What Documents Can Notaries Notarize?

One of the most common questions notaries receive from client is, "Can I get this document notarize?" Or more specifically, "Do you have a list of documents that notaries are allowed to notarize?"

The truth is, there’s no complete list of documents that notaries public can or cannot notarize.

Why There’s No “Master List” of Documents You Can Notarize

Documents come in many forms and serve a wide range of purposes—affidavits, contracts, powers of attorney, deeds, school forms, travel permissions, letters of intent, and many more. As long as the document presented by the signer includes a notarial certificate for notary to complete and sign, and the notarial certificate complies with Texas state laws, the notary can generally proceed.

Instead of focusing on the type of document, the notary focuses on the notarial act being requested.

Here’s What Notary Should Consider Before Notarizing Any Document:

1- Does the document already include a notarial certificate?

If so, the notary read the certificate carefully to determine whether it indicates an acknowledgment, jurat, or other notarial act. If the document doesn’t include a notarial certificate, the signer must tell the notary what type of notarial act they want—notary may NOT choose for the client.

2- Has the client personally appeared before the notary?

For most notarial acts, the client must be physically present or, in the case of remote notarizations, appear through an audio-visual platform.

3- Have the notary determined the signer’s competency and willingness to sign without coercion?

The notary must verify the signer has the mental capacity to understand the contents of the document and is signing voluntarily, without coercion.

4- Have the notary verified the signer’s identity?

Each state sets its own rules about what forms of identification notaries may rely on when confirming a signer’s identity. In Texas, a notary public must verify the identity of anyone signing a document. Generally, this involves presenting a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID.

5- Is the document complete?

The notary should not notarize an incomplete document. Make sure there are no blank spaces that could be filled in later—unless the blank is clearly designated to be completed by a government office.

6- Is it legal to perform the notarization?

Notaries cannot notarize documents that they know are fraudulent or that would violate state law.

When Notary Should Say No to a Notarization Request

The notary should refuse to perform a notarization if:

• The signer is not present.

• The notary cannot verify the signer's identity.

• The document lacks a notarial certificate, and the signer is unable to select one.

• The act is not authorized under the notary's state laws.

• The document is incomplete or appears to be fraudulent.

• The notary is a party to the transaction or have a financial interest.

• The notary are being asked to certify copies of vital records or other public records.

Final Thoughts

There’s no complete list of documents a notary can notarize—and there doesn’t need to be. The key is understanding the notary's authority as a notary public in Texas state law. Once the notary know what notarial acts they're allowed to perform, and the notary understand how to execute them properly, the notary will be able to determine whether they can notarize any given document.

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Please remember that I am not a lawyer and cannot provide legal advice.