Information
About notaries
A quick guide to what notaries do—and where to find official rules in each state. This page is educational, not legal advice.
What a notary public does
A notary public is a state-appointed official who serves as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. Typical duties include verifying identity, confirming willingness to sign, and applying a notarial certificate and seal where the law allows.
A notary does not prepare legal documents, explain their meaning, or tell you which forms to use—that is the practice of law. If you need legal guidance, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Remote vs. mobile notary
- Remote Online Notarization (RON) — signing and notarization occur online using approved identity proofing and audio-video technology, where your state allows it.
- Mobile notary — the notary travels to you for an in-person signing. Taylor's Notary Service provides mobile service in Southwest Florida.
Our commission
Taylor's Notary Service is commissioned in Florida. Services performed for you follow Florida law and any applicable rules for the state where the notarial act occurs.
National resources
Notary laws by state
Laws and fees vary by state. Use your Secretary of State (or official notary program) as the source of truth. Links below point to common official pages; if one has moved, search your state's notary program.
- Alabama (AL)
- Alaska (AK)
- Arizona (AZ)
- Arkansas (AR)
- California (CA)
- Colorado (CO)
- Connecticut (CT)
- Delaware (DE)
- District of Columbia (DC)
- Florida (FL)
- Georgia (GA)
- Hawaii (HI)
- Idaho (ID)
- Illinois (IL)
- Indiana (IN)
- Iowa (IA)
- Kansas (KS)
- Kentucky (KY)
- Louisiana (LA)
- Maine (ME)
- Maryland (MD)
- Massachusetts (MA)
- Michigan (MI)
- Minnesota (MN)
- Mississippi (MS)
- Missouri (MO)
- Montana (MT)
- Nebraska (NE)
- Nevada (NV)
- New Hampshire (NH)
- New Jersey (NJ)
- New Mexico (NM)
- New York (NY)
- North Carolina (NC)
- North Dakota (ND)
- Ohio (OH)
- Oklahoma (OK)
- Oregon (OR)
- Pennsylvania (PA)
- Rhode Island (RI)
- South Carolina (SC)
- South Dakota (SD)
- Tennessee (TN)
- Texas (TX)
- Utah (UT)
- Vermont (VT)
- Virginia (VA)
- Washington (WA)
- West Virginia (WV)
- Wisconsin (WI)
- Wyoming (WY)
This page is general information only. It is not legal advice and does not cover every rule that may apply to your document or situation.