Almost everyone in South Florida needs a notary eventually — to buy or refinance a home, sign a power of attorney for an aging parent, transfer a car title, send a document to a relative's country, or make a will self-proving. And almost everyone discovers the need at an inconvenient moment: the bank closed at four, the document is due tomorrow, and the one person who has to sign it can't get across town.
The good news is that notarization in Florida is faster and more flexible than most people realize. Between mobile notaries who come to you and fully remote online notarization done over video, there is rarely a reason to take time off work for a signature. This guide explains what a notary does, which documents require one, exactly what it costs under Florida law in 2026, and how to choose between in-person, mobile, and online options.
Key takeaways
- Florida law caps a notary's fee at $10 per notarial act in person, and $25 per act for remote online notarization.12
- Remote Online Notarization (RON) is legal in Florida: the notary must be physically in Florida, but you can sign from anywhere in the world over a recorded video call.3
- Common documents that need notarizing include powers of attorney, deeds, vehicle titles, affidavits, and a will's self-proving affidavit.
- For documents used abroad, only the Florida Department of State can issue the apostille that makes them valid overseas.4
- A notary cannot give legal advice or draft your documents — they verify identity, witness the signing, and deter fraud.
1. What a notary actually does — and what they can't
A notary public is a neutral official commissioned by the state to act as an impartial witness when important documents are signed. The notary's job is to confirm that you are who you say you are, that you are signing willingly and appear to understand what you are signing, and to record the act. That stamp and signature are a fraud-deterrent: they tell anyone who later relies on the document that a trusted third party verified the signing.
Three things a Florida notary is not allowed to do are just as important to understand:
What a notary can't do for you
A notary cannot give legal advice or decide which document you need; cannot draft or prepare legal documents unless they are also a licensed attorney; and cannot notarize a signature for someone who is not physically present (or, for online notarization, present live on video). They also can't notarize their own documents or a close family member's. The signer must be there, alert, and willing.
Florida also gives its notaries one power that surprises newcomers: a Florida notary can solemnize a marriage — legally perform a wedding ceremony.5 It is one of only a few states that allow this, which is why couples here sometimes ask a notary, rather than a clergy member or judge, to officiate.
2. Which documents need to be notarized
Not everything needs a notary — but the documents that do tend to be the high-stakes ones, where a missing stamp can invalidate the whole thing. Here are the documents South Florida families most often bring to us.
| Document | Why it usually needs a notary |
|---|---|
| Durable power of attorney | In Florida a power of attorney must be signed before a notary and two witnesses to be valid. |
| Real estate deeds & mortgages | Deeds, mortgages, and many closing documents must be notarized to be recorded. |
| Vehicle & vessel title transfers | Many title and lien documents require a notarized signature. |
| Affidavits & sworn statements | A notary administers the oath that makes a statement legally sworn. |
| A will's self-proving affidavit | A Florida will doesn't have to be notarized to be valid, but the attached self-proving affidavit must be — it lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down witnesses. |
| Parental consent for a minor to travel | Airlines and foreign authorities frequently require a notarized consent letter. |
| Documents going abroad | Often notarized first, then apostilled by the state — see section 6. |
Don't sign it first
The single most common mistake we see is a document that's already been signed. For most notarizations the notary has to watch you sign — or take your sworn acknowledgment of the signature — so bring the document unsigned unless you're told otherwise. A pre-signed form often has to be redone.
3. What notarization costs in Florida in 2026
Florida law sets firm ceilings on what a notary can charge, so there are no surprises. As of 2026, the maximum fee for a traditional, in-person notarial act is $10 per signature notarized, set by Florida Statute 117.05.1 For a remote online notarization, the cap is higher — $25 per act, under Statute 117.275 — reflecting the cost of identity verification and the recorded video that online notarization requires.2
| Service | Maximum fee (Florida law) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-person notarial act | $10 per act | Per signature/act; set by §117.05. |
| Remote online notarization (RON) | $25 per act | Higher cap covers ID verification and video records; §117.275. |
| Mobile notary travel fee | Separate, by agreement | Allowed in addition to the notarial fee, but must be disclosed and agreed to in writing before the appointment. |
One nuance worth knowing: when a mobile notary drives to your home, hospital, or office, the law lets them charge a separate travel fee on top of the per-act fee — but it must be disclosed and agreed to in writing before the appointment. A reputable mobile notary will always tell you the travel fee up front; if anyone is vague about it, that is a red flag.
4. Mobile notary: the notary comes to you
A mobile notary is simply a commissioned Florida notary who travels to wherever the signing needs to happen — your kitchen table, a hospital room, an assisted-living facility, or your office on a lunch break. The notarial act is identical to one done at a bank; the difference is convenience.
Mobile service matters most in exactly the situations where notarization is most urgent: a parent in the hospital who needs to sign a power of attorney, a closing that has to happen after business hours, or an elderly relative who can no longer easily travel. Rather than moving the person who can least afford the trip, the notary comes to them.
JCKC offers mobile and in-office notary service across Broward County, and because we also work in insurance, taxes, and estate documents, we can often handle the notarization in the same appointment as the conversation that produced the document — a new power of attorney, a beneficiary form, or an affidavit.
5. Remote online notarization: notarize by video
Florida was an early adopter of Remote Online Notarization (RON), which has been legal here since 2020. RON lets you get a document notarized over a secure, recorded video call — no one has to be in the same room. For a family spread across Broward County, the country, or the world, it can turn a week-long errand into a fifteen-minute call.
Here is how a Florida RON session works in practice:
- The notary must be physically in Florida. You, the signer, can be anywhere in the world.3
- Your identity is verified electronically — typically through knowledge-based questions drawn from public records and an analysis of your photo ID — and the notary visually compares your face to your ID on camera.
- You sign electronically while the notary watches live, and the notary applies an electronic seal.
- The entire session is recorded and retained for ten years, creating an audit trail far stronger than a traditional notarization.3
“A missing notary stamp can stop a home sale or a power of attorney dead — and a fifteen-minute video call can be all it takes to get it moving again.”
When RON is the perfect fit
Remote online notarization shines when the signer is out of state or overseas, homebound, or simply pressed for time, and when the receiving institution accepts electronic and remotely-notarized documents. Before you book, confirm the bank, county, or foreign authority will accept a RON document — most do, but a few specific filings still ask for ink on paper.
6. Apostilles: documents for use in another country
If a document notarized in Florida is going to be used in another country — a power of attorney for property in Haiti, a birth or marriage certificate for an immigration process, a school record for a child moving abroad — a notary stamp alone usually isn't enough. The document typically needs an apostille or authentication, which certifies the notary's authority so the document is recognized overseas.
In Florida, only one office can issue it: the Florida Department of State, through its Division of Corporations, is the sole authority that certifies notarial and apostille certifications.4 An apostille is used for countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention; for other countries, a different chain of authentication may apply. The practical point for families is that there are two steps: first the document is notarized, then it is submitted to the state for the apostille.
One stop, four languages
Need something notarized — today, or for use abroad?
We handle mobile, in-office, and remote online notarization, and can guide you on apostilles — in English, French, Creole, or Spanish.
7. How to prepare for your notary appointment
A notarization takes only minutes when you arrive prepared — and has to be rescheduled when you don't. Bring these every time:
| Bring this | Why |
|---|---|
| The complete, unsigned document | The notary usually must witness the signature; sign only when instructed. |
| A valid, government-issued photo ID | A current driver's license, state ID, or passport. The name should match the document. |
| Any required witnesses | Some documents — like a Florida power of attorney — require witnesses in addition to the notary. |
| Payment and any agreed travel fee | Know the per-act fee and, for mobile service, the disclosed travel fee in advance. |
For a remote online notarization, you'll also need a device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, and your photo ID on hand for the electronic verification step. The notary's platform walks you through the rest.
When in doubt, ask the recipient
The institution requesting your document — the bank, the county recorder, a foreign consulate — can tell you exactly what it needs: how many signatures must be notarized, whether witnesses are required, and whether it will accept a remotely-notarized or electronic document. Five minutes on the phone before your appointment saves a return trip.
8. What this means for South Florida families
Notarization is woven through the rest of a family's financial life, which is why it sits naturally alongside everything else we do. The life insurance conversation often produces a beneficiary form; estate planning produces a will whose self-proving affidavit needs a notary; caring for an aging parent produces a power of attorney. Handling the document and the signature in one place, in one appointment, is simply easier.
Two things matter especially in our community. The first is language: signing a legal document you don't fully understand is intimidating, so JCKC works in English, French, Creole, and Spanish, and we'll make sure you understand what you're signing before you sign it. The second is reach across the region — from Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood to Plantation, Sunrise, and Coral Springs — with mobile service for clients who can't easily travel, and remote online notarization for those who are out of the area entirely. Many of our clients also have ties abroad, which is exactly where the apostille step becomes essential.
Your notary checklist
- Confirm what the recipient requires — which signatures need notarizing, whether witnesses are needed, and whether a remote or electronic notarization is accepted.
- Choose the format — in person, mobile (the notary comes to you), or remote online by video.
- Gather your photo ID and the unsigned document, plus any witnesses.
- Agree on fees in advance — $10 per in-person act, up to $25 for RON, plus any disclosed mobile travel fee.
- If the document is going abroad, plan for the apostille step through the Florida Department of State after notarization.
9. Frequently asked questions
How much can a notary charge in Florida?
Florida law caps the fee at $10 per notarial act for a traditional in-person notarization, and up to $25 per act for a remote online notarization. A mobile notary may also charge a separate travel fee, but it must be disclosed and agreed to in writing before the appointment.
Can I get a document notarized online in Florida?
Yes. Remote Online Notarization (RON) has been legal in Florida since 2020. You connect with a Florida-commissioned online notary over a secure video call, your identity is verified electronically, you sign while the notary watches, and the session is recorded and stored for ten years. The notary must be physically located in Florida, but you can be anywhere.
Do I need to sign the document before I see the notary?
Usually no — the opposite. For most notarizations the notary has to witness your signature, so you should bring the document unsigned and sign it in front of them (or, for an online notarization, on the video call). Signing in advance can mean the document has to be redone. When in doubt, ask before you sign.
What identification do I need?
A current, government-issued photo ID such as a Florida driver's license, a state ID card, or a passport. The name on your ID should match the name on the document. For remote online notarization, you'll also go through an electronic identity-verification step using your ID and knowledge-based questions.
My document is going to another country. Is a notary enough?
Often not by itself. Documents used abroad usually need an apostille or authentication in addition to notarization, and in Florida only the Florida Department of State can issue it. The typical path is to notarize the document first, then submit it to the state for the apostille. The exact requirement depends on the destination country.
Can a notary help me write or fix my document?
No. A notary is an impartial witness, not a lawyer, and cannot give legal advice or draft legal documents unless they are also a licensed attorney. They confirm your identity, witness the signing, and apply the notarial seal. If you need help deciding what a document should say, that calls for an attorney — but signing it correctly is what the notary is for.
What we'll do for you
JCKC Financial Services is an independent brokerage based in Broward County. We help South Florida families with the financial side of life — tax preparation, ACA / Obamacare, life insurance, Medicare, and notary services — in English, French, Creole, and Spanish. Notarization is the piece that often holds everything else up, so we make it easy.
Whether you need a single signature witnessed, a mobile notary at a parent's bedside, a remote online notarization while you're out of state, or guidance on getting a document apostilled for use abroad, we can help — and if the document came out of an insurance, tax, or estate conversation, we can handle both in one appointment. Florida's fees are fixed by law, and we'll always tell you any mobile travel fee up front.
Don't let a missing stamp hold up something important — schedule a notary appointment or call (954) 825-9923. We'll come to you, meet you online, or see you in the office.
10. Sources
- The Florida Senate. Florida Statutes §117.05 — Use of notary commission; unlawful use; notary fee. flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/117.05
- The Florida Senate. Florida Statutes §117.275 — Fees for online notarization. flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/117.275
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. Remote Online Notary Public (RON). dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/other-services/notaries/remote-online-notary-public
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. Authentications (Apostilles & Notarial Certifications). dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification
- The Florida Senate. Florida Statutes §117.045 — Notaries may solemnize marriage. flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/117.045
Disclaimer: JCKC Financial Services is a private licensed insurance brokerage that also provides notary services. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice; a notary public is an impartial witness and cannot draft legal documents or advise you on which document to use. Notary fees and procedures are governed by Florida Statutes Chapter 117 and may change; apostille and authentication requirements depend on the destination country. This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice or a substitute for guidance from a licensed professional.