Title X, Public Officers, Employees, and Records

A notary public is authorized to solemnize the rites of matrimony. For solemnizing the rites of matrimony, the fee of a notary public may not exceed those provided by law to the clerks of the circuit court for like services.History.—s. 4, ch. 98-246.

(1) A person may not obtain or use a notary public commission in other than his or her legal name, and it is unlawful for a notary public to notarize his or her own signature. Any person applying for a notary public commission must submit proof of identity to the Department of St…

A person aggrieved by a violation of s. 117.05(10) or (11) has a civil cause of action against the entity violating such provision for, where appropriate:(1) Declaratory or injunctive relief.(2) Actual damages.(3) Reasonable attorney fees and costs.History.—s. 2, ch. 2025-82.

Any and all notarial acts that were done by any notary public in the state prior to April 1, 1903, which would have been valid had not the term of office of the notary public expired, are declared to be valid.History.—s. 1, ch. 5217, 1903; GS 307; RGS 418; CGL 484.

(1) For purposes of this section, the term “reliable electronic means” means the signing and transmission of a document through means compliant with criminal justice information system security measures. Such signing and transmission must be made by an affiant to an officer autho…

A notary public is not required to record his or her notary public commission in an office of a clerk of the circuit court. If certification of the notary public’s commission is required, it must be obtained from the Secretary of State. Upon the receipt of a written request and a…

A notary public who falsely or fraudulently takes an acknowledgment of an instrument as a notary public or who falsely or fraudulently makes a certificate as a notary public or who falsely takes or receives an acknowledgment of the signature on a written instrument is guilty of a…

(1) A notary public may not use a name or initial in signing certificates other than that by which the notary public is commissioned.(2) A notary public may not sign notarial certificates using a facsimile signature stamp unless the notary public has a physical disability that li…

A notarial act performed, a notarial certificate signed, or a notarial seal used by any notary public before January 1, 1995, which would have been valid under the laws in effect in this state on January 1, 1991, is valid.History.—s. 5, ch. 93-62.

As used in this part, the term:(1) “Appear before,” “before,” or “in the presence of” means:(a) In the physical presence of another person; or(b) Outside of the physical presence of another person, but able to see, hear, and communicate with the person by means of audio-video com…

(1) An online notary public may perform any of the functions authorized under part I of this chapter as an online notarization by complying with the requirements of this part and any rules adopted by the Department of State pursuant to s. 117.295, excluding solemnizing the rites …

(1) If a provision of law requires a notary public or other authorized official of this state to notarize a signature or a statement, to take an acknowledgment of an instrument, or to administer an oath or affirmation so that a document may be sworn, affirmed, made under oath, or…

A notary public, a civil-law notary appointed under chapter 118, or a commissioner of deeds appointed under part IV of chapter 721 may complete registration as an online notary public with the Department of State by:(1) Holding a current commission as a notary public under part I…

(1) When taking the oath of an individual who is testifying at any court proceeding, deposition, arbitration, or public hearing and who is outside of the physical presence of the notary public, the notary public may fulfill the requirements of s. 117.05 using audio-video communic…

(1) An online notary public is subject to part I of this chapter to the same extent as a notary public appointed and commissioned only under that part, including the provisions of s. 117.021 relating to electronic notarizations.(2) An online notary public may perform notarial act…

(1) An online notary public shall keep one or more secure electronic journals of online notarizations performed by the online notary public. For each online notarization, the electronic journal entry must contain all of the following:(a) The date and time of the notarization.(b) …

(1) An online notary public shall:(a) Take reasonable steps to ensure that any registered device used to create an electronic seal is current and has not been revoked or terminated by the issuing or registering authority of the device.(b) Keep the electronic journal and electroni…

(1) An online notary public physically located in this state may perform an online notarization that meets the requirements of this part regardless of whether the principal or any witnesses are physically located in this state at the time of the online notarization. A commissione…

An online notary public or the employer of such online notary public may charge a fee, not to exceed $25, for performing an online notarial act under this part. Fees for services other than notarial acts, including the services of a RON service provider, are not governed by this …

Supervising the witnessing of an electronic record by an online notary public in accordance with this section is a notarial act. An online notary public may supervise the witnessing of electronic records by complying with the online notarization procedures of this part and using …

(1) For purposes of this part, the Department of State may adopt rules necessary to implement the requirements of this chapter and to set standards for online notarization which include, but are not limited to:(a) Improvements in technology and methods of assuring the identity of…

This part supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act as authorized under 15 U.S.C. ss. 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede s. 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. s. 7001(c), or authorize the electronic delivery of the notices described i…