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The National Notary Bulletin

Is there a list of prohibited documents available for Notaries?

By NNA Staff on December 19, 2022

Photo of woman with long dark hair on phone. She is looking at papers in her hand. Text on image reads NNA Hotline Tip.

I have just become a Notary and I was wondering if I can obtain a list of documents that I am not allowed to notarize in Texas? — D.A., Texas

There is no such list. According to the Secretary of State, one document that is commonly presented for notarization that cannot be notarized in the state of Texas is the I-9 form.  There are no other known examples of documents that Texas Notaries cannot notarize.

Please see this page for general information on document notarization requirements.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline consultants to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.




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11 Comments

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Russ McLeod

26 Dec 2022

Can a copy of a passport be notarized?

National Notary Association

27 Dec 2022

Hello. To help us answer your question, can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in?

Arlene M

01 Jan 2023

Can a notary notarize a document for a relative so an elderly can give him her home? What are the rules and guidelines for notary in Texas for relatives?

National Notary Association

10 Jan 2023

Hello. While there is not a specific prohibition in Texas against notarizing for a relative, the TX Secretary of State's website says, “Notarizations should not be performed by a notary public who is a party to the instrument or financially or beneficially interested in the transaction. The facts in each situation will determine whether the notary’s action was proper”. In situations where it's not clear if you have an interest, the safest course is to decline and have a different, uninvolved Notary perform the notarization.

Paul S.

13 Feb 2023

Can I notarize a document for a family member living in the same household? in Illinois

National Notary Association

13 Feb 2023

Hello. Illinois does not prohibit Notaries from notarizing for family members. However, you may not notarize if you are named in the document as a party to the transaction.

Amy R

17 Jan 2024

I recently have had issues getting a waiver of citation notarized, with several notaries saying they “don’t notarize legal documents like those”. My mother also had an issue with 2 different notaries who would not notarize documents for the lawyer handling my father’s probate because they “don’t handle those notarizations”. Are there specific notaries that you need to seek out for legal documents vs other notarizing? I will say her lawyer was perplexed that anyone would turn down these and said that they’ve never run into that issue in her 15 years of practicing law in Texas.

JERRY W. JOHNSON

12 Feb 2024

I am a Texas notary. Can I notarize a passport and a green card

National Notary Association

26 Feb 2024

Hello. To clarify, are you being asked to certify a copy of these documents, or perform a different type of notarial act?

Kathleen

19 Feb 2024

Can I notarize divorce papers in the state of Ohio

National Notary Association

23 Feb 2024

Based on what you’ve described, we think it would be best if you contacted our Hotline team by phone and provided them with a more detailed description of the situation. The NNA Hotline: 1-888-876-0827 Mon – Fri: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (PT) Saturday: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT) If you’re not an NNA Member or Hotline Subscriber, they will provide you with a one-time courtesy call.

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