Florida notary commission
Florida notary commission: the bonding-agency route, step by step
Complete 3 hours of notary education (the state's online course is free), then apply through an approved bonding agency, which files your application, pays the $39 state fee, writes your $7,500 bond and supplies your seal. Commissions last four years, and you may notarize only while you are physically in Florida.
Who Florida commissions
- You are at least 18 and a legal resident of Florida, and you stay a resident for the whole four-year term (s. 117.01).
- You can read, write and understand English.
- You disclose any felony conviction, withheld adjudication or probation, with the documents the application asks for.
Source: Notary Commissions, Florida Department of State; Fla. Stat. s. 117.01.
How a Florida application actually moves
- Take the education. First-time applicants need at least 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction completed within one year before applying. The Department of State offers a free online course that counts.
- Pick a bonding agency. Florida applications go through approved bonding agencies. The agency supplies the application, pays the state fees, writes the bond and provides your seal. Premiums and seal prices vary, so compare a few.
- Apply and swear the oath. The application includes an oath that you have read chapter 117 and know a notary's duties. The state's share is $39.
- Bond. A $7,500 surety bond, written as part of the agency package.
- Check the commission and seal. Compare every detail on both. Use the new seal only from the first day of the commission.
Source: Become a Notary, Governor's Notary Section; Notary Commissions, Florida Department of State.
Florida costs, line by line
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Notary education | $0 The Department of State's online course is free. Renewing notaries skip it. |
| State fee | $39 $25 application, $10 commission fee and a $4 surcharge (s. 117.01). Veterans with wartime service and a 50% or higher disability rating pay no commission fee. |
| $7,500 bond premium | Set by bonding agency Often bundled with the application and seal. |
| Rubber stamp seal | Set by agency or vendor Required. |
| Name change during the term | $25 Amended commission, plus a bond rider. |
Only the $39 is fixed by law. What you pay in total depends on the bonding agency's package, which is why comparing agencies is worth doing.
Source: Fla. Stat. s. 117.01; Become a Notary, Governor's Notary Section; Notary Commissions, Florida Department of State.
FL starter kit · $29
Florida Notary Starter Kit
Florida's course, $39 fee and bonding-agency route, the $7,500 bond, the $10 cap, the accepted ID list, seal rules, online notary registration ($25,000 bond, E&O, 10-year records), a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four years, then a shorter renewal
A Florida notary is appointed for four years (s. 117.01). The education requirement applies to first-time applicants, so renewing notaries skip the course.
During the term, report a change of business or home address, phone number or criminal record to the Department of State in writing within 60 days. A name change needs an amended commission ($25 plus a bond rider).
Source: Fla. Stat. s. 117.01; Fla. Stat. chapter 117; Notary Commissions, Florida Department of State.
Becoming a Florida online notary
A commission alone does not let you notarize online. You register separately with the Department of State as an online notary under Part II of chapter 117, with a current commission, a course on online notary duties and technology, a $25,000 bond, at least $25,000 of errors and omissions insurance, the RON service provider you will use, and the registration fee (s. 117.225).
You must be in Florida; the signer can be anywhere. Online notaries keep an electronic journal and the session recordings for at least ten years and may charge up to $25 per online act.
Source: Fla. Stat. chapter 117 (ss. 117.225, 117.245, 117.265, 117.275).
The $10 rule
Florida caps the fee for any in-person notarial act at $10 (s. 117.05(2)). Witnessing a vote-by-mail ballot is free. Your rubber stamp must show "Notary Public-State of Florida", your name, your commission expiration date and commission number, and an embosser can be added but cannot replace it.
Source: Fla. Stat. chapter 117 (s. 117.05).
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Florida notary questions
Why does a Florida notary application go through a bonding agency?
Florida applications are filed through approved bonding agencies, which supply the application, pay the $39 state fee, write the $7,500 bond and provide the seal. You choose the agency.
Is the Florida notary course really free?
The Department of State's online course is free, and it satisfies the 3-hour requirement for first-time applicants.
Can a Florida notary notarize in Georgia or Alabama?
No. A Florida notary may act only while physically in Florida. Online notaries must also be in Florida, though the signer can be elsewhere.
Do I retake the course to renew in Florida?
No. The 3-hour requirement applies to first-time applicants.
What extra does a Florida online notary need?
A separate registration with the Department of State: a $25,000 bond, at least $25,000 of E&O insurance, an online notary course, a RON provider and the registration fee.
Is there a fee waiver for veterans?
Veterans with wartime service and a disability rating of 50% or more pay no commission fee, under s. 117.01.
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General information from official Florida sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Governor's Notary Section and the Florida Department of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Florida.