Under the Texas law, authentication involves a few steps: First, the notary runs your government-issued photo ID through a third-party verification system that can confirm the document's authenticity.

Technology and new laws are taking notarizations digital, adding them to the list of things you can do on your phone or computer. However, America's 4 million notaries are split on the idea.

A Texas law that for years only applied to inmates was expanded in 2011 allowing people to bypass a notary. ... Tyler attorney, VaLita Waits uses the unsworn declaration in lieu of a notary stamp.