How to Become a Notary in Florida

Are you interested in becoming a notary in Florida? Here’s what you need to know in order to become a notary in the state of Florida.

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Introduction

A notary public is a person appointed by the state to serve the public as an impartial witness in several capacities, most notably executing and certifying documents. In Florida, anyone who is at least 18 years old and can read and write English can become a notary.

The Florida Department of State Division of Corporations is responsible for appointing and commissioning all Florida notaries, and you must apply through this office to become a notary in Florida. The following steps outline the process for becoming a notary public in Florida.

What is a Notary?

A Notary Public is an unbiased third party who witnesses the signing of important documents and verifies the identity of the signatories. A notary can also administer oaths.

In Florida, anyone who is at least 18 years old and can legally own a firearm can become a Notary. You must complete a state-approved Notary course and pass an exam, then you must apply to the Florida Department of State.

Once you are appointed, you will receive a certificate and an official seal, which must be used on all notarized documents. As a Notary, you are required to keep accurate records of all notarizations performed.

The Notary’s Role

A notary is a public servant who is appointed by the state to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths. In Florida, notaries are also authorized to perform wedding ceremonies. Notaries are commissioned for a four-year term by the Governor and must take an oath of office before a county judge or clerk of the circuit court.

The primary role of the notary is to prevent fraud by ensuring that the person signing a document is who they say they are, and that they are signing willingly and under their own free will. The notary must also keep a record, or journal, of every notarization they perform. This journal must be kept in a secure place and made available to the public upon request.

Duties of a Notary

A notary public is an official of integrity appointed by state government — typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-preventing acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts. A notary’s main duty is to deter fraud. Notaries prevent fraud by verifying the identity of a person who comes before them to sign a document and attest to that person’s true intent.

A notary also witnesses signatures on documents and may administer certain oaths and affirmations. Notaries are sometimes referred to as “signing agents.” The most common type of notarization is called an acknowledgment, in which a person appears before a notary public and states that he or she has freely signed a document for its stated purpose.

Becoming A Florida Notary
Applicants for Florida notary public commission must:
-Be at least 18 years old.
-Be a legal resident of the United States.
-Be able to read and write English.
-Be a resident of Florida, or maintain active business premises in Florida if you reside in another state but work primarily in Florida.
-Have no felony convictions during the past 10 years, or any convictions involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering during the past 10 years, regardless of when they occurred.

Notary Fees

Notary fees in Florida are all set by statute. Currently, the going rate for a standard notarization is $10, with an additional $2 fee for each oath or affirmation administered. For things like Jurats and Acknowledgments, the fees are $5 and $10 respectively. These are the only notary fees that are allowed to be charged in the state of Florida.

Notary Commissions

A notary public commission is valid for four years from the date of expiration on the commission certificate. In order to become a notary public, you must:

-Be at least 18 years of age.
-Be a resident of Florida or have a regular place of employment or practice in Florida.
-Have no convictions for crimes involving moral turpitude.
-Submit an application to the Department of State.
-Complete an approved 6-hour education course if you have not previously held a commission in Florida or any other state within the past 5 years.
-Submit a completed notary public surety bond in the amount of $7,500 with your application to the Department of State. The surety bond protects the state and individuals from losses sustained as a result of misconduct by the notary public while in office. The bond must be executed by a surety company authorized to do business in Florida and filed with the department.
-Take and pass an examination administered by the Division of Notaries if you have not previously held a commission in Florida or any other state within the past 5 years OR submit proof that you have passed an examination administered by another state’s Notary Commissioning Authority within the past 12 months.
You will be notified by mail when your application has been approved and your Commission Certificate is ready for pick up, usually within 10 days after we receive your completed application.

How to Become a Notary in Florida

In order to become a notary in Florida, you must:

1) Be at least 18 years old
2) A resident of Florida or have a regular place of employment or business in Florida
3) Have no felony convictions
4) Complete a 3-hour notary course approved by the Department of State
5) Pass a written examination administered by the Division of Notaries
6) Obtain a $7,500 surety bond
7) Complete an application and submit it to the Division of Notaries along with the required fee

If you meet all of the above requirements, you will be issued a commission as a notary public for a term of four years.

Qualifications

To become a notary in Florida, you must:

Be a resident of Florida or employed in Florida
Be at least 18 years old
have no convictions for crimes of dishonesty or perjury
Complete a three-hour course of study approved by the Department of State.
Submit an application to the Department of State with the required fee
Take an Oath of Office before a judge or clerk of the court and have your signature notarized on the Oath of Office form DS-DE 9

Applying for a Notary Commission in Florida

If you are interested in becoming a notary public in the state of Florida, you must first meet a few requirements. You must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Florida, and have no felony convictions. You will also need to complete an application and pass a written exam.

Once you have met all of the requirements, you can begin the application process by visiting the Florida Department of State’s website. On the website, you will find an online application as well as instructions for how to complete the process.

After you have submitted your application, you will need to take and pass a written examination. The examination covers topics such as notary laws, procedures, and responsibilities. Once you have passed the examination, you will be issued a Notary Commission Certificate.

The Notary Exam

You must pass a notary exam administered by an approved testing service. The Notary Exam is comprised of two sections, one on notary laws and procedures and the other on the rules of civil procedure. You must score at least 80% to pass the exam.

Notary Bond

A notary bond is a type of surety bond required by the state of Florida for notaries public. The purpose of the notary bond is to protect consumers from fraudulent or dishonest acts by notaries. The surety company that issues the notary bond is responsible for compensating any person who suffers a financial loss because of a fraudulent or dishonest act committed by the bonded notary.

To become a notary in Florida, you must:
-Be at least 18 years old
-Be a resident of Florida
-Complete a 3-hour approved education course
-Pass a background check
-Submit a Notary Application to the Department of State
-Obtain a $7,500 surety bond
-Pay a $60 application fee

Notary E&O Insurance

As a notary, you understand the great responsibility you have been entrusted with. Notarizing a document is an official act that demands the utmost honesty, integrity and professionalism from you. Your actions as a notary can have serious legal consequences, so it’s important to protect yourself with notary E&O insurance.

E&O insurance (or errors and omissions insurance) is a type of professional liability insurance that can help cover the costs of defending yourself against a claim of negligence or wrongful act. If you are sued for something related to your work as a notary, E&O insurance can help pay for your legal fees, damages that may be awarded against you, and other related expenses.

While E&O insurance is not required by law in Florida, it is strongly recommended by the Florida Notaries Association. In fact, most professional organizations that offer notary education and training recommend carrying E&O insurance. And many employers who utilize the services of notaries require their employees to have this type of coverage.

If you plan to work as a mobile notary or travel to different locations to perform notarizations, it’s especially important to have E&O insurance in place. This coverage can help protect you if you are sued for damages that occur while you are away from your office or place of business.

When shopping for Notary E&O Insurance, be sure to find a policy that meets your specific needs. Some policies will only cover certain types of liabilities, while others may exclude certain types of claims altogether. Be sure to read the policy carefully before purchasing it so that you know what is and isn’t covered.

Notary Stamp and Seal

To start, you must purchase a notary stamp and seal. You can find these at any office supply store or online. The state of Florida requires that your notary stamp includes the following information:
-Your name
-The words “Notary Public”
-The Great Seal of the State of Florida
-Your commission expiration date

Your notary seal must also include the following information:
-Your name
-The words “Notary Public”
-The Great Seal of the State of Florida

Maintaining Your Notary Commission

To keep your notary commission active, you must renew it every 4 years by filing an Application to Renew a Notary Commission with the Division of Corporations. The cost to renew is $42.00, and you will be prompted to pay this fee when you submit your application for renewal.

Notary Journal

In Florida, a notary is an official of the state who witnesses the signing of important documents and verifies the identity of the signatories. Notaries are also authorized to administer oaths, take affidavits and certify that copies of documents are true likenesses of the originals. The office of notary is one of ancient origin, dating back to the early days of the Roman Republic. In Florida, as in other states, the requirements for becoming a notary are set by state law.

To become a notary in Florida, you must:

1. Be a resident of Florida
2. Be at least 18 years old
3. Possess a high school diploma or equivalent
4. Complete a Notary Education Course approved by the Department of State
5. Pass an examination administered by the Department of State
6. Apply to the Department of State for a commission as a notary public

Notary Public Records

In Florida, the notary public records are maintained by the Department of State. The records include the original notary bond and oath, as well as a register of all notarial acts performed by the notary while in office.

To become a notary in Florida, you must:
-Be at least 18 years of age
-Be a resident of Florida or have a regular place of employment or practice in Florida
-Have no felony convictions
-Complete a three-hour mandatory education course
-Pass a background check
-Submit an application to the Department of State along with the required fee
After your application is approved, you will be sworn in as a notary public and must purchase a surety bond in the amount of $7,500. You will also be required to maintain your bond for the duration of your 4-year commission.

Renewing Your Notary Commission

In Florida, notaries are commissioned for a four-year term. The term of office for a notary public begins on the date specified in the commission certificate and expires four years from that date.

Notaries public commissioned in Florida on or after January 1, 2002, must complete a three-hour education course approved by the Department of State prior to commission renewal.

An individual may not renew a notary public commission if his or her bond has expired or has been canceled. An expired bond may be renewed by the surety company for an additional two year period.

All notaries public must apply for renewal of their commissions through the Department’s online application system eNotary. Paper applications will no longer be accepted by the Department. You must have a credit or debit card and an email account to use this system. The eNotary system will prompt you to pay the required fees with either a credit card or debit card as you complete your application. After your payment is processed, you will be able to print your renewed commission certificate from the eNotary system. For more information about renewing your notary commission, please visit https://www.dos.myflorida.com/notaries/notary-services/renew-your-notary-commission/.

Notary Supplies

To become a notary in Florida, you need to purchase a notary bond, notary stamp, and journal.

A notary bond is a type of surety bond that protects the public from losses due to a Notary’s dishonesty or negligence on the job. In Florida, all Notaries are required to purchase and maintain a $7,500 Notary surety bond for their 4-year commission term.

A notary stamp is an embossed seal that bears theNotary’s name, commission expiration date, and the state-required phrase “Notary Public.” In Florida, all Notaries are required to use an ink stamps when performing any Notarial acts.

A journal is an optional record-keeping book in which the Notary enters information about each Notarial act performed. Although journals are not required by state law, they are strongly recommended because they provide an indisputable paper trail of the Notary’s actions.