translations are performed by our trusted partner & we guarantee the accuracy & completeness of every translation.
~ Contact us today to schedule your appointment or learn more about our services. ~
