What Does a Notary Public Do in Florida?
A clear explanation of a Florida notary public's role — identity checks, acknowledgments, jurats and oaths — plus what a notary cannot do.
A Florida notary public is an impartial official appointed by the Governor to help deter fraud. When you have a document notarized, the notary is confirming who signed it and that they signed willingly — not that the document is true, legal or enforceable.
Understanding that role helps you arrive prepared and know which questions belong to the notary and which belong to an attorney, lender or agency.
The notary's core job: identity and willingness
Before any notarization, the notary must identify the signer — through personal knowledge, an acceptable ID, or qualifying credible witnesses. The signer must personally appear, either in person or through an authorized remote online session.
The notary also watches for signs that someone is being pressured or doesn't understand what they're doing. If those concerns exist, a careful notary will decline.
The notarial acts Florida notaries perform
Most requests fall into a few categories, each with its own certificate wording:
- Acknowledgments — the signer declares they signed voluntarily (deeds, POAs, many contracts)
- Jurats — the signer swears or affirms the contents are true (affidavits, sworn statements)
- Oaths and affirmations — administered verbally, with or without a document
- Certifying a copy of certain documents (not public records like birth certificates)
- Solemnizing marriages
- Verifying a vehicle identification number
What a Florida notary cannot do
Unless they are also a licensed attorney, a notary cannot give legal advice, choose which form you need, draft documents, or explain the legal effect of what you're signing. A notary also can't notarize their own signature or a document in which they have a financial interest, and can't certify copies of vital records.
Mobile, in-person and online notaries
Some notaries work at a counter; a mobile notary travels to you. Florida also authorizes remote online notarization, where a registered online notary completes the act over secure audio-video.
We provide mobile notary service across Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, Wakulla and Madison Counties and online notarization statewide.
