A scheduled appointment does not always mean a notarization can be completed. A Florida notary public has a responsibility to make sure certain requirements are satisfied before proceeding. If an issue arises during the appointment, the notary may need to pause or stop the signing.
Some reasons include
- Identity cannot be satisfactorily verified. The notary must be able to identify the signer in accordance with Florida law.
- The signer appears unable to understand the document. Florida law prohibits notarizing if it appears the signer is mentally incapable of understanding the nature and effect of the document at the time.
- The signer is not present. The person whose signature is being notarized must appear before the notary, in person or through an authorized remote online session.
- The document is incomplete or blank. Missing information or blank sections can prevent the notarization from proceeding.
- The signer does not understand the language of the document. For an acknowledgment, Florida law restricts proceeding when the signer does not speak or understand English unless the nature and effect of the document is translated into a language the signer understands.
Why this matters
The notary is not there simply to witness a signature and apply a stamp. The process includes identity verification, the signer's appearance before the notary and compliance with Florida's notarial procedures.
Preparing before the appointment can help avoid unnecessary delays, especially for older adults, hospital patients and people in rehabilitation or assisted-living settings. A notary stopping a signing is not necessarily a service failure. It may be an important safeguard in the notarial process.
Florida Statutes 117.05 and 117.107.
This is educational information only, not legal advice. Coquina Notary is not an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, and may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice.