How to become a remote online notary in Florida
Did you know you can qualify to become an online notary and perform online notarizations in Florida? As of January 1, 2020, Florida notaries are authorized to perform online remote notarizations after they have completed an application and training requirements. Complete the steps below, and for a low application fee, you can enhance your traditional notary certification by becoming an approved Remote Online Notary (RON).
If you are unsure about your current status, you can search Florida notaries using this Florida notary search: http://notaries.dos.state.fl.us/not001.html
If you need information on how to become a notary in Florida, you can quickly find the necessary information and application process on the Florida Department of State's website. Once you are certified for traditional paper based notarization, you're ready to add remote online notarizations to your toolbelt; any currently commissioned notary public in Florida can take advantage of the new laws making online notarization legal.
Looking to get a document notarized? Get your personal and professional documents electronically notarized anytime, remotely
For those needing to get a document notarized, Notary Hub lets consumers request remote online notarization from any of our existing electronic notaries. Remote notarization is secure, safe, and efficient. Request to have your important documents signed by any of our commissioned notaries by requesting a signing session here on Notary Hub: https://app.notaryhub.com/notarize-a-document-online-find-a-notary?register-from=consumers
Send, sign, and notarize remotely with Notary Hub. https://notaryhub.com/consumer
The trusted way to remotely and electronically notarize agreements
Notary Hub’s online notary platform
Works on any device. Simple, safe, secure.
Electronically notarized documents have revolutionized the way we authenticate and verify legal agreements. These digital documents, endorsed with a notary seal by a certified notary public, are not only efficient and convenient, but also legally valid. This modern notarization process involves a series of steps to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the document, starting with identity proofing of the signatories.
In an electronic notarization, the identity of the individual signing the document is verified by a secure online process that checks their valid government-issued identification, and also prompts them to answer questions that only they would know, such as previous addresses, employers, etc. Once the identity is confirmed, the notarial act is performed, which involves witnessing the signature, applying a digital stamp and digital signature to the document, and completing the notarization by digitally signing the document using a document signing certificate. Together, these comprise the digital notary seal, allowing anyone receiving the document to validate its authenticity and ensuring its legal standing.
One of the key advantages of electronic notarization is the creation of an audit trail, which records every step of the process, including the date and time of the notarization, relevant identification documents, and an archived audio video file of the signing session. This comprehensive record is available for online notaries public via their electronic notary journal. This record offers an additional layer of security and accountability, making electronically notarized documents a trusted and reliable option for remote transactions and agreements. Through Notary Hub, users can access these secure and efficient services, ensuring that their important documents are notarized with the highest level of integrity and compliance.
Steps to become a notary public who can perform online notarization
The roadmap above shows the steps to add online notarization capabilities to your existing notary commission. We'll go through these steps below.
Qualify: You need to already be a notary public, a civil law notary appointed under chapter 118, or a commissioner of deeds appointed under part IV of chapter 721.
Choose and subscribe to an online notarization platform: You'll need to select an online notary platform such as Notary Hub to provide the audio visual recording services, digital stamp and signature, and ability to cryptog0raphically sign your documents. Notary Hub was designed by notaries, for notaries, and the platform price is as low as $5/month, depending on the subscription term you select. To learn more about Notary Hub and see which plan fits your needs, visit https://notaryhub.com/notary
Note: you are required to subscribe with your selected remote online notary platform before applying to be an online notary public. Based on Florida regulations, the company you select must provide you with:The technology to be used in attaching or logically associating an electronic notarial certificate, signature and seal to an electronic document;
The technology to be used in conducting identity proofing and credential analysis;
The technology to store and maintain a recording of the video and audio conference of the online notarization session.
Notary Hub is qualified to provide these in compliance with Florida regulations. The basic requirements for vendors’ technology are found under Chapter 117, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 1N-7001, Florida Administrative Register.
Get set up on Notary Hub: As part of onboarding, you'll also need to obtain a digital signature, stamp, and digital certificate. Notary Hub has these steps integrated into a one-stop solution, so you won't need to purchase an Identrust or other certificate separately.
Complete required training course: Florida requires completion of notary education for obtaining your online notary public commission. The certificate of completion will be attached to your registration application to add remote notarization to your commission.
Register: Submitting your application is straightforward with the Department of State's Division of Corporations. To access the Remote Online Notary (RON) Application, simply visit the Division of Corporations website by clicking on this link: https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/other-services/notaries/remote-online-notary-public/. Once there, you'll find everything you need to complete and submit your application, taking you one step closer to becoming a remote online notary public.
Review the applicable statute and rules before applying
Florida RONs are governed by several new rules and statutes as well as the existing notary rules.
The enacting statute is the “Electronic Legal Documents” (Chapter 2019-71). This law is in effect as of January 1, 2020.
Additionally, 1N-7001, Florida Administrative Code, outlines the duties and responsibilities of online notaries as well as the procedures for applying.
Additionally, RONs in Florida are required to have a $25,000 surety bond AND E&O insurance policy.
Although Florida does not make errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy mandatory for traditional notary commissions, the state does require Remote Online Notaries to get a $25,000 E&O policy.
An E&O insurance policy protects you from potential errors or omissions that may be made during notarizations. If you currently have an insurance policy, check with your insurer to learn whether you can increase your coverage to meet the Florida RON requirements or whether your policy already includes coverage for this type of commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my state require Notary training?
Yes, Florida requires that you complete a two-hour Remote Online Notary (RON) training course and receive a certificate of completion, which will be attached to your registration application.
How long will the Notary exam take to complete?
Online Notary training courses for Florida are typcially a two-hours long.
What are the cost of becoming a notary online when compared with traditional notary commission costs?
When comparing the costs of becoming a Remote Online Notary (RON) to those of obtaining a traditional notary commission, there is a minimal difference in the state of Florida. The Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations charges an initial fee of $10 to add online notary authorization to an existing or new notary commission.
You will also need to participate in a training course and pass the exam. Pricing may vary depending on which course is selected. See the list of approved RON education providers listed on the Department of State's website.
For the online notary platform subscription, this answer to this question varies depending on the subscription selected, and the subscription term that you choose. Notary Hub’s pricing is as low as $5/month for 4-year subscription plans. To explore the plan options that fit your needs, visit https://notaryhub.com/notary
In addition to the base subscription, you’ll need to obtain an x509 Document Signing Certificate, which is provided through our platform via our approved partner. These certificates are managed by SSL and are 100% cloud-based, meaning you can have the convenience of securely using them from any device Through Notary Hub, you can obtain these certificates at a cost of less than $50/year if you select a 4-year certificate, or $60/year if you select a 1-year certificate. New subscribers qualify for a 5% discount on the first term of their certificate purchase.
