Notary Public Underwriters Blog
Becoming a Notary Series: How to Become a Notary in Florida
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- Published: July 24, 2023
In Florida, the process of becoming a notary is straightforward, requiring a few essential steps to obtain your commission. In this blog post, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to become a notary in the Sunshine State.
Meet the Requirements
To become a notary in Florida, you must be at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the state, and able to read, write, and understand the English language. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must provide a recorded Declaration of Domicile, which can be obtained from your local County Clerk's office.
If you have had any professional licenses revoked, have been disciplined by a regulatory agency, have been convicted of a felony, or have had an adjudication of guilt withheld for a felony offense, you must submit additional documents as outlined on the application for review by the Governor's office.
Take the Notary Education Course
Florida law mandates that all first-time notary applicants complete at least three hours of Florida notary public education. To satisfy this requirement, Notary Public Underwriters offers a state-approved Florida notary online education course, and it is included in all of our packages to become a notary. In taking our course, you will gain a full understanding of a notary’s responsibility in society and the obligation to execute the duties lawfully and ethically. The Florida Notary Course will help you become familiar with the most current notary laws in Florida as well as completely understand your notarial duties.
Obtain a Surety Bond, Complete the Notary Application, and Pay the Necessary Fees
As a part of the application process, you must obtain a $7,500 surety bond, also known as a notary bond, from an approved bonding agency such as Notary Public Underwriters. This bond is intended to protect the public from any financial loss caused by notarial misconduct.
Next, you will need to complete the application. Don't worry; our online application process will guide you through all of the application questions and help you avoid any errors. The Affidavit of Character section must be completed by a person who has known you for more than a year, and you must read and sign the Oath of Office and Notary Bond sections. They do not need to be notarized.
Becoming a notary in Florida is generally inexpensive. The state filing fee is $39, our 4-year $7,500 notary bond is $40, and our notary course is $25. You will also need to purchase a notary stamp so that you can carry out your duties. These vary in price depending on the style you like.
Although not required by law, it's a good idea to invest in a record book and notary E&O insurance. Too many notaries confuse an E&O policy with the notary bond, yet they are entirely different products. As mentioned above, the notary bond is designed to protect the public. If a claim is made against your bond, you are required to pay it back. Notary E&O insurance is designed to shield the notary from financial liability in the case of any unintentional mistakes or oversights up to the policy limit. There is no deductible and you are not required to pay it back. Without this policy, you would be responsible for all fees or expenses related to defending yourself as a notary.
The Notary Public Record Book is an important tool that provides a written record of your official acts as a notary. It can help you recall a specific notarization should it come into question later. This can be helpful in the event you are faced with a claim for performing a notarial act improperly.
You may be wondering how much does it cost to become a notary. Not to worry, we have created a breakdown of the items we discussed above. We selected our popular rectangular self-inking notary stamp, which is available in several colors. For the E&O policy, we chose the most commonly purchased policy. Please note that these prices are accurate as of July 24, 2023.
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$7,500 Notary Bond: $40 Total: $210.50 |
When you break down this total for a 4-year term, that comes to less than $0.15 a day!
Submit Your Paperwork
If you used our online application process, you will be able to download the documents you need to send to us at the end of checkout. These documents would include instructions on where to sign, a reminder to have the Affidavit of Character portion completed, and request for any supporting documentation to assist the Governor's Notary Section in determining your eligibility if you have had any professional licenses revoked, have been disciplined by a regulatory agency, have been convicted of a felony, or have had an adjudication of guilt withheld for a felony offense. Do not forget to complete your notary training and include a signed copy of your completion certificate with your paperwork.
Once we receive your paperwork, we will review it for accuracy and file it with the state upon determining it will be accepted.
Receiving Your Supplies
We will begin manufacturing your order and ship it within three business days upon notification of approval from the State. Please be aware that your notary certificate and supplies will be delivered separately. Once received, you may begin performing your duties as a notary!
If you have any questions on how to become a notary, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 800.821.0821. We are always happy to assist.
Related Article(s)
How to Become a Remote Online Notary (RON) in Florida
What to Do When the Notary Certificate Is Missing?
Notarizing a Signature: Performing the Verbal Ceremony
How to Handle Out-Of-State Documents
Tips to Protect Your Notary Stamp and Journal
Beyond the Notary Stamp – Supplies Notaries Need