What works
Florida accepts current identification issued by a government body, showing a photograph and a signature. In practice:
- Florida driver licence or state identification card.
- Driver licence or state ID from another U.S. state.
- U.S. or foreign passport.
- U.S. military identification.
- Permanent resident card or other government-issued photo identification with a signature.
What does not work
Expired identification, no matter how recently it expired or how obviously it is you. Photocopies and photos of an ID on a phone. Work badges, club cards, student cards and library cards. A document where the name does not match the one on the paper being signed.
That last one catches people after a marriage or a divorce. If the document says one surname and the identification says another, bring what connects them and tell me before the appointment.
If there is no valid ID
Florida allows identification through a credible witness: someone who personally knows the signer, has their own valid identification, is not named in the document, and swears to the signer's identity.
Some situations need two credible witnesses. Tell me the circumstances when you book and I will tell you which route applies rather than turning up and discovering there is none.
Online sessions are stricter
A remote online session adds two automatic checks: the platform analyses the identification document, and it asks questions generated from public records that only the signer should be able to answer.
That is why online verification sometimes fails for people with a recently issued ID, a thin credit history, or a very common name, even when everything is genuine. If it fails, nothing is charged for the notarial act and we look at an in-person appointment instead.
Frequently asked questions
- My licence expired last month. Is that acceptable?
- No. Florida requires current identification. Bring your passport, or another valid government-issued photo ID.
- Can I use a photo of my ID on my phone?
- No. I have to see the physical document, or the online platform has to scan it during the session.
- Can a family member vouch for me?
- Sometimes, through the credible witness rule, but a person named in the document cannot serve that role. Ask me before the appointment.
- Is a foreign passport accepted?
- Yes, a current one, as government-issued photo identification.