Why people in Bartow call
The requests I get most from this side of the county:
- Deeds that will be recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
- Affidavits and sworn statements for court or agency filings.
- Powers of attorney, with the two witnesses Florida requires.
- Documents for county employees and contractors.
- Estate paperwork prepared by Bartow attorneys.
Getting to you in Bartow
Bartow sits about fifteen minutes south of Lakeland along Highway 98, so it is an easy same-day trip.
Because the county courthouse and the Clerk of the Circuit Court are here, deeds and filings are a bigger share of the work than in neighbouring towns. A deed needs two witnesses as well as a notary, and that is the step people miss.
Recording and documentary stamp tax are handled at the Clerk's office, not by me. I make sure the signing is correct so nothing bounces back.
What a visit looks like
You tell me the address and a time, including evenings and weekends. I arrive with everything needed, check identification, witness the signatures and complete the certificates on the spot.
Home, office, hospital, care facility, a café or a parking lot — wherever suits the people signing.
Or skip the travel entirely
If the document is straightforward and the receiving office accepts electronic notarization, a remote online session takes about fifteen minutes and costs no travel fee. It is often the better answer for a single signature.
What to have ready
- The document, complete and unsigned.
- Current, government-issued photo ID for everyone signing.
- Witnesses, if the document requires them — I cannot act as both notary and witness.
- The correct notarial certificate, or a call to the receiving office to find out which one they want.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you charge extra to travel to Bartow?
- There is a travel fee based on distance and time of day, agreed with you before I set out. The notarial fee itself is capped by Florida law at $10 per act.
- Can you come today?
- Often yes, including evenings and weekends. Call rather than email if it is for today.
- Can you record the deed for me at the courthouse?
- No. I notarize the signatures; recording happens at the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the documentary stamp tax is paid there.
- Do I really need two witnesses for a deed?
- For a deed transferring Florida real estate, yes, and they cannot be people receiving an interest in the property.