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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a Notary Public?


A notary public is a public officer appointed and commissioned by the Governor whose function is to administer oaths (or affirmations); to take acknowledgments; to attest to the trueness of photocopies of certain documents; and to perform other duties specified by Florida law.


  • What can a Notary Public Certify?

  • The signature on a document is genuine

  • The signer of a document acted willingly

  • The singer agreed to the terms of the document

  • The signer made a statement under oath

  • A copy is an accurate reproduction of the original

  • A document was signed on a specific date


  • What are the duties of a Notary Public?


Notaries are authorized by law to perform six basic duties:

  • Administer oaths or affirmations

  • Take acknowledgments

  • Solemnize marriages

  • Attest to photocopies

  • Verify vehicle identification numbers (VINs)

  • Certify the contents of a safe-deposit box


  • What documents can’t be attested by a notary?


Public records documents such as:

  • Birth certificate

  • Marriage certificate

  • Death certificate

  • Certificate of citizenship or naturalization

  • Documents filed in a court proceeding

  • Documents recorded by the Clerk of the Court

  • Public records maintained in government offices

  • Student records (transcripts, etc.) kept in public education offices

  • Federal or state income tax forms, already filed

  • Professional licenses issued by the State of Florida

  • Any document for which photocopying is prohibited

Please be aware that this is not a complete list of public records documents.


  • What is an oath or affirmation?

In some cases, a client may need an oath or affirmation orally as part of a jurat, affidavit, or other written document. The purpose of administering a verval oath or affirmation is to compel a client to truthfulness.

  • An oath is a solemn pledge to a Supreme Being.

  • An affirmation is a solemn pledge on the individual's personal honor. Again, the choice should be made by the signer.


    • 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 required.” Fla. Stat. § 117.03.

Examples of instances for which a notary public may administer an oath:

  • affidavits, applications, depositions, vehicle

  • identification number (VIN) verification, etc. Pursuant to Section 454.23,

  • Florida Statutes, the taking of a deposition constitutes the practice of law.

  • Pursuant to Section 117.01(4)(f), Florida Statutes, the Governor may suspend a

  • notary public for any grounds constituting malfeasance, misfeasance, or neglect of duty, e.g. the unauthorized practice of law.


  • What type of identification should I bring?


Any of the following forms of identification, if the document is current or has been issued within the past 5 years and bears a serial or other identifying number:

  • A Florida identification card or driver license issued by the public agency authorized to issue driver licenses;

  • A passport issued by the Department of State of the United States;

  • A passport issued by a foreign government if the document is stamped by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services;

  • A driver license or an identification card issued by a public agency authorized to issue driver licenses in a state other than Florida or in a territory of the United States, or Canada or Mexico;

  • An identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States;

  • A veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;

  • An inmate identification card issued on or after January 1, 1991, by the Florida Department of Corrections for an inmate who is in the custody of the department;

  • An inmate identification card issued by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, for an inmate who is in the custody of the department;

  • A sworn, written statement from a sworn law enforcement officer that the forms of identification for an inmate in an institution of confinement were confiscated upon confinement and that the person named in the document is the person whose signature is to be notarized; or

  • An identification card issued by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. - Abraham Lincoln.