Florida Notary FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Our FAQ covers a large range of topics related to becoming a notary, renewing your commission, ordering supplies, technical assistance and general questions about being a notary.
Select a topic below to begin.
Bonds
Commission Process
Education
Insurance
Notary Acts
Ordering
Technical Assistance
Bonds
The following are the most common questions asked by our customers regarding notary bonds. However, if your question is not listed below feel free to contact us to receive an answer to your question.
What is a Florida notary bond?
What is the amount of a Florida notary bond?
How much does a Florida notary bond cost?
Where can I get a Florida notary bond?
How do I get a Florida notary bond?
How do I file my Florida notary bond?
How long is my Florida notary bond in effect?
How much bond coverage does a Florida notary need?
What happens if someone makes a claim against my Florida notary bond?
What is a Florida notary bond?
In order to apply for a notary commission and execute the duties of a notary public, you are required to obtain a $7,500 bond issued by a bonding agency authorized to conduct business in the state of Florida. The notary bond must be maintained throughout the entire 4-year term of office. The Florida notary bond protects the public against any financial loss due to improper conduct by a Florida notary. Keep in mind, the Florida notary bond protects the public, not the Florida notary. For protection as a notary, consider notary errors & omissions insurance.
What is the amount of a Florida notary bond?
A Florida notary bond is $7,500.
How much does a Florida notary bond cost?
A $7,500, 4-year notary bond in the state of Florida costs $28 through Budget Notary Services.
Where can I get a Florida notary bond?
You may purchase a bond through Budget Notary Services where our goal is to make the steps of becoming a Florida notary or renewing your Florida notary commission fast and easy.
How do I get a Florida notary bond?
Click on Become a Notary or Renew Commission to purchase a Florida notary bond Budget Notary Services. We are a Florida licensed insurance agent.
How do I file my Florida notary bond?
If you choose Budget Notary Services as your bonding agent, within 24-hours of receiving your completed packet we hand deliver your Florida notary bond, along with your Florida notary application, to the Secretary of State's office.
How long is my Florida notary bond in effect?
A Florida notary bond is effective for the entire 4 years of your Florida notary commission.
How much bond coverage does a Florida notary need?
The bond amount is set by statute through the Florida legislature. Keep in mind, the notary bond only protects the public, not the notary. Notary Errors & Omissions insurance protects the notary and offers different coverage options.
What happens if someone makes a claim against my Florida notary bond?
Your surety company's claim department will investigate the claim. They will contact you to gather information about the transaction in question. They may ask for a copy of your notary journal record for the notarization and any other facts that may help them determine the basis for the claim. A pending claim does not always mean there will be financial loss for the notary. Your surety company may find the claim not to be legitimate, or they may deny the claim. However, if the claim has merit, your surety company will negotiate a settlement or pay the full amount of the bond.
Important: You may be held responsible for repaying any amount the surety pays to satisfy the claim, including defense costs. Remember, the notary bond protects the public, not the notary. We highly recommend all notaries purchase notary errors & omissions insurance to guard against potential financial loss due to an innocent mistake.
Technical Assistance
The following are the most common questions asked by our customers regarding technical assistance. However, if your question is not listed below feel free to contact us to receive an answer to your question.
Can I access your website on my mobile device?
Your website looks different on my computer. Why?
When I tried to register, it said my email was already in use. Why?
How can I change my selected state on your website?
I was unable to print my notary forms at checkout. What should I do?
My online course isn't working. Why?
I’m having trouble accessing parts of the website. What’s wrong?
My account and shopping cart aren't working right. What's wrong?
What browser works best?
To get the best results when using our website, you will want to always use one of our supported browsers. We currently support: Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera.
Important: Internet Explorer (IE) has been removed from our list of recommended browsers. This decision came after Microsoft announced it would no longer support older versions of the browser. We are not confident that IE 11 will provide you the best user experience as Microsoft's own cybersecurity experts said, "We’re not supporting new web standards for it and, while many sites work fine, developers by and large just aren’t testing for Internet Explorer these days."
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Can I access your website on my mobile device?
Yes, our website will work on any mobile device with web browsing capabilities via an active data plan through a wireless carrier or a Wi-Fi connection.
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Your website looks different on my computer. Why?
You may be using a browser not supported by our website. To get the best results when using our website, you will want to always use one of our supported browsers. We currently support: Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera.
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When I tried to register, it said my email was already in use. Why?
Our website only allows one registration per email address. We do this to avoid confusion, and to protect each person's account. You may have registered before at Budget Notary. To see if you already have an account, try logging in. Click on "Forgot Password" on the login page and provide your email address to reset your password. If you are unsuccessful at retrieving your login information, please contact us at 877.298.8274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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How can I change my selected state on your website?
You can change your state in the header of our website. Click on the drop down menu near our logo to select a new state.
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I was unable to print my notary forms at checkout. What should I do?
You should be able to access your Florida notary documents by logging into your profile and clicking on the notary application icon. If needed, we can email the documents to the email address we have on file for you. Please contact our notary Customer Service department at 877.298.8274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if the issue persists and you are unable to access your notary documents.
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My online course isn't working. Why?
First, please verify you did purchase the notary education course. Once you have verified your course purchase, please make sure you are using a browser that isn’t Internet Explorer. JavaScript and cookies should be enabled on your browser. To get the best results when using our website, you will want to always use one of our supported browsers. We currently support: Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera. If you are still having issues, please contact our Customer Service department at 877.298.8274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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I’m having trouble accessing parts of the website. What’s wrong?
If you are having an issue using our website, it could be for a number of different reasons. First, check your browser, and ensure you have the most up to date version. We do not recommend using Internet Explorer. Second, check you have cookies enabled on your browser. If you’ve verified that cookies are being accepted, and you’re still experiencing problems with the website, please clear your cookies and cache, close your browser, and try again. If you are still experiencing issues, there could be a temporary problem with our website. If this is the case, we would recommend contacting our Customer Service department at 877-298-8274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If able, please take screenshots of the issue. They will be very helpful in diagnosing and resolving issues with our website.
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My account and shopping cart aren't working right. What's wrong?
You must have JavaScript and cookies enabled on your computer in order for our shopping cart and account section to work correctly. To enable JavaScript on your computer, go here. You can also try using a different browser or clearing your cookies and cache. If the issue persists, please contact our Customer Service department at 877-298-8274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Notary Acts
The following are the most common questions asked by our customers regarding notary acts. However, if your question is not listed below feel free to contact us to receive an answer to your question.
What's the difference between an oath and an acknowledgment?
How much can I charge for a notarization in Florida?
Are the fees I collect considered taxable income?
Am I required to keep a record book?
Can I notarize for a family member?
Can I perform a marriage ceremony?
What's the difference between an oath and an acknowledgment?
With an Oath, the affiant is swearing to the content of a document. With an Acknowledgment, the affiant is acknowledging that he/she did sign the document.
How much can I charge for a notarization in Florida?
As a Florida notary, you may charge up to $10 in notary fees for any notarial act. You may charge $30 to perform a wedding ceremony. Keep in mind, if you charge a higher fee than prescribed by law, the Governor may suspend your commission. The law does not address miscellaneous travel fees for notarial acts. In the absence of any rule, notaries are allowed to charge a travel fee as long as the signer is made aware prior to the notary travelling and the transaction occurring. Travel fees are not notary fees. They should be billed separately from any fee for notary service. They may appear on the same invoice as notarial fees, but as a separate line-item to avoid confusion.
Are the fees I collect considered taxable income?
Yes. The best way to keep track of the Florida notary fees you have collected is by recording them in your notary record book. Additionally, you may want to check with your tax professional about including notary fees as income.
Am I required to keep a record book?
Florida state law does not require that you keep a notary record book. However, we strongly recommend that you do so for your own protection. If a notarization you performed is called into question years later, are you going to remember the details of the transaction? Keeping a notary record book can provide evidence of what actually took place with details such as what ID was provided, the date and time, and the signature of the affiant.
Can I notarize for a family member?
No. By law, you cannot notarize for a parent, spouse, or child. Because a Florida Notary Public should be an impartial witness, we recommend you do not notarize for any family member.
Can I perform a marriage ceremony?
Yes, as long as you are within the boundaries of the State of Florida. You can even perform a marriage ceremony for family. Since you are not notarizing a signature, the rule against notarizing for family does not apply. A marriage ceremony is the only exception to this rule.
As a Florida Notary Public you are responsible for performing the marriage ceremony and filing the completed license with the appropriate county within 10 days. Our marriage kit can supply you with everything you need to perform a marriage ceremony.
Can I refuse to notarize?
Yes, if proceeding with notarization would cause you to commit a prohibited act, or if any of the required elements/criteria for performance of a proper Florida notarization are missing. Situations that may require you to refuse include when you doubt that the signer is competent or willing to execute the document; or you are being asked to bend a rule of notarization such as requiring the signer to be present before you; or the document presented for notarization is clearly incomplete.
If you are an employee-notary, your employer controls how you manage your time and tasks while on the job, so you may need to refuse a notarization requested during business hours. If you must refuse for this reason, you may offer to perform the notarization during non-work hours.
Use your best judgment, and always know and follow notarial law, when weighing whether you must refuse a notarization.
Ordering
The following are the most common questions asked by our customers regarding orders. However, if your question is not listed below feel free to contact us to receive an answer to your question.
I prefer to pay by check. How do I submit my Florida notary application with a check for payment?
How can I make changes to my order?
What do you charge for shipping?
It has been a while since I ordered my stamp or embosser. Where is it?
What information do I need to submit to receive my Florida notary stamp?
My employer paid for my notary commission and/or supplies, can they keep them?
Can I apply over the phone?
No. You cannot apply to be a Florida notary or renew you Florida notary commission over the phone. You can apply online on our website. Click 'Become a Notary' or 'Renew Commission' to start the online notary process.
Can I apply online?
You may apply online to become a Florida notary or renew your Florida notary commission by using our interactive application process! Please note, you must still print, sign and mail your completed Florida notary application to: Budget Notary Services, PO Box 5797, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5797.
I prefer to pay by check. How do I submit my Florida notary application with a check for payment?
If you do not wish to complete the Florida notary application online and/or pay by credit card, you can submit your application and payment by mail. Please select the Notary Forms tab at the top of our website. Once there, select the New or Renewal Application Packet. You can then print and complete your Florida notary application and mail it, along with your check, to: Budget Notary Services, P.O. Box 5797, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5797.
How can I make changes to my order?
Please contact our Customer Service department at 877.298.8274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will be happy to assist you.
How will my order ship?
When we receive confirmation of your commission from the state of Florida, we will manufacture your notary stamp, which you will receive with any other products ordered, within 5 to 7 business days via USPS. If you are ordering products only, you will receive them via USPS within 5 to 7 business days.
What do you charge for shipping?
We charge a $9.95 shipping and handling fee.
Can I track my order?
You can track your order status by logging into your account and clicking 'Notary Application', or, contact our customer service department at 877.298.8274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details.
How do I request a refund?
If you are not satisfied with your order, please contact Budget Notary Services at 877.298.827 to determine if you qualify for a refund. We want to make sure you are happy. Once we understand the problem, we can determine your options.
IMPORTANT: If we cannot process your order within 12 months due to lack of required information from you, we are no longer obligated to fulfill your order and you will not be refunded. Of course, we will attempt to contact you multiple times during that 12 months to obtain the required info.
Budget Notary's stamps, seals and embossers are replacement guaranteed for your commission term. Personalized items are only eligible for refund if the item has a manufacturing error or was damaged upon receipt. If non-personalized items are returned in original condition, we will issue a 100% refund minus shipping. For online notary training courses, a refund will be issued if the course was never started. For Errors & Omissions insurance, you will receive a refund if you cancel the policy within 30 days of activation.
It has been a while since I ordered my stamp or embosser. Where is it?
We require additional information prior to manufacturing your Florida notary stamp or embosser. Please verify you have submitted a copy of your Florida notary commission certificate to us. Once we receive the required information, your seal will be shipped within 2-3 business days. You can check the status of your order by contacting our customer service department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 877-298-8274.
What information do I need to submit to receive my Florida notary stamp?
Florida notary stamps require commission verification before they are manufactured. We customize your Florida notary stamp with the information shown on your commission paperwork. If you are currently bonded though Budget Notary, we have your Florida notary information on file. If you are new to us, welcome! We need a copy of your Florida notary commission certificate before we can process your order. Please send a copy of your commission certificate to Budget Notary Services via e-mail, fax or mail.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fax: 888.979.8694
Mail: Budget Notary Services, P.O. Box 5797, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5797
I received my Florida notary stamp in the mail today, however there was not a certificate or any other documents with the stamp, am I still able to start notarizing documents now?
Your Florida notary stamp and Florida notary certificate are mailed out separately. Once you receive your Florida notary stamp, you are allowed to start notarizing documents even if you have not received your Florida notary certificate yet.
My employer paid for my notary commission and/or supplies, can they keep them?
No! You are a public official appointed by the State of Florida. Your seal and certificate are tools of your public office. Even if your employer purchased your Florida notary supplies, they have no legal right to keep these tools from you, and are violating Florida law if they do. Never surrender control of your Florida notary stamp and certificate to anyone.
Insurance
How do I decide which Errors & Omissions policy is best for me?
We advise our customers to consider how often they will be notarizing and the monetary value of the documents they will be notarizing when choosing an Errors & Omissions policy. We strongly recommend purchasing Errors & Omissions insurance to all our notaries public.