Policy Title: Public Notary Service
The St. Johns County Public Library System offers Public Notary Service to Library patrons seeking basic notary services. The purpose of this service is to provide Library patrons access to a Notary Public commissioned and bonded by the State of Florida.
Notary Availability:
Notary service is offered at select library locations. Patrons are encouraged to contact their preferred location in advance to confirm that a Library Notary will be available at the time of their visit. Notary services are offered during regular business hours and are subject to staff availability. Library Notaries cannot leave County property to perform notary services.
Notary Fees:
The fee for notary service will be assessed for each item notarized, according to the Library’s most current Fines and Fees Schedule. Payment is due at the time of notarization. Patrons that do not have a library card must pay in cash only.
Patron Responsibility:
The patron is responsible for providing all unsigned documents to be notarized. Documents requiring notary services must be signed in the presence of the Library Notary. If the documents brought to be notarized have been signed beforehand, notary services will be denied.
Valid photo identification is required and must be presented to the Library Notary by the patron requesting notary service. Examples of valid photo ID are: state issued driver’s license or ID card, passport, military ID, etc. (As defined in Section 117.05(4), subparagraph 2 of the FL Statutes.)
The Library will not arrange for, or provide witnesses; this is the responsibility of the patron. Witnesses must personally know the person whose document is being notarized and must have valid identification in their possession. (As defined in Section 117.05(4), subparagraph 2 of the FL Statutes.)
Guidelines:
Library Notary Service is for simple documents.
Library Notaries will not take the acknowledgement of a person who does not speak or understand the English language, unless the nature and effect of the instrument to be notarized is translated into a language that the person does understand. The notarial certificate is to be completed in the English language. (As defined in Section 117.107(6) of the FL Statutes.)
Library Notaries will not provide service if the customer, document, or circumstances of the request for notary service raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt, or uncertainty. In this event, the Library Notary may, at his/her sole discretion, decline to provide notary service.
Library Notaries do not offer legal advice.
Library Notaries reserve the right to decline notary services at his/her sole discretion. The documents that may not be notarized by Library Notaries are not limited to those identified here, and additional document types may be restricted. The Library does not provide notary services for the following documents*:
- Documents written in any language other than English
- I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Forms
- Power of Attorney
- Mortgage Documents
- Deeds
- Wills
- Living Wills
- Living Trusts
- Last Wills and Testaments
- Codicils
- Depositions
- Marriage Licenses
- Divorce Documents
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Notarial or Apostille Certifications
- Documents via electronic notarization
- Any document that appears incomplete
*These documents require legal expertise, and it is recommended that guidance be sought through an attorney’s office. (As defined in Section 117.01(4)(f) of the FL Statutes.)
Approved by LAB: 7/9/2014
Approved by BCC: 10/21/2014
Approved by LAB: 1/14/2026
Approved by BCC: 2/17/2026