1. Request identification of each person whose signature you are to notarize. Proper identification is necessary since legal consequences of an error are severe.
   Good forms of identification:
   • Personal Acquaintances
   • Drivers License
   • Passport
   • An identification card issued by a state or branch of the federal government.
2. A notary public must specify in his certificate of acknowledgment what type of identification was relied upon, and whether of not an oath was taken.
3. When notarizing a document, be sure you have completed the State, County, and Date before acknowledging and placing your seal thereon.
4. A Notary Public may not notarize a Signature on a Document if:
   • The person whose signature is being notarized is not in the presence of the Notary Public at the time the signature is notarized.
   • The document is incomplete.
   • The person signing the document has been adjudicated incompetent and the Notary knows or has reason to know that the person has been adjudicated mentally incompetent.
   • The Notary is out of the State of Florida.
   • The Notary is party to the transaction.
5. A notary public must specify in his certificate when two of more signatures are to be notorized which signature is being notarized and that the signer personally appeared before the notary at the time of notarization. It will be presumed that absent of such specifics, notarization by the Notary Public, is for all signatures.