Overview
As of Sept. 1, 2002, state employees designated by a state agency to be a notary public are no longer required to purchase a notary bond (H.B. 1203). All other notary regulations must be followed. The state provides defense and indemnification to a state employee for damages, attorney’s fees, and court costs adjudged against them when the damages are based on an act or omission in the course and scope of the person’s employment (Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 104.001).
Application Process for New and Renewing Notaries
The process for new or renewal of state employee’s notary commission without bond is outlined below. If you are currently commissioned as a notary public and are seeking to renew your commission, please wait until you are within 90 days of the expiration date of your current commission before submitting a renewal application.
- Complete the application below for state employees who will not be providing a notary bond.
- Complete the Acknowledgment Form.
- Submit Payment – Please note that SORM does not accept payments. Payments must be made payable to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State’s Office only accepts three payment methods. Payment/Proof of Employment can either be:
- A copy of an interagency transaction voucher (ITV) verifying the pre-payment, transfer of the $11 filing fee (RTI#300300, COBJ-7210, and TINS#33073073075000) from your agency to the Secretary of State with the employee’s/applicant’s name in the USAS transaction description; or
- A State Agency/University check for $11, payable to the Secretary of State; or
- A State Warrant for $11, payable to Secretary of State.
- Provide proof of employment. The payment methods listed above qualify as accepted proof of employment.
- Mail the original completed application, original completed acknowledgment form, proof of employment, and payment (all three items must be received at one time) to: State Office of Risk Management, Bonds & Insurance Section, P.O. Box 13777, Austin, TX 78711-3777
OR provide the completed acknowledgment form, application, proof of employment (the ITV payment), and a copy of an interagency transaction voucher (ITV) verifying the pre-payment, transfer of the $11 filing fee (RTI#300300, COBJ-7210, and TINS#33073073075000) from your agency to the Secretary of State with the employee’s/applicant’s name in the USAS transaction description; to notary@sorm.texas.gov
Once the application has been received by the State Office of Risk Management, please allow a minimum of 5 business days for our Bonds and Insurance section to process your application. If SORM has received all of the necessary documentation, we will forward your application to the Secretary of State’s office for their commission issuance. Please note that Secretary of State may take several weeks to process.
Individuals are able to check the status of their application with the Secretary of State’s office by accessing the SOS Notary Search page.
Name Change Application for Bond Exempt Notaries
If you need to change your name before your commission’s expiration date, your form and payment do not come to SORM. Please read the instructions on Form 2305-NB below and complete the required fields. Forward the original Application for Change of Name along with $10 fee payable to the Secretary of States’ Office.
Form 2305-NB, Application for Change of Name as Texas Notary Public Without Bond (Adobe PDF)
Change in State Employment for Bond Exempt Notaries
If you have transferred State Agencies or have been terminated by a State Agency before your commission’s expiration date, complete Form SORM 204. Read the instructions and send the completed form to Notary@sorm.texas.gov.
Form SORM-204, Notary Without Bond, Change in Status (Adobe PDF)
Notary Educational Materials
An overview of the Secretary of State’s notary public educational information as it applies to state government. www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/edinfo.shtml. An online training video is available on the Texas Secretary of State’s website.
Additional Resources
- Texas Administrative Code, title 28, Part 4, Chapter 252, Subchapter E
- SORM contact by email: Notary@sorm.texas.gov.