Florida (FL)
Automated Lookup
Operational
Research Florida notary commissions. NotaVeri can automatically cross-reference Florida notary details against the official state database.
Visit Florida Official Notary Database
How to Research a Florida Notary
1. Go to https://notaries.dos.fl.gov/not001.html
2. Enter the notary's last name (and optionally first name).
3. Click Submit and review the results.
4. Verify the commission number and expiration date match.
2. Enter the notary's last name (and optionally first name).
3. Click Submit and review the results.
4. Verify the commission number and expiration date match.
How to Verify a Florida Notary's Signature
Florida notaries file a signature specimen with the Department of State as part of their application, but it is not publicly accessible online.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Request a certification of the notary's commission from the Florida Department of State, which can confirm the person held a valid commission.
2. Contact the notary's bonding company (shown in the search results if available) for additional records.
Contact: Florida Dept. of State, Notary Commissions — (850) 245-6500
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Request a certification of the notary's commission from the Florida Department of State, which can confirm the person held a valid commission.
2. Contact the notary's bonding company (shown in the search results if available) for additional records.
Contact: Florida Dept. of State, Notary Commissions — (850) 245-6500
Verifying Older Florida Documents
The Florida online notary database only covers commissions from the last 5 years. For older documents:
1. Contact the Florida Department of State directly to request archived commission records.
2. Submit a public records request with the notary's name and the approximate date of notarization.
Contact: Florida Dept. of State, Notary Commissions — (850) 245-6500
Address: R.A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399
1. Contact the Florida Department of State directly to request archived commission records.
2. Submit a public records request with the notary's name and the approximate date of notarization.
Contact: Florida Dept. of State, Notary Commissions — (850) 245-6500
Address: R.A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
Florida requires a rubber stamp seal on all notarized paper documents. An embossed (raised) seal alone has not been acceptable since January 1, 2020.
Stamp requirements (Fla. Stat. § 117.05(3)):
- Type: Must be a rubber stamp (not an embosser alone)
- Must include: "Notary Public — State of Florida", notary's name exactly as commissioned, commission number (prefixed "Commission #" or "Commission No."), commission expiration date
- Ink: Must be applied in photographically reproducible black ink
- An embossed seal may be used in addition to the rubber stamp, but cannot substitute for it
- The seal must produce a clear and legible image that reproduces on a photocopy
- Florida notaries are commissioned statewide (not by county)
Stamp requirements (Fla. Stat. § 117.05(3)):
- Type: Must be a rubber stamp (not an embosser alone)
- Must include: "Notary Public — State of Florida", notary's name exactly as commissioned, commission number (prefixed "Commission #" or "Commission No."), commission expiration date
- Ink: Must be applied in photographically reproducible black ink
- An embossed seal may be used in addition to the rubber stamp, but cannot substitute for it
- The seal must produce a clear and legible image that reproduces on a photocopy
- Florida notaries are commissioned statewide (not by county)
Contacting a Florida Notary
The following is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
We make no warranty regarding its accuracy or completeness.
Consult a qualified attorney before taking action.
Florida — Contacting the Notary for Verification
Florida notaries are required to keep a journal (record book) of all notarial acts (Fla. Stat. § 117.107). A private party may directly contact and request that a Florida notary produce or confirm a journal entry for a specific notarization.
What can be requested:
- Whether the notary has a journal entry for a notarization on a given date involving a named signer
- The type of identification used by the signer (driver's license, passport, personal knowledge, etc.)
- Details recorded in the journal entry (date, type of document, signer's name and address)
Key considerations:
- The notary is not statutorily obligated to respond to an informal private request, but most will cooperate if approached professionally with a written request.
- If the notary refuses, a subpoena duces tecum can compel production of the journal.
- Florida does not require notaries to take thumbprints, so fingerprint records are unlikely to exist.
- Journal entries must be retained for at least 5 years after the date of the notarial act.
- If the notary's commission has expired or the notary is deceased, journals should have been delivered to the Department of State.
- Contact: Florida Dept. of State, Notary Commissions — (850) 245-6500
Relevant statutes: Fla. Stat. §§ 117.107, 117.107(9)
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.
Florida notaries are required to keep a journal (record book) of all notarial acts (Fla. Stat. § 117.107). A private party may directly contact and request that a Florida notary produce or confirm a journal entry for a specific notarization.
What can be requested:
- Whether the notary has a journal entry for a notarization on a given date involving a named signer
- The type of identification used by the signer (driver's license, passport, personal knowledge, etc.)
- Details recorded in the journal entry (date, type of document, signer's name and address)
Key considerations:
- The notary is not statutorily obligated to respond to an informal private request, but most will cooperate if approached professionally with a written request.
- If the notary refuses, a subpoena duces tecum can compel production of the journal.
- Florida does not require notaries to take thumbprints, so fingerprint records are unlikely to exist.
- Journal entries must be retained for at least 5 years after the date of the notarial act.
- If the notary's commission has expired or the notary is deceased, journals should have been delivered to the Department of State.
- Contact: Florida Dept. of State, Notary Commissions — (850) 245-6500
Relevant statutes: Fla. Stat. §§ 117.107, 117.107(9)
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.