A Florida notary block must show the venue (“State of Florida, County of [Name]”), the statutory wording for either an acknowledgment or a jurat, how the signer was identified, whether the signer appeared in physical presence or by authorized online notarization, the date, the signer’s name, and the notary’s signature, printed commissioned name, and official rubber stamp seal. These Florida notary block requirements come from Section 117.05 of the Florida Statutes, and the certificate wording must match or be substantially similar to the forms the state provides.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 117.05 – Section: (4)
Mandatory Elements of the Notary Block
Every notarial certificate completed in Florida has to include each of the following:
- The venue, written as “State of Florida, County of [Name],” reflecting where the notary was at the time of the act
- The exact date of the notarial act
- The name of the person whose signature is being notarized
- The type of notarial act performed (acknowledgment or jurat) and the corresponding statutory wording
- How the signer was identified, whether through the notary’s personal knowledge or a specific form of identification such as a Florida driver’s license
- Whether the signer appeared by physical presence or through authorized online notarization technology
- The notary’s official signature
- The notary’s name printed, typed, or stamped exactly as it appears on the commission
- The official notary seal
Each element has to appear; a certificate missing any of them does not comply with the statute.2Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 117.05 – Section: (4)(a), (c)-(f), (g), and (h)
Seal Requirements
Florida requires an official rubber stamp seal on all paper documents. The stamp must be applied in photographically reproducible black ink and must include:3Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 117.05 – Section: (3)(a)
- The words “Notary Public-State of Florida”
- The notary’s commissioned name
- The commission number
- The commission expiration date
An embossed impression-type seal may be added as an extra marking, but it cannot stand in for the rubber stamp. Place the stamp near the signature so it does not cover any text or signatures on the certificate.4Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 117.05 – Section: (3)(a) and (4)(i)
Wording for an Acknowledgment
Use an acknowledgment when the signer appears before you to confirm that they signed the document. The statutory phrasing is:
“The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this [date] by [name of person acknowledging]…”5Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 117.05 – Section: (13)(b)
The certificate then shows how you identified the signer (personal knowledge or a specified ID), followed by your signature, printed commissioned name, and seal.
Wording for a Jurat
Use a jurat when the signer takes an oath or affirmation, as with an affidavit. The statutory phrasing is:
“Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this [date] by [name of person making statement].”6Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes § 117.05 – Section: (13)(a)
The signing and the oath both have to happen in your presence. As with an acknowledgment, record the identification method, the date, the signer’s name, and complete the block with your signature, printed name, and seal.
Completing the Certificate Correctly
Accuracy is a statutory requirement, not a best practice. Fill in the date, the signer’s name, and the identification details exactly, and make sure the printed name on the certificate matches your commissioned name and official signature. A certificate missing any mandatory element, or using wording that is not substantially similar to the statutory form, does not comply with Florida law.