Signers sometimes arrive at a notarization appointment without a valid driver’s license or passport. When a lease, loan document or affidavit needs to be executed by a fixed deadline, the lack of acceptable identification can create uncertainty about whether the notarization can proceed.
This raises an important question: can you get notarized without ID in Florida? Florida law allows it, but only under specific conditions. An expired ID may still be acceptable if it was issued within the past five years. Signers who have no acceptable identification must rely on one of two alternatives recognized under state law.
Can a Notary Notarize Without ID in Florida?
A Florida notary may proceed without a photo ID in two specific circumstances. The requirements for being notarized without ID Florida signers must meet are outlined in Section 117.05 of the Florida Statutes. Under this law, a notary must either personally know the signer or obtain satisfactory evidence of identity.
Satisfactory evidence generally involves presenting an approved identification document. When the signer has no acceptable ID, sworn statements from credible witnesses may be used to establish identity.
| Situation | Can the notary proceed? |
| Notary personally knows the signer | Yes, recorded as “personally known” |
| One credible witness known to the notary | Yes, with a sworn written statement |
| Two credible witnesses with valid ID | Yes, with sworn written statements |
| ID left at home or in a vehicle | Not through credible witnesses solely because the ID was forgotten |
| Photo of a license on a mobile phone | No, not as a substitute for presenting the ID |
| Social Security card or birth certificate alone | No |
Florida’s Strict Identity Verification Requirements
A notarial certificate helps assure banks, courts and county clerks that the correct individual signed the document. Since this assurance depends on reliable identification, Florida maintains strict requirements for establishing identity through alternative methods. Personal knowledge, for example, requires familiarity developed through previous interactions that establish the signer’s identity with reasonable certainty. Simply knowing someone casually may not be sufficient. Likewise, a Social Security card, birth certificate or credit card does not meet the statutory identification requirements.
For signers without acceptable identification, credible witnesses may therefore be the most practical option. Remote online notarization is not necessarily an easier alternative, as online notaries must follow separate identity verification requirements.
Credible Witness Requirements Under Florida Law
A credible witness provides a sworn written statement confirming the identity of the person named in the document. Florida law establishes specific requirements for the number of witnesses and the information their statements must contain.
Number of Credible Witnesses Required in Florida
One credible witness is sufficient when that person is personally known to the notary. If the notary does not personally know the witness, two credible witnesses are required, and both must provide acceptable identification. For an in-person notarization, the witnesses must also appear before the notary.
Required Information in a Credible Witness Statement
Each credible witness must sign a statement under oath confirming that:
- The signer is the person named in the document
- The witness personally knows the signer
- Obtaining another acceptable form of identification would be very difficult or impossible for the signer
- The witness reasonably believes the signer does not possess any identification on Florida’s approved list
- The witness has no financial interest in the transaction and is not a party to it
The final requirement helps maintain impartiality by ensuring that an impartial witness has no financial interest in the transaction and does not stand to benefit from the notarization.
The fourth requirement is also important. Someone who has simply left an ID at home does not qualify for the credible witness option on that basis alone. This alternative is intended for signers who genuinely lack acceptable identification, such as an elderly parent whose documents were issued more than five years ago and are no longer current.
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Legal Consequences of Improper Identity Verification
A notarization completed without proper identity verification may later be challenged, potentially affecting the underlying lease, loan or affidavit. Florida also requires the notarial certificate to identify how the signer’s identity was established. Recording inaccurate information can expose the notary to penalties, commission suspension and potential civil liability.
Preparing for Notarization Without Acceptable ID
Offices that regularly provide Florida notary services understand the credible witness requirements and can help signers determine what they need before an appointment. Depending on the circumstances, preparation may involve:
- Checking for a passport or military ID that may be stored at home
- Bringing an expired ID that was issued within the past five years
- Arranging for two adults who personally know the signer and have acceptable identification, if the credible witness requirements are met
- Bringing the completed document and leaving it unsigned until the notary is present
Notarization Assistance From Notary Plus More
Notary serves clients from its Boca Raton office and surrounding communities, including Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach and Coral Springs. The team reviews identification requirements before appointments, assists with the credible witness process when permitted under Florida law and ensures the method used to establish identity is accurately recorded on the notarial certificate. The office also offers Florida fingerprinting services, allowing business owners to address certain licensing or hiring requirements during the same visit.
Final Considerations
Florida allows notarization without an identification card when the notary personally knows the signer or qualified credible witnesses provide sworn written statements establishing the signer’s identity. However, informal substitutes, such as a phone photo of a license, do not meet the statutory identification requirements.
Contacting the notary before an appointment can help prevent unnecessary delays. Notary Plus More can explain the available identification options and help signers prepare the necessary documents for a properly completed notarization.
