COMMISSION FEE; VETERANS' EXEMPTION

113.01 Fee for commissions issued by Governor.

FEES FOR NOTARY SERVICES

28.24 Service charges by clerk of the circuit court (29) For solemnizing matrimony $20.00

        839.11 Extortion by officers of the state.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AS NOTARIES PUBLIC; FEES COLLECTED

116.35 Notary public commissions; employees of state and county agencies.

116.36 Notary public commissions; municipal employees.

116.37 Notary public commissions; elected officers.

OATHS (AFFIRMATIONS) AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

92.52 Affirmation equivalent to oath.

695.03 Acknowledgment and proof; validation of certain acknowledgments; legalization or authentication before foreign officials. To entitle any instrument concerning real property to be recorded, the execution must be acknowledged by the party executing it, proved by a subscribing witness to it, or legalized or authenticated by a civil-law notary or notary public who affixes her or his official seal, before  the officers and in the form and manner following:

WITHIN THIS STATE. An acknowledgment or proof made within this state may be made before a judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court;  a United States commissioner or magistrate; or a notary public or  civil-law notary of this state, and the certificate of acknowledgment or  proof must be under the seal of the court or officer, as the case may be. 

All affidavits, legalizations, authentications, and acknowledgments heretofore made or taken in the manner set forth above are hereby validated. 

OATH BY WRITTEN DECLARATION

92.525 Verification of documents; perjury by false written declaration, penalty.

CERTAIN OFFICERS IN THE ARMED FORCES AUTHORIZED TO TAKE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ADMINISTER OATHS

92.51 Oaths, affidavits, and acknowledgments; taken or administered by commissioned officer of United States Armed Forces.

ADDITIONAL NOTARIAL CERTIFICATES FOUND IN CHAPTER 695, FLORIDA STATUTES, "RECORD OF CONVEYANCES OF REAL ESTATE"

695.25 Short form of acknowledgment.

NOTARIES AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM MARRIAGE CEREMONIES

741.07 Persons authorized to solemnize matrimony.

NOTARIES AUTHORIZED TO VERIFY A VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN)

319.23 Application for, and issuance of, certificate of title.

NOTARIES AUTHORIZED TO CERTIFY THE CONTENTS OF A SAFE-DEPOSIT BOX

655.94 Special remedies for nonpayment of rent.

CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER OATHS

943.10 Definitions; ss. 943.085-943.255

NOTARIES WHO PERFORM SERVICES FOR RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

425.26 Trustees, officers or members, notaries.

RECORDING REQUIREMENTS

695.26 Requirements for recording instruments affecting real property.

PERSONS ADJUDICATED MENTALLY INCAPACITATED

744.3215 Rights of persons determined incapacitated.

OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT BY A NOTARY PUBLIC

839.25 Official misconduct.

PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATION OF NOTARY LAWS

775.082 Penalties; mandatory minimum sentences for certain reoffenders previously released from prison.

775.083 Fines.

775.084 Violent career criminal; habitual felony offenders and habitual violent felony offenders; definitions; procedure; enhanced penalties.

PENALTIES FOR THE UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW

454.23 Penalties

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES

282.70 Short title. This act may be cited as the "Electronic Signature Act of 1996."

282.71 Legislative intent.

282.72 Definitions

INTERNATIONAL NOTARIES - (Chapter 118, Florida Statutes)

118.10 Civil-law notary.

TIMESHARE COMMISSIONER OF DEEDS - (Chapter 721, Part IV, Florida Statutes)

Resource for Verifying Identification

If you have ever wondered whether a driver's license from another state is legitimate, you may wish to purchase a booklet used to verify the most common forms of identification. The I.D. Checking Guide is published by the Drivers License Guide Company annually in February (ISBN 0-938964-33-X).

This full-color booklet has pictures and descriptions of driver's licenses and identification cards (current and previous valid issues) issued by all 50 states, the provinces of Canada, the federal government (such as resident alien cards and others issued by INS and military identification cards), bank cards, and automobile registration plates. The cost is nominal and may protect you and your employer from reliance upon a fraudulent identification card.

The booklet may be ordered from:

Drivers License Guide Company
1492 Oddstad Drive
P. O. Box 5305, Dept. 96
Redwood City, CA 94063
(415) 369-4849

Identification: "Green Cards" Updated

Resident alien cards, commonly called "green cards," have recently been updated by the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service. Former cards identified as Form I-151 issued prior to 1978 have been replaced with cards designed to be more resistant to fraud and counterfeiting.

The new cards are designated as Form I-551 and are made of hard plastic, similar to credit cards, rather than laminated paper cards. Each card has a pink background, the words "Resident Alien" in dark blue, and a blue INS seal in the center of the card. The card also contains a photo (showing the right ear), signature and fingerprint of the resident alien. Other valid cards issued after 1978 have white backgrounds, but all valid cards will have the photo, signature and fingerprint of the bearer.

Notaries may accept the new cards as identification if the card is current (unexpired) or was issued within the past five years. The old card Form I-151 is no longer valid and should not be accepted for notary services.

The main function of the Notary Section -- to educate and assist Notaries -- is accomplished in several ways: by publishing and distributing educational materials, particularly the notary laws and the Governor's Reference Manual for Notaries; by answering telephone inquiries from Notaries; and by conducting notary seminars. 

Although the Governor's Notary Section is not authorized to offer legal advice to Notaries, they do make every effort to help Notaries understand their duties. The Notary Section also assists the Governor by reviewing "problem" applications related to the applicants' eligibility for appointment and by investigating complaints against Notaries and recommending disciplinary action when appropriate.

Contact the Governor's Notary Section:

• To obtain educational materials.

• To ask a question about the notary law or proper procedures.

• To file a complaint against a Notary.

• To respond to a complaint file against you for notary misconduct.

• To check the status of a problem application.

• To resign your notary commission.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Room LL06, The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001

(850) 922-6400 or SunCom 292-6400
FAX (850) 410-1294 or SunCom 210-1294

JENNIFER BERTSCH
Notary Education Coordinator

email: fl_gov_notary@eog.state.fl.us

The Governor may suspend a notary public for any of the grounds provided in s. 7, Art. IV of the State Constitution. Grounds constituting malfeasance, misfeasance, or neglect of duty include, but are not limited to, the following:

D) Department of State

The Department of State, Notary Commissions and Certifications Section, has a strictly ministerial function and does not assist Notaries with questions about their duties. That office processes routine notary applications and issues the commissions once approved for appointment. The Department also maintains all the records on Notaries by keeping applications on file and in a sophisticated computer database, which is easily accessible to the public.

E) Internet