Dallas–Fort Worth Estate Signing, Apostille & Correctional Facility Notary Services

Before proceeding, I communicate directly with the signer and obtain the acknowledgment or oath required for the document. I may pause or decline the notarization when I cannot obtain a clear, voluntary response or when required notarial conditions are not met.

However, I cannot diagnose dementia, determine legal capacity, or provide a legal opinion regarding duress; those determinations must be made by an attorney, court, or qualified medical professional. Determining legal capacity is a legal judgment outside the notarial authority listed in Texas Government Code Section 406.016(a), and a Texas notary who is not a licensed attorney may not give legal advice (Section 406.016(d)).

For a smooth appointment, each signer should bring a current, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Texas permits identification through personal knowledge, an identification card issued by a governmental agency or a United States passport, or introduction by a properly qualified credible witness when applicable (Texas Government Code Section 406.014(a)(5)).

The method of identification is recorded in the notary record book. ID numbers are not recorded; Texas notary rules prohibit recording identification card numbers because record book entries are public information (1 Texas Administrative Code Section 87.60). Only the ID's expiration date may be recorded (Section 406.014(f)).

No. Iron Crown Notary is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, interpret legal consequences, draft legal documents, or select a notarial certificate for a signer. A Texas notary who is not licensed to practice law may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice (Texas Government Code Section 406.016(d)).

The signer, document drafter, receiving agency, title company, or attorney must determine the appropriate notarial act and certificate. I may complete a certificate already provided on the document or attach a certificate selected by the signer.

A Texas notary has statewide jurisdiction (Texas Government Code Section 406.003) and may notarize an out-of-state document when the signer appears before the notary in Texas and all Texas notarial requirements are satisfied.

However, I cannot determine which state's certificate is legally required or whether a receiving party will accept the document. The client should obtain certificate instructions from the document drafter, attorney, title company, court, or receiving agency before the appointment.

Same-day and mobile appointments are accepted based on availability, location, travel feasibility, document readiness, and appointment requirements. Service is contingent upon each signer's personal appearance, satisfactory identification, an appropriate notarial certificate, and the signer's ability to complete the required acknowledgment or oath.

Expedited scheduling does not include legal advice or guarantee acceptance by a court, title company, lender, or other receiving party.

Yes. Every signer whose signature requires notarization must personally appear before the notary. Texas law makes it a criminal offense for a notary to perform a notarization knowing the signer did not personally appear (Texas Government Code Section 406.0091, effective September 1, 2025).

For a traditional mobile or in-person electronic notarization, this means physical presence. For an acknowledgment, a signer may have signed the document earlier but must personally appear and acknowledge the signature. For a jurat, the signer must take an oath or affirmation and sign in the notary's presence. Remote online notarization requires a separately authorized Texas online notary using compliant two-way video and audio conference technology (Texas Government Code Sections 406.101 and 406.104).

Yes. Iron Crown Notary maintains an active Texas Notary Public commission and the $10,000 surety bond required of every Texas notary (Texas Government Code Section 406.010). For additional client and business protection, Iron Crown Notary also carries $200,000 in Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage, $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate General Liability coverage, and Cyber Liability insurance.

The Texas notary bond is required by law and serves a different purpose than insurance coverage. E&O insurance helps protect against certain unintentional notarial errors or omissions, while General Liability and Cyber Liability coverage provide added protection for business operations, client interactions, and sensitive information-handling practices.

Iron Crown Notary limits retention of client documents to what is necessary for the requested service, business administration, or legal compliance. Required notarial records are maintained securely and are not discarded simply because an appointment has ended.

Texas requires a notary to keep a record book and, effective September 1, 2025, to retain those records until the 10th anniversary of the date of notarization (Texas Government Code Section 406.014(g)). Online notarizations require secure electronic records, backup protection, and retention of the record, including the audio-video recording, for at least five years (Texas Government Code Section 406.108(c); 1 Texas Administrative Code Section 87.54(b)). Record book entries never include ID numbers (1 Texas Administrative Code Section 87.60). Nonrequired working copies are securely destroyed under Iron Crown Notary's privacy and information-security procedures.