Notary & Notary Signing Agent FAQ's

While mobile notaries in Houston and notary signing agents in Humble TX are authorized to perform a variety of legal functions, there are important limitations to their duties:

• A Houston mobile notary should not notarize documents if the signer appears to be mentally incapable of understanding the nature and effect of the transaction at the time of signing.
   
• A notary public in Houston should not take an acknowledgment from someone who does not understand English unless the document is accurately translated into a language the signer does understand.
   
• A notary signing agent in Houston cannot certify the accuracy of a translated document. Instead, the notary may notarize an affidavit completed by an unbiased third-party translator.
   
• Mobile notaries in Texas are not allowed to certify the authenticity of objects such as art, collectibles, or currency.
   
• A Houston notary public must never certify a person’s residency or citizenship. Such certifications must come from the individual or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
   

A Texas notary public serves as an impartial witness to deter fraud and confirm the identity and willingness of individuals signing legal documents. A mobile notary in Houston is authorized to:

• Take acknowledgments
   
• Administer oaths and affirmations
   
• Take depositions
   
• Certify copies of certain non-recordable documents
   
• Protest instruments (like promissory notes)
   

The core duty of a Houston mobile notary is to ensure that the signer is who they claim to be, is signing willingly, and is aware of the content of the document.

No. A mobile notary in Houston or Humble TX who is not also a licensed attorney may not draft or prepare legal documents. All documents should include the appropriate notarial certificate before being presented to the notary. The notary’s role is to perform the notarization—not to give legal advice or alter the content of documents.

A Notary Signing Agent is a commissioned notary who specializes in handling and notarizing loan documents during real estate closings. In Houston and surrounding areas, loan signing agents play a key role in facilitating mortgage, refinance, and HELOC transactions by guiding borrowers through the signing process and ensuring all documents are executed properly.