TEXAS NOTARY PUBLIC ASSESSMENT
200 Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: TEXAS NOTARY PUBLIC
QUALIFICATIONS & APPOINTMENT (Questions 1–30)
1. Who oversees the appointment of Notary Publics in Texas?
A) The Texas Department of Public Safety
B) The Texas Secretary of State ✅ (correct answer)
C) The Texas Attorney General
D) The Texas Supreme Court
Rationale: The Texas Secretary of State is the appointing authority for all Texas Notary Publics
under Texas Government Code Chapter 406. Applications, renewals, and complaints are all
handled through this office.
2. What is the term length of a Texas Notary Public commission?
A) 2 years
B) 3 years
C) 4 years ✅ (correct answer)
D) 5 years
Rationale: Under Texas Government Code §406.004, a Notary Public commission is valid for
four years from the date of appointment. The notary must renew before expiration to continue
performing notarial acts.
3. What is the minimum age requirement to become a Notary Public in Texas?
A) 16 years old
B) 17 years old
C) 18 years old ✅ (correct answer)
D) 21 years old
,Rationale: Texas Government Code §406.004 requires that an applicant be at least 18 years of
age to qualify for appointment as a Notary Public.
4. Must a Texas Notary Public be a U.S. citizen?
A) Yes — U.S. citizenship is required
B) No — the applicant must be a legal resident of Texas but citizenship is not required
✅ (correct answer)
C) Yes — citizenship is required for all commissioned officers
D) No — anyone physically present in Texas may become a notary
Rationale: Texas law requires that the applicant be a resident of Texas but does not require U.S.
citizenship. Legal permanent residents and other qualifying residents may apply.
5. Which of the following would disqualify a person from becoming a Texas Notary Public?
A) Being employed part-time
B) Having a felony conviction that has not been pardoned ✅ (correct answer)
C) Being self-employed
D) Having a prior misdemeanor traffic violation
Rationale: Texas Government Code §406.004 disqualifies applicants who have been convicted
of a felony (unless pardoned) or who have had a notary commission revoked in any state.
6. What bond amount is required of a Texas Notary Public?
A) $5,000
B) $7,500
C) $10,000 ✅ (correct answer)
D) $25,000
Rationale: Texas Government Code §406.010 requires every Texas Notary Public to file a surety
bond in the amount of $10,000 with the county clerk before exercising notarial authority.
7. Where must the Texas Notary Public's bond be filed?
A) With the Texas Secretary of State
B) With the county clerk of the county where the notary resides ✅ (correct answer)
, C) With the Texas Department of Public Safety
D) With the notary's employer
Rationale: The $10,000 surety bond must be filed with the county clerk in the notary's county of
residence — this protects the public from financial harm caused by notarial misconduct.
8. What is the purpose of the notary bond in Texas?
A) To pay the notary's salary during their commission
B) To protect the public from financial loss caused by a notary's misconduct or error ✅
(correct answer)
C) To guarantee the legality of all documents notarized
D) To insure the notary against lawsuits
Rationale: The surety bond protects the public — if a notary's misconduct causes financial harm,
a claim can be made against the bond. It does NOT protect the notary personally.
9. A Texas Notary Public must reside in which state?
A) They may reside in any state bordering Texas
B) They must reside in Texas ✅ (correct answer)
C) They must maintain a business address in Texas
D) Residency is not required — only Texas licensure
Rationale: Texas residency is a mandatory qualification — the notary must be a resident of
Texas at the time of application and throughout their commission.
10. What happens if a Texas Notary Public moves out of state during their commission?
A) Their commission automatically transfers to the new state
B) Their commission is automatically terminated ✅ (correct answer)
C) They may complete their term but cannot renew
D) They must notify the Secretary of State and may continue
Rationale: Because Texas residency is a qualification for the commission, relocating
permanently out of Texas terminates the notary commission — residency must be maintained
throughout the term.
, 11. Can a Texas Notary Public perform notarial acts outside the state of Texas?
A) Yes — a Texas notary has nationwide authority
B) No — a Texas notary's authority is limited to the geographic boundaries of Texas ✅
(correct answer)
C) Yes — but only in states that have reciprocity agreements with Texas
D) Only in Louisiana and New Mexico
Rationale: A Texas Notary Public's jurisdiction is limited to the state of Texas. Performing
notarial acts in another state requires that state's notary authority.
12. What must a Texas Notary Public do if their name changes?
A) Apply for a new commission immediately
B) Notify the Secretary of State of the name change ✅ (correct answer)
C) Continue using the old name until the commission expires
D) Surrender the commission and reapply
Rationale: The notary must notify the Texas Secretary of State of a name change and may need
to update their seal and bond. Documents should reflect the official commissioned name.
13. What must a Texas Notary Public do if their address changes?
A) Surrender the commission and reapply with the new address
B) Notify the Secretary of State of the new address ✅ (correct answer)
C) Nothing — the address is not on record with the state
D) File a new bond with the new county clerk
Rationale: Notaries must keep their information current with the Secretary of State. A county
change may also require filing a new bond with the new county clerk.
14. What is an "E&O" policy commonly associated with Texas notaries?
A) An Employment and Operations policy
B) An Errors and Omissions insurance policy that protects the notary personally from
liability for mistakes ✅ (correct answer)
C) An Examination and Oversight evaluation
D) An endorsement and obligation certification
200 Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: TEXAS NOTARY PUBLIC
QUALIFICATIONS & APPOINTMENT (Questions 1–30)
1. Who oversees the appointment of Notary Publics in Texas?
A) The Texas Department of Public Safety
B) The Texas Secretary of State ✅ (correct answer)
C) The Texas Attorney General
D) The Texas Supreme Court
Rationale: The Texas Secretary of State is the appointing authority for all Texas Notary Publics
under Texas Government Code Chapter 406. Applications, renewals, and complaints are all
handled through this office.
2. What is the term length of a Texas Notary Public commission?
A) 2 years
B) 3 years
C) 4 years ✅ (correct answer)
D) 5 years
Rationale: Under Texas Government Code §406.004, a Notary Public commission is valid for
four years from the date of appointment. The notary must renew before expiration to continue
performing notarial acts.
3. What is the minimum age requirement to become a Notary Public in Texas?
A) 16 years old
B) 17 years old
C) 18 years old ✅ (correct answer)
D) 21 years old
,Rationale: Texas Government Code §406.004 requires that an applicant be at least 18 years of
age to qualify for appointment as a Notary Public.
4. Must a Texas Notary Public be a U.S. citizen?
A) Yes — U.S. citizenship is required
B) No — the applicant must be a legal resident of Texas but citizenship is not required
✅ (correct answer)
C) Yes — citizenship is required for all commissioned officers
D) No — anyone physically present in Texas may become a notary
Rationale: Texas law requires that the applicant be a resident of Texas but does not require U.S.
citizenship. Legal permanent residents and other qualifying residents may apply.
5. Which of the following would disqualify a person from becoming a Texas Notary Public?
A) Being employed part-time
B) Having a felony conviction that has not been pardoned ✅ (correct answer)
C) Being self-employed
D) Having a prior misdemeanor traffic violation
Rationale: Texas Government Code §406.004 disqualifies applicants who have been convicted
of a felony (unless pardoned) or who have had a notary commission revoked in any state.
6. What bond amount is required of a Texas Notary Public?
A) $5,000
B) $7,500
C) $10,000 ✅ (correct answer)
D) $25,000
Rationale: Texas Government Code §406.010 requires every Texas Notary Public to file a surety
bond in the amount of $10,000 with the county clerk before exercising notarial authority.
7. Where must the Texas Notary Public's bond be filed?
A) With the Texas Secretary of State
B) With the county clerk of the county where the notary resides ✅ (correct answer)
, C) With the Texas Department of Public Safety
D) With the notary's employer
Rationale: The $10,000 surety bond must be filed with the county clerk in the notary's county of
residence — this protects the public from financial harm caused by notarial misconduct.
8. What is the purpose of the notary bond in Texas?
A) To pay the notary's salary during their commission
B) To protect the public from financial loss caused by a notary's misconduct or error ✅
(correct answer)
C) To guarantee the legality of all documents notarized
D) To insure the notary against lawsuits
Rationale: The surety bond protects the public — if a notary's misconduct causes financial harm,
a claim can be made against the bond. It does NOT protect the notary personally.
9. A Texas Notary Public must reside in which state?
A) They may reside in any state bordering Texas
B) They must reside in Texas ✅ (correct answer)
C) They must maintain a business address in Texas
D) Residency is not required — only Texas licensure
Rationale: Texas residency is a mandatory qualification — the notary must be a resident of
Texas at the time of application and throughout their commission.
10. What happens if a Texas Notary Public moves out of state during their commission?
A) Their commission automatically transfers to the new state
B) Their commission is automatically terminated ✅ (correct answer)
C) They may complete their term but cannot renew
D) They must notify the Secretary of State and may continue
Rationale: Because Texas residency is a qualification for the commission, relocating
permanently out of Texas terminates the notary commission — residency must be maintained
throughout the term.
, 11. Can a Texas Notary Public perform notarial acts outside the state of Texas?
A) Yes — a Texas notary has nationwide authority
B) No — a Texas notary's authority is limited to the geographic boundaries of Texas ✅
(correct answer)
C) Yes — but only in states that have reciprocity agreements with Texas
D) Only in Louisiana and New Mexico
Rationale: A Texas Notary Public's jurisdiction is limited to the state of Texas. Performing
notarial acts in another state requires that state's notary authority.
12. What must a Texas Notary Public do if their name changes?
A) Apply for a new commission immediately
B) Notify the Secretary of State of the name change ✅ (correct answer)
C) Continue using the old name until the commission expires
D) Surrender the commission and reapply
Rationale: The notary must notify the Texas Secretary of State of a name change and may need
to update their seal and bond. Documents should reflect the official commissioned name.
13. What must a Texas Notary Public do if their address changes?
A) Surrender the commission and reapply with the new address
B) Notify the Secretary of State of the new address ✅ (correct answer)
C) Nothing — the address is not on record with the state
D) File a new bond with the new county clerk
Rationale: Notaries must keep their information current with the Secretary of State. A county
change may also require filing a new bond with the new county clerk.
14. What is an "E&O" policy commonly associated with Texas notaries?
A) An Employment and Operations policy
B) An Errors and Omissions insurance policy that protects the notary personally from
liability for mistakes ✅ (correct answer)
C) An Examination and Oversight evaluation
D) An endorsement and obligation certification
