Notary Public & Apostille-Florida Secretary of State
A Notary Public is a state public officer appointed and commissioned by the Governor whose function is to: administer oaths, take acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments, attest to or certify photocopies of certain documents, and perform other duties specified by law.
Notaries by law to perform these basic duties:
- Administer oaths or affirmations
- Take acknowledgements
- Attest to photocopies of certain documents
- Solemnize marriages
- Verify vehicle identification numbers (VINs)
- Certify the contents of safe deposit boxes
Need an Acknowledgement
The purpose of an acknowledgment is to ensure that the signer of a document is who they claim to be and has voluntarily signed the document. Acknowledgments often are needed for documents concerning valuable assets, such as deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust.
To perform an acknowledgment, the signer must personally appear at the time of notarization to be positively identified and to declare — or "acknowledge" — that the signature on the document is their own and that they signed willingly.
Need a Jurat
The purpose of a jurat is for a signer to swear or affirm that the contents of a document are true. Depending on the jurisdiction, it also can be known as an affidavit or a verification on oath or affirmation.
For a jurat, the signer must personally appear and sign the document in the notary presence. An oath or affirmation is then administered, and the signer speak aloud his or her promise that the statements in the document are true. The choice between an oath or affirmation is made by the signer.
Administering the oath or affirmation is a vital part of performing a jurat or verification because the signer is affirming that the contents of the document are true, and he or she may be prosecuted for perjury if the contents are not true. Florida requires a signer to provide proof of identity for a jurat.
Need a Oath/Affirmation
Need Signature Witnessing
Need Signature Witnessing
You may need an oath or affirmation orally administered rather than as part of a jurat, affidavit or other written document. The purpose of administering a verbal oath or affirmation is, again, to compel a client to truthfulness.
An oath is a solemn pledge to a Supreme Being. An affirmation is a solemn pledge on the individual's personal honor. Again, the choice should be made by the signer
Need Signature Witnessing
Need Signature Witnessing
Need Signature Witnessing
With this notarial act, you certify that the individual appearing before you is who he or she claims to be, and the signature on the record is the signature of the individual before you. The main difference between a signature witnessing and an acknowledgment is that you witness the document being signed. The main difference between a signature witnessing and a jurat, affidavit, or verification upon oath or affirmation is that, with a signature witnessing, you do not administer an oath.
