Florida Notary Laws Every Resident Should Know
The Florida notary rules that affect residents every day — from ID requirements and remote online notarization to who cannot notarize your document.
Florida notaries are commissioned by the state
A Florida notary public is appointed by the Governor and bonded to protect the public. Notaries can administer oaths, take acknowledgments, attest to photocopies of certain records, and perform marriage ceremonies within Florida.
You must appear before the notary
Florida law requires signers to appear personally before the Notary — either physically or, for an authorized online notarization, through compliant audio-video technology. A jurat is signed in the Notary's presence; for an acknowledgment, a signer may acknowledge a signature made earlier.
Interested parties cannot notarize
A Florida notary cannot notarize their own signature or documents in which they have a financial interest. This is why family members are generally not the right choice for important estate or lending documents.