117.01 Appointment, application, suspension, revocation, application fee, bond, and oath.— (1) The Governor may appoint as many notaries public as he or she deems necessary, each of whom must be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of this state. A permanent resident alien may apply and be appointed and shall file with his […]
117.021 Electronic notarization.— (1) Any document requiring notarization may be notarized electronically. The provisions of ss. 117.01, 117.03, 117.04, 117.05(1)-(11), (13), and (14), 117.105, and 117.107 apply to all notarizations under this section. (2) In performing an electronic notarial act, a notary public shall use an electronic signature that is: (a) Unique to the notary public; (b) Capable of independent […]
117.03 Administration of oaths.—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 […]
117.04 Acknowledgments.—A notary public is authorized to take the acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments of writing for record, as fully as other officers of this state. History.—s. 2, ch. 1127, 1860; RS 220; GS 305; RGS 416; CGL 482; s. 20, ch. 73-334; s. 8, ch. 81-260; s. 3, ch. 91-291; s. 3, ch. 93-62; […]
117.045 Marriages.—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.
117.05 Use of notary commission; unlawful use; notary fee; seal; duties; employer liability; name change; advertising; photocopies; penalties.— (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 […]
117.06 Validity of acts prior to April 1, 1903.—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; […]
117.10 Law enforcement and correctional officers; administration of oaths.— (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 authorized to administer oaths under subsection […]
117.103 Certification of notary’s authority by Secretary of State.—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 […]
117.105 False or fraudulent acknowledgments; penalty.—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 felony of the […]
117.107 Prohibited acts.— (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 limits or prohibits his or her ability to […]
117.108 Validity of acts, seals, and certificates prior to January 1, 1995.—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.
