Notary public in Florida: what they do and what they don't

01What a notary public does

A notary public is appointed by the state to witness signatures. They check your identity, make sure you're the one signing and doing it willingly, and record it on the document with their signature and seal.

02The most common acts

1. 1
   Acknowledgment

   You declare before the notary public that the signature on the document is yours and that you signed it willingly.

2. 2
   Jurat (oath or affirmation)

   You swear or affirm that what the document says is true, and you sign it in front of them.

3. 3
   Certified copy

   They certify that a copy matches the original. It has limits: see below.

03When you may be asked for one

Whoever receives the document asks for it: a bank, a school, a company or another office. It happens, for example, with authorization letters, affidavits, some contracts or powers of attorney. If you're not sure your document needs it, ask whoever asked you for it: we can't tell you.

04What they can't do

• Give you legal advice, draft your document or tell you which one you need.
• Notarize the signature of someone who doesn't appear before them or whose identity they can't verify.
• Certify copies of vital records, such as birth, marriage or death certificates: those copies are requested from the office that keeps the record.
• Help you with your immigration case: in the U.S., a notary public is not an attorney.

05What to bring

• Your photo ID and the unsigned document.
• If the document requires witnesses, ask whoever asked you for it whether you need to bring them.

06The notice Florida law requires

When a notary public who is not an attorney advertises their services in a language other than English, Florida law requires this notice, in English and in that language. It also bans translating “Notary public” literally. That's why you'll always see it in English.