How to Become a Notary in Florida

Effective July 1, 2000 all first-time notary applicants are required to complete 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction covering the duties of a notary public and electronic notarization. You may contact any approved vendors to meet your education requirement.

Yes, must complete an approved training course.

No exam is required.

No background check is required

All Florida notary applicants are required to maintain a four-year, $7,500 notary bond. The bond protects the public from notary errors. If a member of the public files a claim against a notary’s bond, the bonding company is very likely to sue the notary to recoup the funds it paid on the notary’s behalf.

Yes, a $7,500 bond is required

Since July 1, 1996, applications have been submitted by bonding agencies both in paper format and in an electronic format approved by the Department of State’s Notary Commissions and Certifications Section.  Pursuant to Section 117.01(2), Florida Statutes, the application form is prescribed by the Department of State and consists of three parts: (1) Personal information: full name; residence address and telephone number; business address and telephone number; date of birth; race; sex; social security number; citizenship status; driver license number or the number of other official state-issued identification; a list of all professional licenses and commissions issued by the state during the previous 10 years and a statement as to whether or not the applicant has had such license or commission revoked or suspended; a statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of a felony; and if there has been a felony conviction, a statement of the nature of the felony and restoration of civil rights. (2) Affidavit of good character from someone unrelated to the applicant who has known the applicant for 1 year or more. (3) Oath of office: The applicant must sign the following oath. (Please note: the signature is the notary public’s official signature on file.) State of Florida County I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution of the state; that I have read Chapter 117, Florida Statutes, and any amendments thereto, and know the duties, responsibilities, limitations, and powers of a notary public; and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of Notary Public, State of Florida, on which I am now about to enter. So help me God. * UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, I DECLARE THAT I HAVE READ THE FOREGOING APPLICATION AND OATH, AND THAT THE FACTS STATED THEREIN ARE TRUE. I accept the Office of Notary Public, State of Florida. 8 *Note: If you affirm, you may omit the words “So help me God.” Fla. Stat. § 92.52. Note: The application form no longer requires notarization.  “The application for appointment shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and shall be accompanied by a fee of $25, together with the $10 commission fee required by s. 113.01, and a surcharge of $4, which $4 is appropriated to the Executive Office of the Governor to be used to educate and assist notaries public.” Fla. Stat. § 117.01(2). • “[N]o commission fee shall be required for the issuance of a commission as a notary public to a veteran who served during a period of wartime service, as defined in s. 1.01(14), and who has been rated by the United States Government or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a disability rating of 50 percent or more; such a disability is subject to verification by the Secretary of State, who has authority to adopt reasonable procedures to implement this act.” Fla. Stat. § 117.01(2).  A veteran who qualifies should request the reduction in writing and provide proof of exemption.  Once the appointment is made, the notary public commission certificate is usually mailed back to the bonding agency, who forwards it to the notary public with the notary public seal.

Yes, application and a fee required

Stamp Required

A notary public may administer an oath and make a certificate thereof when it is necessary for the execution of any writing or document to be published under the seal of a notary public. The notary public may not take an acknowledgment of execution in lieu of an oath if an oath is required.

No Oath is required