Posted by LorraineK/FL on 7/29/04 5:38pm
Msg #5200

Response back from Gov. Office re: Discrp. NNA FL Law Primer

The Governor’s Notary Section was forwarded your email regarding notary fees. Yes, per Florida Statute 117.05(2) a Florida notary can charge up to $10 per notarial act. Not per signer. A notarial act is each acknowledgement or oath, or basically each time you have to sign and affix your notary stamp. However, notary signing agents get paid additionally for other services provided than just the notary service. As long as a Florida notary follows Florida law regarding notary fees and procedures, there should be no problems. I am currently playing phone tag with a representative from NNA regarding notary fees in Florida. Hopefully any confusion will be resolved soon. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.



Sincerely,

Heather Slager

Notary Education Coordinator

Office of the Governor, Notary Section


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Thanks to Paul and Sylvia's wisdom regarding original advice...you guys rock! I look forward to see how NNA will handle, retract or rectify.

Reply by Happy in FL on 7/29/04 6:56pm
Msg #5202

Lorraine K-- I want to personally express my appreciation for "dogging" this question, to get it resoved for us Floridians. Appreciate "Heathers" response as well- Been awaiting to see this post since you said you were contacting the SOS on subject. Be interested hearing what NNA has to say. Thankyou again!

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/29/04 7:07pm
Msg #5203

We MUST always read and understand our own State laws, and not rely on the NNA or anyone else for a definitive answer - it is OUR commission at stake)

NNA Staff member had recently posted the following indicating that each signature constitutes a separate notarial act.


"The Florida fee issue is, we admit, not as clear as it could be in our Florida Notary Law Primer. However, it is not incorrect. Florida law States that the Notary fee “may not exceed $10 for any one notarial act.” Our Primer indicates that the allowable fee is $10 per signature. Generally each signature constitutes a separate notarial act and requires separate identification of the signer and seal of the Notary. I a situation where two people – a husband and wife – sign one document, both individuals must appear before the Notary, and the Notary must identify each person separately, resulting in two notarial acts. When one person signs multiple documents, each requires a separate seal and signature of the Notary; again, these are separate notarial acts. Rather than a simple “per signature” statement, our Primer should – and will – state the fee is per notarial act. "