This website is intended to provide easy access to a collection of educational resources for Florida notaries public. The Notary Section of the Executive Office of the Governor strongly encourages you to return to access these resources whenever you are unsure about a provision of the laws governing notary conduct, if you have an unusual request for notary services, or if you simply need to refresh your memory about your powers, responsibilities, duties and limitations as a Florida notary public.
In Florida, notaries are public officers appointed by the Governor at his discretion. Under the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes, it falls within the jurisdiction of the Governor’s Office to review complaints of misconduct against notaries and to take disciplinary action when deemed appropriate.
The Governor may appoint as many notaries public as he or she deems necessary, each of whom shall be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of the state. A permanent resident alien may apply and be appointed and shall file with his or her application a recorded Declaration of Domicile. The residence required for appointment must be maintained throughout the term of appointment. Notaries public shall be appointed for 4 years and shall use and exercise the office of notary public within the boundaries of this state. An applicant must be able to read, write, and understand the English language.
A notary public who wishes to resign his or her commission, or a notary public who does not maintain legal residence in this state during the entire term of appointment, or a notary public whose resignation is required by the Governor, shall send a signed letter of resignation to the Governor and shall return his or her certificate of notary public commission. The resigning notary public shall destroy his or her official notary public seal of office, unless the Governor requests its return.
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