Notary Introduction

About Us: Two State Notary Sections at Your Service

Florida notaries public are served by two offices – the Notary Section of the Executive Office of the Governor, and the Notary Commissions and Certificates Section within the Department of State. Both offices are involved with the appointment of notaries public, but each performs distinct functions.

The Notary Section of the Executive Office of the Governor is housed within the Office of the General Counsel because Florida notaries are public officers appointed and commissioned by the Governor. The Office of the General Counsel oversees investigations by the Notary Section based upon complaints of notary misconduct reported by the public, and recommends disciplinary action to be taken when appropriate.

The primary function of the Notary Section of the Executive Office of the Governor is to provide educational materials and assistance to Florida notaries public. Our dedicated staff responds to telephone and email inquiries from notaries and members of the public, and we welcome you to contact us if you have any notary-related questions. The Notary Section also assists the Governor by evaluating “special review” applications related to an applicant’s eligibility for appointment.

The Notary Commissions and Certifications Section of the Department of State, on the other hand, has a strictly ministerial function in receiving and processing applications, and responding to requests for commissions and certificates. The Notary Commissions and Certifications Section also maintains the online Notary Education Course, which is an online educational tool offered free-of-charge, and preserves records of actively commissioned Florida notaries public in its computer database, called Notary Search. You may access the Notary Search database by clicking on this link to search for information on commissioned notaries public in the State of Florida.

Now that you know what these offices can do for you, please feel free to explore this website of the Notary Section of the Executive Office of the Governor!