Posted by Not in FL on 8/11/05 10:05am
Msg #58280

Need advise from FL notaries- Occ. License

Hello. I have read on previous posts that if you offer mobile notary services you may need a occupation license. (I have seen this in CA)
Is this true in FL?
Anyone here that is from FL has one??? what kind in specific?? How did you find out you needed it??
Thanks for your help!! I want to go by the book. Geez this sounds like it may be expensive and I only do this part time!!!

TIA

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/11/05 10:47am
Msg #58290

Yes!
You need to go to your City Hall and check into it. Plus you will probably need one for your county as well.

Reply by Not in FL on 8/11/05 11:22am
Msg #58298

I will
Thanks Sylvia

Reply by Charles_CA on 8/11/05 11:37am
Msg #58305

FL notaries- Occ. License

I am surprised to hear this. My personal premise is that by being comissioned one is a public servant and the controlling jurisdiction is the one who gave the comission, usually the State. I don't see being a notary or even a mobile notary as being a business you are a State officieal performing a required service. I really don't know but an very good personal attorney friend of mines says that "it is much easier to ask forgivenss than it is to ask permission" Just my personal opinion.

Reply by PAW_Fl on 8/12/05 6:35am
Msg #58488

Re: FL notaries- Occ. License

Notaries doing notary business do not need an occupational license. However, a Signing Agent is a business that does more than what the state allows a notary public to do. Therefore, an occupational license is required for the service business of a Signing Agent.

>>> it is much easier to ask forgivenss than it is to ask permission <<<

Well, that philosophy cost me a fine by the county for not registering and obtaining a business occupational license. Unfortunately, when I started this business I didn't have the wonderful resources of these boards, so I paid the penalty and warn others before they get "caught" too.

Reply by Becca/FL on 8/11/05 1:02pm
Msg #58330

I have a county occupational license. When I went to go get it I was told by the gal in the office that I did not need one. Go figure? I did need a license to open a business checking account, though.

Reply by MelissaM/FL on 8/11/05 1:33pm
Msg #58337

We have a county occupational license. It is required in my county and my city, if I lived inside the city limits, would require one as well. My bank required the occ license to get a checking account for the business as well.

Reply by PAW_Fl on 8/12/05 6:42am
Msg #58489

That's because the clerk didn't look past the "notary" part. Notaries Public do not need an occupational license. However, as a service provider, the Signing Agent does.