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Notary Complaints

Texas Notaries Public are officers of the state and are responsible to the public of Texas for their actions when notarizing documents. The Office of the Texas Secretary of State (Office) is responsible for notarial law enforcement and education. Our goal is to investigate alleged harm caused to the public by notaries public, educate notaries public and the public, and issue reprimands as necessary.

What to Know Before Filing a Complaint

  • The Office can only issue disciplinary reprimands such as educational action, suspension, and commission revocation. You will need to contact an attorney for civil damages or to pursue criminal charges.
  • The Office cannot assess handwriting evidence.
  • The Office cannot assess whether the notarized document has legal value. The Office can only assess if a notarization was performed and recorded properly.
  • The complaint cannot be anonymous.
  • The complaint process can take 3 - 6+ months.

Checklist Must Haves to File a Complaint

  • Your complaint must allege a violation of the specific rules and laws governing Notaries Public.
  • Your complaint must be notarized prior to submitting through the portal.
  • You must submit a copy of the notarized document at issue (if applicable).
  • You must have the notary’s information (Name and Notary ID).
  • Review our complaint FAQs.
  • For more information on proper notary procedures please review our Notary FAQ's.

How to File a Complaint

All complaints must be filed through our SOS Notary Portal.
  1. Create an SOS Portal Account. To learn more about how to create an account, review our online Account Setup Guide.
  2. Once you have created an SOS Portal account, follow the instructions in our How to File a Complaint guide (PDF).

What to Expect After You File a Complaint

  1. You will receive verification when your complaint is received, opened or rejected, and closed.
  2. Investigators are limited in the information that can be provided after your complaint is opened.
  3. A committee of attorneys will review the evidence obtained and assess an appropriate disciplinary action.

What to Expect After a Complaint is Filed Against You

The Office conducts an impartial and objective review of the complaint.
  1. You will be contacted by an investigator from the Office.
  2. You are required to submit a notarized affidavit and respond to any inquiries from the Office regarding the complaint.
  3. You will be updated on the outcome of the complaint which may include:
    • No action.
    • An advisory letter.
    • Disciplinary Action that may include one or more of the following: Educational Test Requirement, Suspension, or Revocation.