How to Become a Notary in Florida — Requirements & Fees

How to become a notary public in Florida: a 4-year commission, a surety bond, remote online notarization — verified from Executive Office of the Governor.

Source-verified

Requirements below are drawn from Executive Office of the Governor, Notary Section (appointment, education materials, complaints and discipline) together with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Notary Commissions and Certifications Section (ministerial processing of applications, records, certifications) (official site) and last verified August 12, 2026. Boards change fees and rules often — confirm before acting.

Requirements at a glance

1) Qualify: at least 18 years old, a legal resident of Florida (residence must be maintained throughout the term), and able to read, write and understand English (F.S. 117.01(1)). A permanent resident alien may apply and must file a recorded Declaration of Domicile with the application. 2) FIRST-TIME applicants only: complete at least 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction covering the duties of a notary public and electronic notarization, within one year prior to the application (Executive Office of the Governor: 'A first time applicant for a notary commission must submit proof that the applicant has, within one year prior to the application, completed at least three hours of interactive or classroom instruction'; the education page states 'Effective July 1, 2000 all first-time notary applicants are required to complete 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction'). The Department of State's online Notary Education Program satisfies the requirement and is free of charge; other approved providers are listed by the Governor's office. Renewing notaries skip this step: 'If you are renewing your notary commission, you may proceed directly to the next step.' 3) Contact an approved bonding agency. Florida does NOT distribute applications directly: 'Please note that the State does not give out applications or provide notary seals.' The bonding agency 'provide[s] the application, pay[s] the state fees, write[s] your notary bond, and suppl[ies] your notary seal.' 4) Complete the application, signed and sworn, giving full name, home and business address and telephone, date of birth, race, sex, social security number, citizenship status, driver license or other state ID number, an affidavit of good character from an unrelated person who has known the applicant 1 year or more, a list of all state professional licenses and commissions issued in the previous 10 years with any revocation or suspension, and a felony-conviction statement (F.S. 117.01(2)). Applicants with a felony conviction, withheld adjudication or probation must also submit a written statement of the nature and circumstances of the charges, a copy of the Judgment and Sentencing Order, and (if convicted) a copy of the Certification of Restoration of Civil Rights or pardon. 5) Post the $7,500 surety bond and take the oath of office; both accompany the application (F.S. 117.01(2), (7)). As part of the oath the applicant must swear that he or she 'has read this chapter and knows the duties, responsibilities, limitations, and powers of a notary public' (F.S. 117.01(3)). 6) Submit the completed package through the bonding agency, which forwards it to the state for review. 7) On approval the commission certificate and seal are delivered by the bonding agency; the new seal may not be used until the first day of the new commission, and the old seal must be destroyed. The commission is NOT recorded with a county clerk: F.S. 117.103 states 'A notary public is not required to record his or her notary public commission in an office of a clerk of the circuit court.'

Legal basis

Executive Office of the Governor, Notary Section (appointment, education materials, complaints and discipline) together with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Notary Commissions and Certifications Section (ministerial processing of applications, records, certifications) commissions notaries public in Florida. Every figure below is verified against the commissioning authority’s own official pages and dated.

What it’s called

The statutory noun is ’notary public,’ and what the state issues is a notary public COMMISSION - the Governor ‘may appoint’ notaries public and the commission certificate is issued and attested by the Secretary of State (F.S. 117.01(1); F.S. 113.01). Florida does not issue a notary ’license.’ Common folk terms - ‘Florida notary license,’ ’notary certification,’ ’notary certificate’ - all colloquially name the commission. ‘Online notary’ and ‘remote notary’ colloquially name the statutory ‘online notary public’ registration under Part II of ch. 117; ’eNotary’ colloquially names electronic notarization under F.S. 117.021, which is NOT a separate credential. Two Florida terms name different offices and must not be conflated with the notary public commission: ‘civil-law notary’ (appointed under F.S. ch. 118) and ‘commissioner of deeds’ (appointed under F.S. ch. 721 part IV). Chapter 117 references both, and F.S. 117.225 lets holders of either register as an online notary public; ch. 118 and ch. 721 were not fetched for this record, so nothing further is asserted about them.

Types of notary commission

Notary public commission (traditional / paper) — Any Florida legal resident 18 or older who can read, write and understand English Appointed and commissioned by the Governor for 4 years; F.S. 117.01(1). ‘The Governor may appoint as many notaries public as he or she deems necessary.’ Appointment is discretionary: the Governor’s office states the decision ‘is a matter within the sole discretion of the Governor, and is not subject to subsequent review.’
Electronic notarization (eNotary) — Any commissioned Florida notary public NO separate appointment or registration. Executive Office of the Governor: ‘There is no additional appointment required; if you are currently appointed as a Florida notary public, you will need to contact any certification authority and research companies that offer digital certificates.’ Governed by F.S. 117.021, which sets electronic-signature and electronic-seal requirements. Electronic notarizations performed on or after January 1, 2020 must comply with the Department of State’s adopted tamper-evident standards (F.S. 117.021(7)).
Online notary public (Remote Online Notarization / RON) registration — An existing Florida notary public, a civil-law notary appointed under F.S. ch. 118, or a commissioner of deeds appointed under F.S. ch. 721 part IV SEPARATE registration with the Department of State under F.S. 117.225. Requires a RON education course certificate, a $25,000 bond, $25,000 errors-and-omissions insurance, identification of the RON service provider(s), and a $10 fee. The registration ‘will run concurrently with your existing notary public commission and will expire on the same day, regardless of when the online notary public registration was filed’ (Department of State).

Who can be commissioned

At least 18 years of age; a legal resident of Florida, with that residence maintained throughout the 4-year term; able to read, write and understand the English language (F.S. 117.01(1)). A permanent resident alien may apply and be appointed but must file a recorded Declaration of Domicile with the application (F.S. 117.01(1)). No fictitious or assumed name other than a nickname may be used on the application, and a commission may not be obtained or used in other than the applicant’s legal name (F.S. 117.01(2); F.S. 117.05(1), a third-degree felony to violate). A felony conviction is NOT an automatic statutory bar: the application must disclose any felony conviction, its nature and any restoration of civil rights (F.S. 117.01(2)), and the Governor’s office directs applicants with a felony conviction, withheld adjudication or probation to submit a statement of circumstances, the Judgment and Sentencing Order and (if convicted) the Certification of Restoration of Civil Rights or pardon. Appointment is discretionary and denial is not reviewable; the Governor’s office encourages denied applicants to re-apply one year after the date the application was signed. A commissioned notary may use and exercise the office only ‘if he or she is within the boundaries of this state’ (F.S. 117.01(1)).

Requirements

Qualify: at least 18 years old, a legal resident of Florida (residence must be maintained throughout the term), and able to read, write and understand English (F.S. 117.01(1)). A permanent resident alien may apply and must file a recorded Declaration of Domicile with the application. 2) FIRST-TIME applicants only: complete at least 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction covering the duties of a notary public and electronic notarization, within one year prior to the application (Executive Office of the Governor: ‘A first time applicant for a notary commission must submit proof that the applicant has, within one year prior to the application, completed at least three hours of interactive or classroom instruction’; the education page states ‘Effective July 1, 2000 all first-time notary applicants are required to complete 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction’). The Department of State’s online Notary Education Program satisfies the requirement and is free of charge; other approved providers are listed by the Governor’s office. Renewing notaries skip this step: ‘If you are renewing your notary commission, you may proceed directly to the next step.’ 3) Contact an approved bonding agency. Florida does NOT distribute applications directly: ‘Please note that the State does not give out applications or provide notary seals.’ The bonding agency ‘provide[s] the application, pay[s] the state fees, write[s] your notary bond, and suppl[ies] your notary seal.’ 4) Complete the application, signed and sworn, giving full name, home and business address and telephone, date of birth, race, sex, social security number, citizenship status, driver license or other state ID number, an affidavit of good character from an unrelated person who has known the applicant 1 year or more, a list of all state professional licenses and commissions issued in the previous 10 years with any revocation or suspension, and a felony-conviction statement (F.S. 117.01(2)). Applicants with a felony conviction, withheld adjudication or probation must also submit a written statement of the nature and circumstances of the charges, a copy of the Judgment and Sentencing Order, and (if convicted) a copy of the Certification of Restoration of Civil Rights or pardon. 5) Post the $7,500 surety bond and take the oath of office; both accompany the application (F.S. 117.01(2), (7)). As part of the oath the applicant must swear that he or she ‘has read this chapter and knows the duties, responsibilities, limitations, and powers of a notary public’ (F.S. 117.01(3)). 6) Submit the completed package through the bonding agency, which forwards it to the state for review. 7) On approval the commission certificate and seal are delivered by the bonding agency; the new seal may not be used until the first day of the new commission, and the old seal must be destroyed. The commission is NOT recorded with a county clerk: F.S. 117.103 states ‘A notary public is not required to record his or her notary public commission in an office of a clerk of the circuit court.’

Training

Florida requires training for some commission types.

FIRST-TIME applicants: at least 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction covering the duties of a notary public and electronic notarization, completed within one year prior to the application (Executive Office of the Governor, Notary page and Notary Education page; the education page dates the requirement to July 1, 2000). The Department of State’s Notary Education Program satisfies the requirement and is offered online free of charge; the Governor’s office publishes a list of other approved education providers. RENEWALS: no education required - ‘If you are renewing your notary commission, you may proceed directly to the next step.’ RON REGISTRATION: a separate course is required. F.S. 117.225(2) requires the registrant to certify completion of ‘a classroom or online course covering the duties, obligations, and technology requirements for serving as an online notary public’; F.S. 117.295(6) provides that a 2-hour in-person or online course offered by the Florida Land Title Association, the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, the Florida Legal Education Association, Inc., the Department of State, or a Department-approved vendor satisfies that requirement. Note on provenance: the 3-hour figure is published by the Executive Office of the Governor and by the Department of State’s education program, not by chapter 117 itself - the words ’three hours’ and ‘hours’ do not appear anywhere in ch. 117 F.S. as displayed on the Legislature’s site on 2026-08-12.

Exam

Florida does not require an exam.

No examination is required for a Florida notary public commission or for RON registration. Sourced negative: the full text of F.S. ch. 117 (Parts I and II, ss. 117.01-117.305) was read on 2026-08-12 and contains no examination or testing requirement; the Executive Office of the Governor’s step-by-step ‘Notary Public Commission Applications’ instructions list education (first-time only), contacting a bonding agency, completing the application and submitting it, with no exam; the Governor’s Notary Education page describes only the 3-hour instruction requirement; the Department of State’s RON registration steps list an education certificate, a vendor contract, the application and a $10 fee, with no exam. What stands in place of a test: as part of the oath the applicant must swear that he or she ‘has read this chapter and knows the duties, responsibilities, limitations, and powers of a notary public’ (F.S. 117.01(3)).

Your surety bond

$7,500 surety bond for every Florida notary public, required ‘prior to executing the duties of the office and throughout the term of office’ (F.S. 117.01(7)(a)). The bond is payable to any individual harmed as a result of a breach of duty by the notary acting in an official capacity, must be approved and filed with the Department of State, and must be executed by a surety company for hire authorized to transact business in Florida. Failure to maintain the bond is a ground for suspension (F.S. 117.01(4)(j)). The bond protects the public, not the notary - the Governor’s office says it ‘is designed to protect the public against notarial misconduct or negligence, not the notary.’ ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE IS SEPARATE AND OPTIONAL for a traditional commission: the Governor’s office lists ‘optional errors and omissions insurance’ among the things a bonding agency can supply, and E&O appears nowhere in Part I of ch. 117. FOR ONLINE (RON) NOTARIES BOTH ARE MANDATORY: F.S. 117.225(6) requires evidence of a bond of $25,000 and F.S. 117.225(7) requires errors-and-omissions coverage of at least $25,000 from an insurer authorized to transact business in Florida. F.S. 117.225(6) adds that ‘Compliance by an online notary public with this requirement shall satisfy the requirement of obtaining a bond under s. 117.01(7)’ - the $25,000 RON bond replaces the $7,500 bond rather than adding to it. Bond premiums are not state-set; the Governor’s office says ’the bond premium and the notary seal are competitively priced.’

Fees

STATE FEES, TRADITIONAL COMMISSION - $39 total. Executive Office of the Governor: ‘The state fees of $39 are fixed by law, but the bond premium and the notary seal are competitively priced.’ Itemized in F.S. 117.01(2): a $25 application fee, plus the $10 commission fee required by F.S. 113.01 (‘A fee of $10 is prescribed for the issuance of each commission issued by the Governor of the state and attested by the Secretary of State for an elected officer or a notary public’), plus a $4 surcharge appropriated to the Executive Office of the Governor ’to be used to educate and assist notaries public.’ The statutory itemization and the agency-published total agree exactly ($25 + $10 + $4 = $39). VETERAN WAIVER: ’no commission fee shall be required for the issuance of a commission as a notary public to a veteran who served during a period of wartime service, as defined in s. 1.01(14), and who has been rated by the United States Government or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a disability rating of 50 percent or more’ (F.S. 117.01(2)) - this waives the $10 commission fee. NOT STATE-SET: the surety bond premium, the notary seal, and any bonding-agency service charge are priced by the private bonding agency (‘Most of these companies provide one-stop-shopping. You make one payment to the company and they provide the application, pay the state fees, write your notary bond, and supply your notary seal’; ‘We recommend that you check with several companies to compare services and prices’). NAME CHANGE: $25 sent with the current commission, a notice of change form and a bond rider, within 60 days of the change (F.S. 117.05(9)). CERTIFICATE OF NOTARIAL AUTHORITY: $10 payable to the Secretary of State (F.S. 117.103). RON REGISTRATION: ‘There is an initial fee of $10 payable by check to the Florida Department of State’ (Department of State, Remote Online Notary Public page, and the same sentence on the live Governor’s page); F.S. 117.225(3) ties the RON registration fee to F.S. 113.01, which prescribes $10. NO COUNTY RECORDING FEE: the commission is not recorded with a clerk of the circuit court (F.S. 117.103). CAVEAT ON THE FEE TRAIL: Florida publishes no public-facing application form with a fee line, because the application is supplied by the approved bonding agency (’the State does not give out applications or provide notary seals’), so the $39 figure comes from the commissioning authority’s instructions page rather than from a live application form. The Department of State’s own notary pages return an access denial to automated access and could not be read live on 2026-08-12; the RON fee was confirmed on the live Governor’s page and on a 2025-12-26 Internet Archive snapshot of the Department of State page, which agree verbatim.

How long the commission lasts, and renewing it

4 years. ‘A notary public shall be appointed for 4 years’ (F.S. 117.01(1)). The term runs from the commission’s own effective date, not from application or qualification: the Governor’s office instructs a renewing notary to ‘use your current seal until the commission expires. You may not use your new notary seal until the first day of your new commission.’ There is no county qualification or filing step that could start the clock - F.S. 117.103 provides that ‘A notary public is not required to record his or her notary public commission in an office of a clerk of the circuit court.’ A RON registration expires on the same day as the underlying commission regardless of when it was filed (Department of State). There is no abbreviated renewal. ‘No person may be automatically reappointed as a notary public. The application process must be completed regardless of whether an applicant is requesting his or her first notary commission, a renewal of a commission, or any subsequent commission’ (F.S. 117.01(6)). Each new 4-year commission requires a full application, a new $7,500 bond and the $39 in state fees, submitted again through an approved bonding agency - so a Florida renewal is legally a reappointment. The one step a renewing applicant skips is the 3-hour education course: ‘If you are renewing your notary commission, you may proceed directly to the next step.’ A notary may evidently apply before the current commission expires - the Governor’s office tells the notary to keep using the current seal until the old commission expires and not to use the new seal ‘until the first day of your new commission’ - but NO specific early-filing window is published. Tiers searched for an early-renewal window on 2026-08-12: F.S. ch. 117 in full, the Executive Office of the Governor’s notary page, and the Governor’s notary education page; none states one. A RON registration must be filed again after reappointment: ‘Should you successfully reapply to be a notary public, you will then be allowed to reapply to be an online notary public.’ None. No continuing education is required to hold or renew a Florida notary public commission. Sourced negative: the complete text of F.S. ch. 117 (ss. 117.01-117.305) contains no continuing-education requirement for a notary public; the Executive Office of the Governor’s notary page instructs renewing applicants to skip education entirely (‘If you are renewing your notary commission, you may proceed directly to the next step’); the Governor’s Notary Education page describes only the 3-hour first-time instruction requirement. The only education-related recurring authority in the chapter is on the RON side, where F.S. 117.295(1)(b) empowers the Department of State to adopt rules on ‘Education requirements for online notaries public.’ Rule 1N-7, F.A.C. was NOT fetched on 2026-08-12 (flrules.org not retrieved), so a rule-level RON education or refresher requirement is not ruled out. Tiers searched: statute (ch. 117), the commissioning authority’s application steps, the Governor’s education page, and the Department of State’s RON registration steps.

Your seal or stamp

A seal IS required on paper notarizations. F.S. 117.05(3)(a): ‘A notary public seal shall be affixed to all notarized paper documents and shall be of the rubber stamp type and shall include the words Notary Public-State of Florida. The seal shall also include the name of the notary public, the date of expiration of the commission of the notary public, and the commission number.’ The rubber stamp ‘must be affixed to the notarized paper document in photographically reproducible black ink,’ and the notary must print, type or stamp his or her name exactly as commissioned below the signature. STAMP VS EMBOSSER: an impression-type seal ‘may be used in addition to the rubber stamp seal, but the rubber stamp seal shall be the official seal for use on a paper document, and the impression-type seal may not be substituted therefor.’ No shape, size or diameter is specified anywhere in ch. 117. PLACEMENT: the seal goes ‘below or to either side of the notary public’s signature’ (F.S. 117.05(4)(i)). OWNERSHIP: the seal and the commission certificate ‘are the exclusive property of the notary public’ and ‘must not be surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment, regardless of whether the employer paid for the seal or for the commission’ (F.S. 117.05(3)(b)). LOST OR STOLEN: the notary ‘shall immediately notify the Department of State or the Governor in writing’ (F.S. 117.05(3)(c)); unlawful possession of a notary seal or of papers relating to notarial acts is a second-degree misdemeanor (F.S. 117.05(3)(d)). ON EXPIRY: the old seal must be destroyed and the new seal may not be used before the first day of the new commission (Executive Office of the Governor). ON RESIGNATION: the notary ‘shall destroy his or her official notary public seal of office, unless the Governor requests its return’ (F.S. 117.01(5)(b)). ON NAME CHANGE: request an amended commission from the Secretary of State within 60 days with $25, the current commission, a notice of change form and a bond rider; the notary may continue to perform notarial acts in the former name ‘for 60 days or until receipt of the amended commission, whichever date is earlier’ (F.S. 117.05(9)). ELECTRONIC SEAL: for electronic notarizations the seal requirement is satisfied when the notary’s electronic signature contains the full name exactly as provided on the application, the words ‘Notary Public State of Florida’, the commission expiration date and the commission number (F.S. 117.021(3)).

Keeping a journal

Florida requires a journal for some notarial acts.

NO journal is required for traditional paper or plain electronic notarizations. Sourced negative: the full text of F.S. ch. 117 Part I (ss. 117.01-117.108) was read on 2026-08-12 and imposes no journal, record-book or log duty on a notary public; the only journal provision in the chapter, F.S. 117.245, applies by its terms to online notarizations. The Executive Office of the Governor’s resignation instructions treat a log as voluntary: ‘If you have a log book, it is at your discretion if you would like to keep it for personal records (recommended), destroy it, or include it with the letter for our office.’ REQUIRED FOR ONLINE NOTARIZATIONS: ‘An online notary public shall keep one or more secure electronic journals of online notarizations performed by the online notary public’ (F.S. 117.245(1)). Each entry must contain the date and time of the notarization; the type of notarial act (oath or acknowledgment); the type, title or description of the electronic record or proceeding; the name and address of each principal; evidence of identity (a statement that the person is personally known, or a notation of the government-issued credential type plus indications that it satisfied credential analysis and that the principal passed identity proofing); and ’the fee, if any, charged for the notarization.’ The RON service provider must retain ‘an uninterrupted and unedited copy of the recording of the audio-video communication’ (F.S. 117.245(2)). RETENTION: the electronic journal and the audio-video recordings ‘shall be maintained for at least 10 years after the date of the notarial act,’ and the Department of State keeps jurisdiction to investigate notarial misconduct for 10 years after the act (F.S. 117.245(4)). Retention may be delegated by contract to a secure repository if the Department of State is notified within 30 days; recordings of an online session signing an electronic will must be kept by a qualified custodian under F.S. chs. 731-732. An omitted or incomplete entry does not impair the validity of the notarial act but is admissible as evidence of a violation (F.S. 117.245(5)). Copies of pertinent journal entries must be provided on request to the parties and other listed persons, and the online notary ‘may charge a fee not to exceed $20 per transaction record’ for making and delivering them (F.S. 117.255(3)). SURRENDER: the chapter does not require surrender of the electronic journal to the state; instead the Department of State retains investigative jurisdiction for 10 years and the journal may be delegated to a secure repository with notice to the Department.

Online (remote) notarization

Florida authorizes remote online notarization, and it requires a registration separate from your commission.

Authorized. Enacted by HB 409, ‘Electronic Legal Documents,’ signed June 7, 2019 (Chapter 2019-71, Laws of Florida), EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2020; codified as Part II of ch. 117 F.S. (ss. 117.201-117.305) and implemented by Rule 1N-7.001, Florida Administrative Code. The section History notes show later amendment by ch. 2021-137, ch. 2021-205 and ch. 2023-215, Laws of Florida. A SEPARATE REGISTRATION with the Department of State is required (F.S. 117.225). To register, the applicant must hold a current Florida notary commission (or an appointment as a civil-law notary under ch. 118 or as a commissioner of deeds under ch. 721 part IV) and submit the commission or appointment number; certify completion of a classroom or online RON course; pay the registration fee required by F.S. 113.01 (the Department of State states ‘There is an initial fee of $10 payable by check to the Florida Department of State’); submit a signed and sworn registration; IDENTIFY THE RON SERVICE PROVIDER(S) whose audio-video, credential-analysis and identity-proofing technology the registrant intends to use; provide evidence of a $25,000 bond; and provide evidence of errors-and-omissions insurance of at least $25,000. The registration plus the Online Notary Public information form required by Rule 1N-7.005 are mailed or delivered to the Division of Corporations, PO Box 6327, Tallahassee FL 32314 (or 2415 N. Monroe St., Suite 810, Tallahassee FL 32303); the Department states the application will not be processed without the information form. APPROVED-VENDOR RULE: Florida publishes no state-approved vendor list - ‘The Florida Department of State does not recommend nor endorse any particular third party vendors’ - but the notary must contract with a RON service provider BEFORE applying and must name it on the registration. F.S. 117.265(5)(a) gives the online notary the right to select the provider and says ‘a person may not require the online notary public to use a particular RON service provider,’ except that an employer or contract may specify one for employer-required notarizations. SCOPE: an online notary public physically located in Florida may perform an online notarization ‘regardless of whether the principal or any witnesses are physically located in this state’ (F.S. 117.209(3), 117.265(1)); solemnizing the rites of matrimony is expressly EXCLUDED from online performance (F.S. 117.209(1)); for a principal outside Florida the notary must confirm verbally or by written consent that the principal wants a Florida notary to act under Florida law (F.S. 117.265(3)). IDENTITY: personal knowledge, or all three of remote presentation of a government-issued credential, credential analysis, and identity proofing (knowledge-based authentication or another conforming method); ‘If the online notary public is unable to satisfy subparagraphs 1.-3. … the online notary public may not perform the online notarization’ (F.S. 117.265(4)). EXTRA FEE ALLOWED: up to $25 per online notarial act (F.S. 117.275), versus $10 for an in-person act. EXPIRY: the RON registration runs concurrently with the underlying commission and expires on the same day. NOT THE SAME AS eNOTARY: plain electronic notarization under F.S. 117.021 requires no registration at all. NARROW REMOTE-OATH EXCEPTION: under F.S. 117.231 a notary taking the oath of an individual testifying at a court proceeding, deposition, arbitration or public hearing, or an oath of admission to The Florida Bar, may use audio-video communication technology and ‘is not required to be an online notary public or to use a RON service provider.’

What you may charge

$10 per notarial act as the general cap: ‘The fee of a notary public may not exceed $10 for any one notarial act under this part, except as provided in s. 117.045 or s. 117.275’ (F.S. 117.05(2)(a)). BY ACT TYPE: solemnizing the rites of matrimony - ‘For solemnizing the rites of matrimony, the fee of a notary public may not exceed those provided by law to the clerks of the circuit court for like services’ (F.S. 117.045), a cross-reference rather than a stated dollar figure; online notarization - ‘An online notary public or the employer of such online notary public may charge a fee, not to exceed $25, for performing an online notarial act under this part’ (F.S. 117.275). NO FEE AT ALL: ‘A notary public may not charge a fee for witnessing a vote-by-mail ballot in an election, and must witness such a ballot upon the request of an elector, provided the notarial act is in accordance with the provisions of this chapter’ (F.S. 117.05(2)(b)). RELATED CAP: an online notary may charge no more than $20 per transaction record for electronic copies of journal entries (F.S. 117.255(3)). ENFORCEMENT: ‘Charging fees in excess of fees authorized by this chapter’ is a listed ground for suspension by the Governor (F.S. 117.01(4)(i)). SEPARATELY CHARGEABLE: F.S. 117.275 provides that ‘Fees for services other than notarial acts, including the services of a RON service provider, are not governed by this section,’ and that a RON service provider’s services are not closing services as defined in F.S. 627.7711 and may be separately charged. TRAVEL FEE: no travel-fee provision was located. Tiers searched on 2026-08-12: the complete text of F.S. ch. 117 Parts I and II, the Executive Office of the Governor’s notary page, the Governor’s notary education page, and the Department of State’s RON page (via Internet Archive snapshot, the live host returning an access denial). Florida’s statutes as read neither authorize nor cap a separate travel fee.

Who does NOT need a commission — exemptions

WHO MAY TAKE OATHS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS WITHOUT A NOTARY COMMISSION. F.S. 92.50(1): oaths, affidavits and acknowledgments required or authorized under Florida law (except oaths to jurors and witnesses in court, and those the law requires to be taken before particular officers) ‘may be taken or administered by or before any judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of record within this state, including federal courts, or by or before any United States commissioner or any notary public within this state.’ F.S. 117.10: ‘Law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and correctional probation officers, as defined in s. 943.10, and traffic accident investigation officers and traffic infraction enforcement officers, as described in s. 316.640, are authorized to administer oaths by reliable electronic means or in the physical presence of an affiant when engaged in the performance of official duties.’ F.S. 92.50(2) also recognizes oaths and acknowledgments taken in another state, territory or district before a judge, clerk or deputy clerk of a court of record, or before a notary public or justice of the peace having a seal, where that officer is authorized under the law of that jurisdiction. NO COUNTY FILING STEP EXISTS TO BE EXEMPT FROM: ‘A notary public is not required to record his or her notary public commission in an office of a clerk of the circuit court’ (F.S. 117.103). ACTS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A NOTARY: not enumerated in the sources read, and no claim is made here. TIERS SEARCHED (2026-08-12): F.S. ch. 117 in full, F.S. 92.50, F.S. ch. 113 (ss. 113.01-113.071), and the Executive Office of the Governor’s notary page. NOT COVERED BY ANY SOURCE READ: the federal military notarial authority at 10 U.S.C. 1044a is not addressed in any Florida source read for this record, so this record asserts nothing about it.

How to apply

Applications are handled by Executive Office of the Governor, Notary Section (appointment, education materials, complaints and discipline) together with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Notary Commissions and Certifications Section (ministerial processing of applications, records, certifications). Start at the official application page .

Verify a license in Florida

Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations - Notary Commissions and Certifications Section publishes a public license search , searchable by Notary ID, Last Name, First Name, Commission No or Zip Code. It covers Actively commissioned Florida notaries public. The Executive Office of the Governor describes the database: the Notary Commissions and Certifications Section ‘preserves records of actively commissioned Florida notaries public in its computer database, called Notary Search.’ The search page instructs: ‘Use this online form to search the Notaries Public database for information about commissioned notaries. Complete one or more of the criteria fields to the right and click on the Submit button to execute your inquiry for processing.’ A SEPARATE lookup, ‘Approved Online Notaries,’ covers RON registrants at https://online-notary.sunbiz.org/ and is linked from the Department of State’s Remote Online Notary Public page.

Records come from Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations - Notary Commissions and Certifications Section’s own system. LicensingAtlas does not hold license records and cannot confirm any individual’s status — the date on this page refers to the requirements described above, not to anyone’s credential.

Frequently asked questions

Who commissions notaries public in Florida?

The Governor. F.S. 117.01(1) provides that ‘The Governor may appoint as many notaries public as he or she deems necessary.’ Two offices share the work: the Notary Section of the Executive Office of the Governor, housed in the Office of the General Counsel, provides education and investigates misconduct complaints; the Notary Commissions and Certifications Section of the Department of State has, in the Governor’s own words, ‘a strictly ministerial function in receiving and processing applications, and responding to requests for commissions and certificates.’

How long does a Florida notary commission last, and can it be renewed the easy way?

Four years (F.S. 117.01(1)), and no. ‘No person may be automatically reappointed as a notary public. The application process must be completed regardless of whether an applicant is requesting his or her first notary commission, a renewal of a commission, or any subsequent commission’ (F.S. 117.01(6)). A Florida renewal is legally a fresh reappointment with a new application, a new $7,500 bond and the full state fees. The only step a renewing notary skips is the 3-hour education course.

What does a Florida notary commission cost?

The Executive Office of the Governor states ‘The state fees of $39 are fixed by law.’ F.S. 117.01(2) itemizes that as a $25 application fee, the $10 commission fee required by F.S. 113.01, and a $4 surcharge for notary education. The bond premium and the seal are not state-priced - the Governor’s office says they are ‘competitively priced’ by the bonding agency. A wartime-service veteran rated 50 percent or more disabled pays no commission fee (F.S. 117.01(2)).

Does Florida require a notary exam?

No. The complete text of F.S. ch. 117 and the Governor’s step-by-step application instructions contain no examination requirement. First-time applicants must instead complete at least 3 hours of instruction within the year before applying, and every applicant must swear as part of the oath that he or she ‘has read this chapter and knows the duties, responsibilities, limitations, and powers of a notary public’ (F.S. 117.01(3)).

Does a Florida notary need a surety bond, errors and omissions insurance, or both?

A $7,500 surety bond is required for the entire term (F.S. 117.01(7)(a)), and it protects the public rather than the notary - the Governor’s office says it ‘is designed to protect the public against notarial misconduct or negligence, not the notary.’ Errors and omissions insurance is optional for a traditional commission; the Governor’s office lists ‘optional errors and omissions insurance’ as something a bonding agency can sell. Both become mandatory only for remote online notarization: F.S. 117.225 requires a $25,000 bond AND at least $25,000 of E&O coverage, and that $25,000 bond satisfies the $7,500 requirement rather than adding to it.

How much may a Florida notary charge per notarization?

No more than $10 for any one notarial act under Part I of ch. 117 (F.S. 117.05(2)(a)). Two exceptions: solemnizing a marriage, where the fee ‘may not exceed those provided by law to the clerks of the circuit court for like services’ (F.S. 117.045), and an online notarization, where the cap is $25 per act (F.S. 117.275). No fee at all may be charged for witnessing a vote-by-mail ballot (F.S. 117.05(2)(b)), and charging more than the chapter allows is a ground for suspension.

Do I need a separate registration to notarize remotely in Florida?

Yes for remote online notarization, no for plain electronic notarization. Registering as an online notary public under F.S. 117.225 requires a current commission, a RON education course certificate, a $25,000 bond, at least $25,000 in errors-and-omissions insurance, identification of the RON service provider, and a $10 fee paid to the Department of State. By contrast, the Governor’s office says of electronic notarization that ‘There is no additional appointment required.’ A RON registration expires on the same day as the underlying commission.

Does a Florida notary have to keep a journal?

Only for online notarizations. F.S. 117.245 requires an online notary public to keep a secure electronic journal and the RON service provider to retain the audio-video recording, both ‘for at least 10 years after the date of the notarial act.’ For paper and plain electronic notarizations, ch. 117 imposes no journal duty and the Governor’s office treats a log book as voluntary: ‘If you have a log book, it is at your discretion if you would like to keep it for personal records (recommended).’

Where do I actually get the Florida notary application?

From a state-approved bonding agency, not from the state. The Executive Office of the Governor says ‘Please note that the State does not give out applications or provide notary seals,’ and describes the bonding agencies as one-stop shops that ‘provide the application, pay the state fees, write your notary bond, and supply your notary seal.’ The completed application goes back through the bonding agency, which forwards it to the state for review, and the commission certificate and seal are delivered to you by that agency.

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in Florida.

Sources & verification

Last verified against these sources: August 12, 2026.

We re-fetch every cited source on a weekly schedule: see what changed at the agencies, or every correction we have ever made.

LicensingAtlas states licensing and certification requirements categorically from official sources. It is a reference, not legal or career advice, and requirements change frequently — confirm details with the issuing board before you act.