Does Florida Allow Remote Online Notarization?

The simple answer is YES! On January 1, 2020 House Bill 409 went into effect. This law authorized the use of remote online notarizations. It is important to note that completing a Remote Online Notarization (RON) is not the same thing as completing an electronic notarization. An electronic notarization or e-notarization is performed when the notary uses an electronic signature to notarize a digital document. For these, the client appears personally before the notary as they would with paper notarizations, but the documents are presented and notarized electronically.

In contrast, with remote online notarizations notaries, signers, and witnesses are not required to be in the same room, or even the same state at the time of the notarization. The signer could be in Michigan, a witness can be in Montana, but the notary MUST be in the state they are commissioned in. Plainly stated, Notaries commissioned by the State of Florida must be physically located in the State of Florida when they perform remote online notarizations, even though all the other parties involved can be in other states.

It is important to note that not all notaries can automatically perform remote online notarizations. Notaries that are authorized to perform remote online notarizations, must be actively commissioned in the state of Florida, have successfully completed specialized training, be bonded and insured, been approved by the Department of State, and use a state compliant RON service provider.

It is equally key to mention that not all states currently have laws that authorize RON. Currently, there are over thirty states that has enacted some form of remote online notarization. Thankfully, FLORIDA IS ONE OF THEM!