Elements of a Florida Notary Certificate
- Mark D. Miller, MBA
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Documents that require notarization originate from all over the world. However, each state has specific regulations on what must be included in notarial certificates. A notary can notarize any document as long as it contains all the elements required by their state. In some cases, the notary may add the required wording directly to the document’s certification, or they may need to attach a loose certificate.
Required Elements in a Florida Notary Certificate
In the State of Florida, nine essential elements must be included in every notarial certificate:
Venue
Date
Type of Notarial Act
Signer's Name
Appearance Method
Identification Method
Notary’s Signature
Notary’s Printed Name
Notary Stamp
I have the 9 elements taped to my privacy guard in my journal.
Definitions of the Elements
1. Venue
The location where the notarization takes place.
In-Person Notarization: The venue reflects where both the signer and the notary are physically located at the time of signing.
Remote Online Notarization (RON): The venue reflects the location of the notary at the time of the signing, regardless of the signer’s location.
2. Date
The date on which the signing and notarization occurred.
3. Type of Notarial Act
Specifies the type of notarial act performed, such as:
Administering Oaths or Affirmations
Taking an Acknowledgment
4. Signer's Name
The full name of the individual who signed the document.
5. Appearance Method
Indicates how the signer appeared before the notary:
Physically in person
Remote Online Notarization
6. Identification Method
Specifies how the notary verified the signer’s identity. Acceptable methods include:
Government-issued ID card with a photo
Driver’s license
Passport
Credible witness statement
Personal knowledge of the signer
7. Notary’s Signature
The notary must sign exactly as they did on their commission application and as their name appears on their commission.
8. Notary’s Printed Name
The notary’s name must be typed or printed below the signature line, matching the name on their commission.
9. Notary Stamp
The official notary seal must include:
The notary’s commission number
The commission expiration date
Best Practice as a Florida Notary
As a Florida notary, I have developed the habit of personally reviewing each certificate to ensure all nine required elements are included. This practice helps prevent delays and ensures compliance with Florida state laws, ultimately protecting my clients and the validity of their documents.
Comentários