Advantages of Becoming a Notary in Florida

A Florida notary public is a public official who administers oaths and affirmations, takes acknowledgments, attests to copies of nonrecordable documents, solemnizes marriages, certifies the contents of safe deposit boxes, and verifies vehicle identification numbers. There are many advantages to becoming a Florida notary public.

Here are six excellent reasons to become a notary in Florida:  

You’ll serve the public. 

Florida notaries play a time-honored role and serve a crucial function in society by ensuring the integrity of documents and serving as impartial witnesses to signings.  A Florida notary can assure document recipients that a document was notarized on the date printed on the notarial certificate and that the signer’s identity was confirmed. The general public relies upon notaries to ensure integrity in the execution and signing of personal, legal, and business documents. Properly notarized documents can help prevent disputes, bind agreements, and protect against fraud. As a Florida notary public, you may also choose to serve your community by providing free or reduced-cost notarial services to those in need.

Becoming a notary is easy and won’t cost you much.

Startup costs are low in the Florida notary business. The only fees involved are:

• The tuition for a three-hour notary course
• The cost of a four-year, $7,500 Florida notary bond
• A $39 state filing fee
• The cost of a Florida notary stamp and (optionally) a Florida notary journal

All of the above will cost you less than $100 combined.

The qualifications are also simple to meet. To become a notary in Florida, you need only:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Read Chapter 117 of the Florida Statutes.
• Pass your three-hour course.
• Be a legal resident of Florida.
• Be able to read, write, and understand the English language.
• Submit a notary application.   

You’ll enjoy a flexible schedule and can work part-time or full-time. 

If you are working as a self-employed notary, you can set your own schedule and arrange your hours to suit your needs. You can choose to work part-time or full-time. You can work as a notary to earn a second income on top of another full-time job, to earn a part-time income while dedicating more time to your family, or to earn a living as a full-time notary.

If you want to become a full-time notary in Florida, there are three options available to you. You can be:

• A mobile notary, which means you can travel to clients to notarize a wide variety of documents. In addition to charging fees for your notarial services, you can also charge a travel fee.
• An online notary, which means you can perform online remote notarizations using audio-visual communication technology. Online notaries can charge higher fees than traditional notaries and can even add an additional fee for making and delivering electronic copies of electronic records.
• A notary signing agent, which means you are tasked with notarizing loan documents for real estate closings. Notary signing agents are in high demand and frequently employed by both real estate agents and mortgage finance professionals. 

A Florida notary commission will make you more employable.

If you’d rather work for someone else than be self-employed, rest assured, you can still put your notary commission to use. Financial institutions, schools, doctor’s office, law offices, and other businesses routinely have a need for notaries. Consequently, a potential employee who already has a notary commission will have an advantage in hiring. If you are licensed as a notary in the state of Florida, you will be more valuable to your employer. Be sure to add your notary commission to your list of certifications and skills on your resume.   

You can solemnize marriages, certify the contents of safe deposit boxes, and verify vehicle identification numbers.

Notaries in every state can take acknowledgements and administer oaths and affirmations. But as a Florida notary public, you will have additional avenues for income. A Florida notary public can certify the contents of safe deposit boxes when they need to be opened by banks because the rent is past due. In fact, Florida law dictates that a notary must be present for this process. In Florida, notaries are also one of the officials authorized to verify vehicle identification numbers. This must be done anytime someone applies for a new title for a used motor vehicle. Finally, Florida notaries can even solemnize marriages. This means you can perform a marriage ceremony for a couple and then fill out the notarial certificate on their wedding license.

You aren’t likely to lose your notary job. 

If you become a Florida notary, you are unlikely to lose your notary job. Individuals will always need to have documents notarized, marriages performed, and VIN numbers verified. A Florida notary commission will give you a certain amount of job security, ensuring that you always have a means to supplement your other income. 

Whether you want to become a remote online notary, attract a new employer, maintain a flexible schedule, perform a marriage ceremony for your friends, help someone obtain a used motor vehicle title, or otherwise serve the public, becoming a notary in Florida might be a good fit. 

The American Association of Notaries has been serving Florida notaries since 1994. We are a one-stop resource for all your notary needs. We can handle your Florida notary application from start to finish, and when you are commissioned as a Florida notary, we will manufacture and ship your notary stamp and notary supplies.

Click here to learn how to become a notary in Florida.