There are over 400,000 notaries in the state of Florida. The Florida Department of State is responsible for approving or rejecting Florida notary applications. The Florida notary application process is simple and straight forward. To qualify for a Florida notary commission, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be a legal resident of the state of Florida
- Have no criminal convictions or felonies
- Be able to read, write, and understand the English language
Steps to become a Florida notary:
1- Take the Florida notary education course. All first time Florida notary applicants must take a three-hour Florida notary course within one year prior to submitting their Florida notary applications. The Department of State’s Notary Education Program offers a free Florida notary course, which can be taken online, free of charge, at https://notaries.dos.state.fl.us/education/index.html.
2- Purchase a Florida notary bond. Contact a Florida notary bonding agency that is approved to sell bonds in the state of Florida. It is also recommended that you find a “one-stop-shopping” company like the American Association of Notaries that can handle issuing the Florida notary bond, submit your Florida notary application to the Governor’s Office, and manufacture your Florida notary stamp. You make one payment to the company for the Florida notary bond, the Florida notary application fee, and the Florida notary stamp. The Florida notary application fee is fixed by law at $39. The Florida notary bond premium and the Florida notary stamp are priced differently depending on the company.
3- Complete the application. Most Florida notary agencies have an online application system with a wizard that guides you step by step through the application process. Florida notary applications with incomplete information or missing signatures will be returned to the Florida bonding agency that handled your application. If you have been convicted of a felony, had adjudication withheld, or are on probation, you must submit the following documents:
- A written statement regarding the nature and circumstances of the charges.
- A copy of the Judgment and Sentencing Order.
- If convicted, a copy of the Certification of Restoration of Civil Rights (or pardon). The name of this document may vary depending on the state where the conviction occurred.
4. Submit the Florida notary application. The Florida Department of State requires all Florida notary applications to be submitted with original signatures. Faxed or copied applications will be rejected. Florida notary applications can only be submitted through a bonding agency approved by the State.
5. Receive your Florida notary commission certificate. The process to approve your Florida notary application is around two weeks. The Department of State will mail your notary commission certificate to your bonding agency, which will in turn mail you your Florida notary stamp.
The Notary Master Training help you become a Florida Notary step by step. Click here to start the Florida notary application process. with the training in the same place.
Legal disclaimer: The Notary Public Service and Notary Master Training seeks to provide timely articles for notaries to assist them with information and ideas for managing their notary businesses, enhancing their notary educations, and securing their notary supplies but makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained . Information in this article is not intended as legal advice. We are not attorneys. We do not pretend to be attorneys. Though we will sometimes provide information regarding federal laws and statutes and the laws and statutes of each state, we have gathered the information from a variety of sources. We do not warrant the information gathered from those sources. It is your responsibility to know the appropriate laws governing your state. Notaries are advised to seek the advice of an attorney in their state if they have legal questions about how to notarize.
