What a Florida notary can certify
Florida law allows a notary to make an attested copy of a document when the person who holds the original asks for it, is present, and the document is not a public record.
In practice that covers things you own and control: a passport you hold, a diploma, a contract, a letter, a company document. I make the copy myself from your original, compare them and attach the certificate.
What a notary cannot certify
Public records are the exception, and they are exactly what people ask for most: birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, and court records.
Those certified copies come from the office that issued them — the county clerk, the court, or the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. A notarized photocopy of a birth certificate is not a certified copy, and will be rejected. It is better to hear that here than after a wasted trip.
The route that does work for public records
- Ask the issuing office for a certified copy.
- If it is going abroad, send that certified copy for an apostille.
- If a translation is needed, do it after you know which copy will be used.
A third option: you certify, I notarize
Some receiving offices accept a sworn statement from you saying that the attached copy is a true copy of a document you hold. That is an affidavit, and it is a different act: you swear, I administer the oath and notarize your signature.
It depends entirely on whether the receiver accepts it. Ask them first, and I will prepare the appointment accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you certify a copy of my birth certificate?
- No. It is a public record, and Florida notaries may not attest copies of public records. Request a certified copy from the issuing office.
- Can you certify a copy of my passport?
- Yes, generally, because you hold the original and it is not a public record filed in Florida. Some receiving offices still have their own rules, so confirm with them.
- Can it be done online?
- Attested copies work best in person, because I have to see and copy the original. Tell me what you need and I will say which way is possible.
- Do you keep a copy?
- Only what my notarial journal requires. The document itself stays with you.