What the law requires
Remote online notarization sits in Chapter 117, Part II of the Florida Statutes. A notary cannot simply switch on a video call: they must hold a separate RON commission, complete specific training, carry an additional bond and insurance, and work through an approved technology provider.
The session itself has requirements too. The signer's identity is checked by the platform, the whole audio-video session is recorded, and the recording is kept for at least ten years.
Why it is often more secure than paper
In a traditional notarization, the notary looks at an ID and forms a judgment. Online, the platform analyses the identity document, asks questions generated from public records, and keeps a recording of everything that was said.
If a signature is ever challenged, there is a video of the person signing, a verified identity trail and a tamper-evident seal on the document. That is a stronger evidence trail than a stamp and a journal entry.
What still cannot be done online
Some documents are excluded or restricted, and some receiving offices refuse electronic notarization even when the law allows it. Wills and certain court filings are the usual examples; banks, registries and foreign consulates sometimes insist on paper with an ink signature.
Florida also adds protections when the signer is a vulnerable adult, which usually means a witness present with them during the session.
Signers outside Florida and outside the country
A Florida notary performing a remote notarization is considered to be acting in Florida, so the signer can be anywhere. Florida law places conditions on signers located outside the United States, tied mainly to what the document will be used for, so it is worth confirming before booking.
Frequently asked questions
- Will a court accept an electronically notarized document?
- Florida courts generally do, and the law gives it the same effect as an in-person notarization. Individual offices can still have their own paper requirements.
- Who keeps the recording?
- The approved technology provider, under the retention period the law sets, currently at least ten years.
- Can any Florida notary do it?
- No. It requires a separate RON commission, training, an extra bond and insurance, and an approved platform.
- Is it more expensive?
- The cap is higher: $25 per act online against $10 in person. There is no travel fee, so it is often cheaper overall.