Online notarization in Florida: Get your document notarized today

When you need to have your documents notarized to ensure their legality, Remote Online Notarization (RON) makes it easier than ever to securely sign and notarize documents.

RON allows business and individuals to meet with official state commissioned notaries virtually from the convenience of wherever they live or work.

We will take a look at what you need to know about hiring a Remote online notary in Florida to start notarizing your documents online right away using PandaDoc Notary. Learn everything about remote online notarization in Florida.

How does PandaDoc Notary work?

When you need to have your essential documents notarized, PandaDoc Notary offers you the simplicity of being able to create, edit, send, and eSign your documents all in one place. Compared to traditional notarization forms, such as walk-in and mobile notaries, this will ultimately save you time, money, and a lot of unnecessary stress.

Rather than having to schedule a time and place to meet with a notary in person, the PandaDoc Notary platform makes it easy for you to connect with friendly state-commissioned notaries at a moment’s notice. It also offers a security level that is impossible with traditional notaries.

You can take comfort in knowing that PandaDoc Notary is MISMO® certified, which means that it fully complies with the MIMSO best practices and regulatory standards.

PandaDoc Notary’s cloud-based platform works to protect your documents and information by using a Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) process to verify signers’ identities, as well as top-of-the-line data encryption to protect your document against fraud or tampering.

Though the platform is notably user-friendly and easy to learn, the PandaDoc Notary product help center offers a full range of knowledge to access the solutions you need. They also offer reliable and knowledgeable 24/7 live chat support so that you are always covered, no matter what.

Request a demo today to learn more about how PandaDoc Notary can help you and try it out for yourself.

How does online notary work in Florida?

If you plan to use a remote online notary in Florida, you will be required to appear before the notary public virtually, using a state-approved RON platform and a two-way audio-visual connection. This means that all signers will need access to a computer with a secure internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone to appear before the notary.

At the time of notarization, the signers will need to verify their identity to the notary. This can be achieved using several different methods, including the following.

The notary personally knows the signer and can confirm their identity.
Presenting a government-issued ID.
Using knowledge-based authentication (KBA) to verify the signer’s identity.

The online notary will then have the signers audibly confirm that they understand the document and are signing it of their own free will. Once this is confirmed, the signers can provide their eSignatures to the document.

Once the document is signed, the notary will then apply their own digital seal and signature. A notary’s digital seal contains encrypted, tamper-proof information that confirms the notary’s commission and ensures the document will be accepted as legally valid.

Once a document has been notarized online in Florida, by law, it must be securely stored and remain accessible to all signing parties for a minimum of ten years.

FAQ’s

Is online notarization legal in Florida?

Yes. Notaries who are commissioned to practice online can perform Remote Online Notarization (RON) services in Florida.

Remote Notarization in Florida has been legal since January 2020. While many states have recently adopted RON laws in response to COVID-19, Florida introduced their legislation just before the pandemic. To perform remote online notarization in Florida, notaries must possess a current commission as one of the following types of notaries:

Traditional notary: An individual who is commissioned to perform notarial acts within the state of Florida. This includes both walk-in and mobile notaries.
Civil law notary: A Florida attorney (a good-standing member of the Florida Bar) who is appointed by the State. A civil law notary can provide legal advice, prepare instruments with legal effect, and provide traditional notary services.
Commissioner of deeds: A commissioner of deeds is an appointed officer whose job is to administer oaths and take acknowledgments in connection with timeshares executed within Florida. They are notably able to perform their duties outside of the state. However, they are limited to documents related to timeshares located within the state of Florida.

What types of notarizations are permitted online in Florida?

Remote online notaries in Florida are permitted to carry out all of the same notarial acts that a traditional notary can. These notarial acts include (but are not limited to) notarizing the following types of documents:

Affidavits: A statement sworn under oath, in written form.
Executing a jurat: Verifications confirming the veracity of documents.
Taking an acknowledgement: An official acknowledgment from a signer to a notary that a document has been willingly signed.
Taking depositions: A form of gathering evidence from a witness for a trial.
Wills and trusts: Legal documents detailing the distribution of an estate and its assets.
Court documents: Documents or materials filed in relation to a court case.
Property deeds: Documents that transfer property ownership from seller to buyer.
Custody and guardianship agreements: Documents that assign custody rights over a child.

How to notarize a document in Florida?

When notarizing a document in Florida, all signers must appear before a state-commissioned notary public in real-time to sign and notarize the document. Florida allows businesses and individuals the option to choose from either traditional notarization methods (such as walk-in and mobile notaries) or Remote Online Notarization (RON).

With traditional notarization services, you would schedule a time in advance to meet with a notary in person to complete the transaction. Once the signer’s identities have been confirmed, they apply a “wet-ink” written signature or eSignature to a document. The notary will apply their signature and unique seal at this time, rendering the document legally binding.

RON simplifies and expedites this process by allowing signers to appear from multiple locations before a state-commissioned notary public using a secure, two-way connection online to eSign and notarize a document.

Remote online notaries in Florida are authorized to carry out all the same notarial acts that a traditional notary is.

What are the Florida notarization requirements?

To notarize your documents online or in person in Florida, there are a few requirements you will have to keep in mind. If you are notarizing your documents online, you will need to find a state-approved RON provider that can help you with your documents, such as PandaDoc Notary.

At the time of the notarization, you will also have to pay the appropriate fees, which can range from $10-25 depending on the type of transaction. All signers will also be required to provide some form of valid identification prior to signing the document to verify their identities for the notary. This is true for both online and in-person notarization.

These forms of ID can include:

Driver’s license
Passport
Military ID card
Government-issued ID card
Permanent resident card

What are the notary laws in Florida?

To have a document notarized in Florida, all signers must appear before an actively commissioned notary public. This can be done in person with a traditional walk-in or mobile notary, or it can be done online via remote online notarization.

Florida notary law allows signers and notaries to provide traditional “wet-ink” signature notarization, electronic notarization, and Remote Online Notarization services. To provide RON services in Florida, the online notary must successfully pass a RON training course and exam, in addition to possessing a $25,00 surety bond and a $25,000 E&O policy.

If I notarize a document in Florida, will it be recognized by other states?

Yes, any document notarized in Florida, in-person or online, will be legally valid in all 50 states. As long as the notarization is carried out in compliance with all local notarization or RON law, the document will be accepted.

Even though some states have yet to legalize some form of RON law, documents that have been eSigned and notarized online will still be considered valid in those states.

Do I have to be in Florida to use PandaDoc Notary services?

You can take advantage of the security and convenience that PandaDoc Notary offers regardless of where you happen to be at the moment. This means that the document’s signers do not need to be physically located within the boundaries of the state of Florida when you need to notarize a document fast.

PandaDoc Notary quickly connects you to a nationwide network of notaries who are legally commissioned to notarize in the states where they practice, including Florida. This means they are familiar with and in compliance with the local rules and regulations that apply to their notarization, ensuring your documents are valid each time.

How much can an online notary charge in Florida?

An online notary can charge a fee of up to $25 per notarization service in Florida. Online notaries can charge an additional $20 to create and deliver electronic copies of the signed document, provided they disclose this fee upfront.

Approved RON providers in Florida

The Florida Department of State does not have a list of approved third-party vendors. To perform RON services, online notaries in Florida only need a computer that supports two-way audio and visual communication and a secure connection to the internet.

Here is a list of vendors that offer end-to-end remote notarization solutions in Florida:

PandaDoc Notary
DocuSign
DocVerify
Notarize
NotaryCam
Pavaso
Safedocs
SIGNiX

Florida allows you to contract with more than one RON technology provider as long as you keep the Department of State up to date with each of your chosen vendors.

Disclaimer

The contents of this website are intended to convey general information only and not to provide legal advice or opinions. The information presented on this website may not reflect the most current legal developments. No action should be taken in reliance on the information contained on this website, and we disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this site to the fullest extent permitted by law. An attorney should be contacted for advice on specific legal issues and jurisdictions.