NOTARY SERVIES

​What you need to know for your appointment.

​

1. Physical Presence ~ The signer(s) being notarized must be present at the time of the Florida notarization.

2. Proper Forms of Identification ~  The signer(s) must have a photo ID that covers the names shown on the document (for example, if your middle name is spelled out on the document, it must be spelled out on your photo ID). The ID can have more than the document, just not less. 

3. Document(s) and the Names on the Document(s) ~ You must have the document that is being notarized. A Florida Notary is not permitted to draft documents or provide legal documents. We can, however, print the document for you if you email them to us prior to your appointment with additional cost.  If we come to your location, please print all documents before we arrive.  It is very important to give yourself time to troubleshoot any printing issues and to give yourself time to proofread the document, especially making sure the name on the document is spelled correctly and checked against the signer’s ID. 

4. Blank Lines ~ We cannot notarize incomplete documents with incomplete blank lines (that you don’t have the information for) in the text above your signature line or just the last “signature page” without the rest of the document present.

5. Competency and Comprehension ~ All signers need to be competent to sign and be fully alert and be able to prove to the notary that they understand the contents being signed. Nodding is not sufficient. If the signer cannot speak, then he or she will need to be able to write out complete sentences to questions.  We cannot notarize someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia or someone on medication that makes the signer extremely drowsy. You may need to go to court to be able to take over the signing responsibilities for someone if signing a document such as a Power of Attorney cannot be notarized because of these issues.  Every signer must demonstrate a willingness to sign the documents without coercion. He/she must also be aware of what they are signing and understand the significance of the transaction. Documents cannot be notarized if there is any cognitive impairment.

6. Foreign Language ~ Each signer needs to be able to explain what he or she is signing in English directly to the notary, without a translator.

7. Signature Issues ~ The signer needs to be able to sign in a way that resembles a signature, even if no longer looks like the original signature on an ID. If the signer can only make some kind of small mark or “x” on the signature line, then that is considered “signature by mark” and it adds additional layers of complexity that we are, unfortunately, not set up to handle.

8. Minors ~ Florida does state you should follow the same guidelines that you would for any other notarization. Personal appearance is still required for a notarial act involving a minor.  Personal appearance is still required for a notarial act involving a minor. A parent cannot sign for the minor, and they cannot try to identify the minor for you. The minor must be physically present in front of you at the time of the act.  Proper identification of a minor is the area many notaries encounter a problem. You must still adhere to Florida law about the allowed forms of identification. If the minor does not possess any of them, credible witnesses can be used.