FAQ

A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government —typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts. Notaries are publicly commissioned as “ministerial” officials, meaning that they are expected to follow written rules without the exercise of significant personal discretion, as would otherwise be the case with a “judicial” official.

Notarization helps prevent fraud by using an impartial third party, the notary, to verify the identity of the person signing. Notaries also verify that the signer is doing so knowingly and willingly. This is accomplished through the five-step notarization process. A professional Dunedin Mobile Notary will complete the five-step notarization process for each document notarized.

The five-step notarization process consists of:

-Personal appearance: In Florida, the person signing the document must appear in front of the notary. This is a crucial step in the prevention of fraud. Although some states are beginning to allow remote notarization, Florida has not adopted this policy and continues to require all notarizations be in person.

-Review the document: The notary must review the document to make sure it is complete and that the signer has filled out any necessary information. This ensures that the document cannot be used for another person or that the document cannot be altered once the notary is gone. At this point, the notary would also look for wording that indicates the type of notarial certificate needed.

-Identify the signer: The notary must positively identify the signer, either by the use of an identification card, or by using two credible witnesses who possess proper identification. For a list of acceptable forms of identification, please keep reading below.

-Record a journal entry: The notary journal is used as a record of all notarial acts performed by the notary. Listed below are some of the items recorded in our journals:

*The date and time of the notarization
*The type of notarial act
*The type of document being notarized
*The address of the notarization
*The name and address of the signer
*The type of identification used
*The Identification used, ID number, issue and expiration date of the signers ID
*The signers date of birth
*The fee charged for notarization. Florida has a maximum notary fee of $10 per notarized signature.  Dunedin mobile notary also assigns travel fees for its services.
*The signature of the signer
*A right thumb print of the signer(s) and any witnesses used if applicable
*Complete the notarial certificate: The notary will fill out the state and county in which the document was notarized, the date of the notarization, the notary’s name and title, and the signer’s name. The notary will then sign the certificate, affix their notary seal and in the case of a jurat, the notary will administer an oath or affirmation.

Yes.  As we are a traveling Notary service, it is important to schedule to ensure a Notary is available.  You can see all of our available appointments and book online HERE.

Listed Below are the acceptable forms of Identification that must be available on arrival for your Notary Appointment.  We cannot make any exceptions to this legal requirement.

1.)  A Florida identification card or driver’s license issued by the public agency authorized to issue drivers licenses.

2.)  A passport issued by the Department of State of the United States

3.)  A passport issued by a foreign government if the document is stamped by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services

4.)  A driver’s license or an identification card issued by a public agency authorized to issue driver’s licenses in a state other than Florida, a territory of the United States, or Canada, or Mexico

5.)  An identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States

6.)  An inmate identification card issued on or after January 1, 1991, by the Florida Department of Corrections for an inmate who is in the custody of the department

7.)  An inmate identification card issued by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, for an inmate who is in the custody of the department

8.)  A sworn, written statement from a sworn law enforcement officer that the forms of identification for an inmate in an institution of confinement were confiscated upon confinement and that the person named in the document is the person whose signature is to be notarized.

9.)  An identification card issued by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Whenever one of the above types of identifications are unavailable, Florida law allows for the use of a “Credible Witness” statement.

The “Credible Witness” alternative requires the sworn, written statement of one witness who is personally known to the notary, OR two witnesses who can provide identification, and who can answer positively that the person appearing before the notary is the person described in and who is executing the document.  Note:  The Witness(es) cannot have a financial or beneficial interest in the document.

Yes, you must personally appear before the notary to verify your identity. Although some states are starting to allow remote webcam notarization, Florida has not yet adopted this technology.  A personal appearance is step one of the five-step notarization process and is an essential role in fighting fraud.  A Dunedin Mobile Notary provides convenience to their clients by traveling to their location for this personal appearance, saving them the time and hassle of having to drive elsewhere.  The personal appearance is required by Florida Law.

-The document(s) you would like notarized.

-All persons that need to sign the document.  This is a very important piece of the notarization process.  If all of the individuals are not available, the appointment will be cancelled, and a fee of $15.00 will be charged.

-Valid IDs for all document signers or two credible witnesses who possess proper identification.  See frequently asked question above “What type of Identification can I use?”

We most all types of documents.  Some of the most common documents are:  Powers of Attorney, Wills, Trusts, Deeds, Sworn Statements, Affidavits, Parental Consent Forms, VIN Verifications, and more.  If you have a question as to the document type you need notarized, please contact us at:  727-222-3557 or our CONTACT US page.

*Please note, we CANNOT prepare any of the above documents, and can only provide Notarial services under Florida Law.  We are not attorneys and cannot give advice on them.

Yes!  You can schedule your weekend appointment, pending availability.  Check our Schedule of Open Appointments HERE.

First, Congratulations!  We would be honored to seal your marriage!  Please click HERE to schedule.

Since we work out of the home, we do not presently offer a physical location to visit. The address used within the website and documents are for written correspondence and mailing purposes only. Our service is by appointment only.  If you would prefer to have your Notarization done from your own home, we offer REMOTE ONLINE NOTARIZATION!

Most Notarizations can be completed in under 30 minutes!  This can vary, though if, for instance you have multiple documents to sign.  Additionally, waiting time (charged) for the arrival of witnesses or signators at a designated appointment time.  Loan closings typically take 60-90 minutes.

Our fees are very competitive for our area!  Please see our FEE SCHEDULE.

The best way to get an appointment, is to BOOK ONLINE.  If you would prefer to schedule by phone, or have questions, please contact

No, a notary cannot give any legal advice. This would be considered the unauthorized practice of law and is strictly forbidden.  The unauthorized practice of law includes

-Instructing a signer which notary certificate to attach to their documents.

-Filling out or preparing documents.

-Giving advice or opinion on the contents of a document, including loan terms, interest rates, etc.

No, a notarization does not make a document true/legal.  Notarization is not intended to certify whether a document is legal.  The purpose of notarization is to identify the signer of a document, administer oaths and affirmations to the truthfullness of a document, and ensure that the signer is doing so knowingly and willingly.

No, a Florida Notary Public cannot prepare documents.  This is considered the unauthorized practice of law and is strictly prohibited.  You should always have your legal documents prepared by a qualified attorney before meeting with a mobile notary to ensure that your appointment goes as smoothly as possible.

A notary certificate is a certificate whereby the notary certifies the capacity and in performance of what act and in what way he has notarized the document in question.

When performing notarizations, part of the job as a Notary Public is to ALWAYS complete the notarial certificate. The notarial certificate is the wording, usually at the end of a document, which identifies the steps a notary public has performed in witnessing a signature.

Please Note:  Dunedin Mobile Notary CANNOT provide you with a Notarial Certificate, but also cannot complete your Notarization without it.  We can provide the proper Notarial Certificate if your document does not have one, but you must ask the originator of the document which they would prefer.

For more information about NOTARIAL CERTIFICATES, please Read about them Here.