What is a Notary Public?

A notary public is a public official appointed by the state government, in this case the Texas Secretary of State, to serve as an impartial witness in the signing of important documents. Their primary role is to verify the identity of signers, ensure all parties are signing willingly and knowingly, and help prevent fraud by confirming the authenticity of signatures. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts. Notaries do not provide legal advice, interpret documents, or advise on legal rights or obligations.

What is a Loan Signing Agent?

A loan signing agent (also called a notary signing agent) is a specially trained notary public who handles the signing of real estate loan documents. Their main responsibility is to guide borrowers through the process of signing mortgage and closing paperwork, ensuring all signatures and initials are completed correctly, and notarizing the required documents. Loan signing agents are hired by lenders, title companies, or signing services to help facilitate real estate transactions.

Loan signing agents cannot answer specific questions about the loan itself or provide legal advice—they are there to ensure the documents are executed properly.

What Types of Documents Do You Notarize?

We can notarize a variety of documents, including contracts, affidavits, powers of attorney, and real estate forms. The most common documents are:

• Affidavits: Sworn statements used in legal matters (e.g., affidavit of heirship, identity, or residence).

• Real Estate Documents: Deeds, mortgages, property liens, lease agreements, and other property transaction forms.

• Power of Attorney (POA): Documents granting someone authority to act on another’s behalf.

• Wills and Trusts: Last Will and Testament, living wills, and trust documents.

• Loan Documents: Loan agreements, promissory notes, and related financial documents.

• Adoption and Guardianship Documents: Forms related to adoption or guardianship.

• Medical Documents: Healthcare directives, medical release forms, and advanced directives.

• School Documents: Transcripts, vaccination records, permission slips, and exemptions

If you have a specific document in mind, let me know and I can confirm whether it can be notarized or not.

Do You Offer Remote Online Notarization and How Does Remote Online Notarization (RON) Work?

RON will be added as an available service for TJL Agent Services soon - Stay Tuned!

RON has been legal in Texas since July 2018. Notaries in Texas must hold a special online notary commission in addition to their traditional commission to perform RON notarizations.

RON takes place in an online meeting where the signer(s) and notary connect via a secure video conferencing platform approved for RON. All sessions are recorded, and documents are protected with digital certificates and electronic seals. The overall process includes:

• Identity Verification - the signer(s)’s identity is verified using:

  Credential analysis: The signer presents a government-issued photo ID via video, which is checked for authenticity by third-party technology.

  Knowledge-based authentication (KBA): The signer answers questions based on their personal history (e.g., credit report) to confirm their identity

• Document Review - The signer(s) reviews the document onscreen and signs electronically. The notary witnesses the signing in real time.

• Electronic Notarization -the notary applies their electronic signature and digital seal to the document, making it tamper-evident and legally valid.

• Delivery -the notarized document is instantly available as a secure PDF for download, sharing, or submission.

What Will I Need to Have Available for My Appointment?

To ensure your notary appointment goes smoothly, here’s what you should bring:

• Valid Photo Identification - Bring a current and unexpired, government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, military or state ID). The name on the ID should match the name on the document.

• The Unsigned Document(s) - Bring the original document(s) that need to be notarized. Do not sign ahead of time—the notary must witness your signature.

• All Pages of the Document - If your document is multi-page, bring all pages, not just the signature page.

• Witnesses (If Required) - Some documents (like wills or real estate deeds) may require witnesses. If so, bring the required number of witnesses, each with their own valid photo ID. Witnesses should not be named in or benefit from the document.

  For your convenience we can provide witnesses, if needed, for an additional charge.

• Final Payment for Notary Service Fees

What Forms of Payment are Accepted?

We accept all major Credit/Debit Cards, Zelle, PayPal, Apple Pay and Cash App.  For your convenience and recordkeeping, invoices and receipts are provided. To confirm and reserve your appointment, a 50% deposit is requested at the time of booking. This helps ensure dedicated time and seamless service tailored just for you.