The person requesting notarization must personally appear before the notary at the time of the notarization. This means the Notary and the signer must both by physically present, face to face, in the same room, when the notarization take place. Notarizations may never take place over the phone. However, certain documents may be notarized online in Florida.

The notary must be able to communicate directly with the individual for whom a notarial act is being performed in a language both understand, or indirectly through an interpreter who is physically present at the time of the notarization and who communicates directly with the signer and the notary in a language the interpreter understands.

The notary will make every effort to confirm that the signer is acting willingly. To confirm willingness, the Notary need only ask document signers if they are signing of their own free will.  If a signer does or says anything that makes the Notary think the signer is being pressured to sign, the Notary may refuse to notarize.

The Notary will make every effort to confirm the signer is generally aware of what is taking place.  To confirm awareness, the Notary simply makes a layperson’s judgment about the signer’s ability to understand what is happening.  A document signer who cannot respond intelligibly in a simple conversation with the Notary should not be considered sufficiently aware to sign at that moment.  If the notarization is taking place in a medical environment, the signer’s doctor can be consulted for a professional opinion.  Otherwise, if the signer’s awareness is in doubt, the Notary will refuse to notarize.

The following are accepted forms of identification:

• Florida Driver's License or ID Card issued by the Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

• Driver's License or ID issued by another US state or Territory

• Driver's License officially issued in Mexico or Canada

• US Military ID

• Inmate ID

• US Passport issued by the US Dept. of State

• Foreign Passport if stamped by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

• Permanent Resident or "Green Card" issued by the USCIS

When a signer is not able to present required identification, Credible Witnesses may identify the signer though an oath or affirmation.  The Notary must obtain a sworn, written statement from each credible identifying witness that the person signing the document is the person named in the document and that the signer is personally known to both witnesses.

The witnesses believe it would be very difficult or impossible for the person signing the document to obtain another form of identification

Each credible identifying witness must provide acceptable identification as listed above.