What is the penalty for violating a notary in Florida?

Asked by: Casimir Lynch  |  Last update: September 28, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (66 votes)

PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATION OF NOTARY LAWS (d) For a felony of the third degree, by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years.

What is the penalty for notary in Florida?

Under Section 117.105, “a notary who falsely or fraudulently takes an acknowledgment of an instrument as a notary or who falsely or fraudulently makes a certificate as a notary or who falsely takes or receives an acknowledgment of the signature on a written instrument” is guilty of a third-degree felony punishable by ...

What happens if you do a notary wrong?

Consequence criminally : Prison (felony), Jail (misdemeanor), fines, having your notary commission revoked. Civil Consequences: Leaves an errant notary open to lawsuits, especially if the victim of the notary's malphesance cost the victim $$. It's a good way to lose just about all you have or will ever have.

What is misconduct for a notary in Florida?

Any time a notary public fails to uphold his or her responsibilities, it is considered misconduct and a criminal offense. One of the more common offenses is a notary public who authorizes a document without the person whose signature is on the document being present.

What is the most common mistake made by a notary?

One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.

How To Become A Notary Public In Florida

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What is notary misconduct?

Examples of notarial misconduct include the following: 1) the notary notarized an instrument without the signer being present; 2) the notary failed to establish the identity of the signer by satisfactory evidence; 3) the notary failed to execute proper notarial procedures; and 4) the notary knew that the document ...

Which of the following offenses cancels a notary application?

The examples include but are not limited to: assault, arson, auto theft, burglary, possession or sale of illegal drugs, embezzlement, forgery, fraud, failure to pay child support or failure to comply with a court order.

Can you sue a notary in Florida?

The notary public or the notary public's employer can be held liable for any civil damages caused by the misconduct. Contact us to discuss the different types of criminal or civil liability that might be imposed if the case is not handled properly.

What qualifies as misconduct Florida?

(1) "Official misconduct" means the commission of the following act by a public servant, with corrupt intent to obtain a benefit for himself or herself or another or to cause unlawful harm to another: knowingly falsifying, or causing another to falsify, any official record or official document.

What is a notary liable for?

A notary public is always liable for all actions, whether intentional or unintentional. This liability is unlimited to financial losses and damages.

What makes a notary invalid?

Missing or Incorrect Notary Seal

States like California and Texas have specific requirements for the placement and design of the seal. Without a proper seal, legal and financial institutions may reject the document.

Does a notary have to read the document they are notarizing?

No, it is not illegal; however, the Notary should not read the documents they notarize because it is unnecessary and could possibly be a violation of the signer's privacy. You may scan over the document to obtain the information you need for your journal entry of the notarization. Confronted with a tricky notarization?

What makes a notarized document invalid in Florida?

A notarized document can become invalid due to clerical errors, missing signatures, or improper notary procedures. Mistakes like failing to verify the signer's identity with a government-issued ID, inaccuracies in critical details, or missing signatures can compromise a document's integrity.

How much can a notary charge per signature in Florida?

A Florida Notary Public CAN…

Charge up to $10 per notarial signature on a document and charge up to $30 for performing a marriage ceremony. Act as a notary anywhere in the State of Florida. Notarize foreign documents as long as the notary is confident that the signer can read and understand the document being signed.

What can notaries not charge for?

Some states prohibit their notaries from charging or collecting a fee for notarizing a signature on any absentee ballot or absentee voter registration.

How much do notaries make per signing in Florida?

Loan signing agents typically make between $75 and $200 per “loan signing job.” Another benefit of being an LSA is that you can often have steady work supplied to you by a relator or mortgage company.

Does misconduct go on your record?

You'll have to accept that it will probably stay on record for a good few years. In the case of serious misconduct, they might keep it on record indefinitely. That also applies in sectors where the regulations are more stringent, such as jobs that need security clearance or roles working with vulnerable people.

What are examples of serious misconduct?

Examples of serious misconduct include:
  • violent behaviour.
  • bullying.
  • sexual, racial or other harassment.
  • theft or fraud.
  • behaviour that endangers the health and safety of yourself or others.
  • using illegal drugs at work.
  • dishonesty.

What are punitive damages in Florida?

Punishment – Punitive damages act as a form of punishment against defendants for engaging in reprehensible behavior toward the victim. While imprisonment is not an option in civil cases, punitive damages can provide a means to hold the defendant accountable for their actions, on top of compensatory damages.

What happens if a notary makes a mistake?

What happens if a notary makes a mistake? The National Notary Association suggests that even the smallest mistake could have dire consequences. The notarized document could get rejected. A mistake that results in a rejection can result in late fees and penalties on the part of the client.

What can a Florida notary not notarize?

(10) A notary public may not notarize a signature on a document if the document is incomplete or blank. However, an endorsement or assignment in blank of a negotiable or nonnegotiable note and the assignment in blank of any instrument given as security for such note is not deemed incomplete.

Can you break a notarized agreement?

There is a huge misconceptions that if individuals go and get a document notarized everything is good, but that is not the case because the notarized document is not a court order, it is an agreement between the parties, but ultimately it cannot be enforced because it is not signed off by a judge.

What disqualifies you from being a notary in Florida?

Generally, crimes involving dishonesty, fraud, or moral turpitude would disqualify someone from being a notary public. All states bar those with felonies from becoming a notary public.

Which of the following are prohibited acts for a notary?

A notary cannot proceed if the required notarial act is not indicated by the document, the signer or someone connected to the document. Notaries cannot authenticate or validate objects. Notaries cannot give advice or opinions that should be given by an attorney—this is unlicensed practice of law.

Can notaries swear people in?

2093. (a) Every court, every judge, or clerk of any court, every justice, and every notary public, and every officer or person authorized to take testimony in any action or proceeding, or to decide upon evidence, has the power to administer oaths or affirmations.