Florida RON Law — §117.201–.305

Florida authorized Remote Online Notarization on January 1, 2020 through Part II of Chapter 117, Florida Statutes (§§117.201–117.305). The core idea: a Florida online notary may notarize for a signer located ANYWHERE in the world using two-way audio-video technology, as long as the notary is physically in Florida at the time of the act. Key definitions you must know cold (§117.201): • "Online notarization" — an electronic notarization performed using audio-video communication technology. • "Remote Online Notarization service provider (RONSP)" — the technology platform (like NotaryChain) meeting Florida's standards. • "Credential analysis" — automated third-party validation of a government-issued ID. • "Identity proofing" — confirming identity via KBA or other approved means. • "Errors & omissions (E&O)" — online notaries must carry a $25,000 E&O policy AND a $25,000 surety bond specific to online acts. The notary's commission itself doesn't change — RON registration is an ADD-ON to an active Florida notary commission.

Florida is one of the most permissive RON states — but there are bright lines: ALLOWED remotely: acknowledgments, jurats (oaths/affirmations), attestations, and — uniquely in Florida — electronic wills and other testamentary instruments (with special supervised-witnessing rules under §117.285). RESTRICTED: a "vulnerable adult" (as defined in §415.102) may NOT have testamentary documents remotely notarized — witnesses must be physically present. The notary must ASK the statutory vulnerable-adult questions before proceeding with wills, trusts, health care advance directives, waivers of spousal rights, and powers of attorney. LOCATION RULES: the notary must be physically within Florida. The SIGNER may be anywhere — another state or another country — but for out-of-country signers the document must relate to a matter before a U.S. court/agency or involve U.S. property/transactions (§117.209(4)). FEES: up to $25 per online notarial act (versus $10 in person) — plus platform and service charges if disclosed.