What ID to bring to a notary in Texas

What Texas law says

For an acknowledgment, a notary may not proceed unless the notary knows, or has satisfactory evidence, that you are the person who signed and is described in the document. Texas law lets the notary accept only these kinds of evidence (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §121.005):

1. The oath of a credible witness who is personally known to the notary, or who shows a current federal or state government ID with photo and signature.
2. A current identification card or other document issued by the federal government or any state government that contains your photograph and signature.
3. For a deed or other instrument in a residential real estate transaction only, a current passport issued by a foreign country.

Texas notaries also keep a record of each notarization, including whether the signer was known to the notary, was identified by a government ID or U.S. passport, or was introduced to the notary (Gov’t Code §406.014).

In practice: local policies

Individual places are often stricter than the statute. Examples from their own pages:

• Dallas Public Library: a current, valid U.S. federal or state government-issued photo ID for every person. Foreign passports and other non-U.S. ID are not accepted (source).
• Collin County Law Library: a current, valid government-issued (U.S. or state) ID with your photo, name and signature. Examples it lists: state driver license or ID card, an actual temporary receipt for either from the Texas DPS, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, and a Permanent Resident Card. A photograph of your ID is not enough. Any witness who vouches for you must have personal knowledge of you and show an acceptable ID (source).
• Benbrook Public Library: lists as valid a U.S. state-issued photo ID, U.S. passport book, U.S. work visa, state-issued gun license and U.S. military ID. Not accepted: expired IDs, U.S. passport cards (the library says because they have no signature line), Social Security cards, birth certificates, credit cards, non-U.S. IDs, copies or temporary IDs. It does not notarize using credible witnesses (source).
• Dallas County Treasurer: government-issued photo ID required (source).
• Bank of America: “acceptable ID as required by your state,” for every signer (source).

Checklist

• Unexpired government photo ID that also shows your signature (a driver license or state ID card usually does).
• Everyone who signs must come, each with ID.
• Complete, unsigned document with a notarial certificate; bring witnesses if the document requires them.
• If your ID is expired or lost, call first or consider a mobile or online notary; online notarization has its own ID checks.

Online notarization

Over video, a Texas online notary verifies identity by personal knowledge, or by remote presentation of a government-issued credential (such as a passport or driver’s license, with signature and photograph), credential analysis and identity proofing (§406.110). See online notary in Texas.

TODO: confirm with the Secretary of State whether any rule or guidance interprets "photograph and signature" for U.S. passport cards and similar IDs. We only report the library's stated policy.