Welcome

1. Know the type of notarization you will need (Acknowledgment, Jurat, or Oath/Affirmation). A notary cannot provide legal advice, so you must be able to tell the notary what type of notarization you will need.
2. Fill out the documents completely before your appointment. No empty spaces. If you have questions regarding the document, reach out to the entity that provided the document. Notaries are unable to provide legal advice.
3. Do NOT sign and date the document until you are advised to do so by the notary.
4. Bring original government-issued ID such as a State ID card, Driver's License, Passport, or Military ID. No photocopies and ID must not have expired.
5. The name on the document must match the ID.
6. Make sure all signers and witnesses (if applicable) are present at the time of the appointment.
7. All signers must be aware and willing to sign. Florida law prohibits a notary from performing a notarization if the signer appears unable to understand the nature of the document at the time of signing.
8. Make sure you understand the costs associated with the appointment and be prepared to pay at the time of service.

Acknowledgments

An acknowledgment is to ensure that a signer is who they claim to be and has voluntarily signed the document. They are often needed for documents concerning valuable assets, such as deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust.

The signer must personally appear before the notary at the time of notarization to be positively identified and to declare or acknowledge the signature on the document is their own and that they signed willingly. 

Jurats
A jurat is for a signer to swear or affirm that the contents of a document are true. Depending upon jurisdiction, it also can be known as an affidavit or a verification on oath or affirmation.

For a jurat, the signer must personally appear before the notary and sign the document in their presence. The notary then administers an oath or affirmation and has the signer say aloud their promise that the statements in the document are true. The choice between an oath or affirmation is made by the signer.

Oaths/Affirmations
A client may simply need the notary to administer an oath or affirmation orally rather than as part of a jurat​, affidavit, or other written document. The purpose of administering a verbal oath or affirmation is to compel a client to truthfulness.

Copy Certification
Copy certification confirms a reproduction of an original document is a full, true, and accurate transcription or reproduction of an original.

To perform a copy certification, the person in possession of an original document (known as the “document custodian”) takes the original document to a notary. The notary typically takes a photocopy of the document and completes a certificate for the copy certification to confirm the photocopy is a true, accurate, and complete copy of the original.

Documents requiring copy certification may include diplomas, driver’s licenses, leases, contracts, vehicle titles, Social Security cards, medical records, and bills of sale. Florida forbids the copy certification of vital, public documents, such as birth, death, or marriage certificates. Certified copies of these documents must be obtained from the agency that holds the originals.