RECORD OF CONVEYANCES OF REAL ESTATE

F.S. Ch. 695

in effect

F.S. 695.01 Conveyances and liens to be recorded.

(1) No conveyance, transfer, or mortgage of real property, or of any interest therein, nor any lease for a term of 1 year or longer, shall be good and effectual in law or equity against creditors or subsequent purchasers for a valuable consideration and without notice, unless the same be recorded according to law; nor shall any such instrument made or executed by virtue of any power of attorney be good or effectual in law or in equity against creditors or subsequent purchasers for a valuable consideration and without notice unless the power of attorney be recorded before the accruing of the right of such creditor or subsequent purchaser. (2) Grantees by quitclaim, heretofore or hereafter made, shall be deemed and held to be bona fide purchasers without notice within the meaning of the recording acts. (3) A lien by a governmental entity or quasi-governmental entity that attaches to real property for an improvement, service, fine, or penalty, other than a lien for taxes, non-ad valorem or special assessments, or utilities, is valid and effectual in law or equity against creditors or subsequent purchasers for a valuable consideration only if the lien is recorded in the official records of the county in which the property is located. The recorded notice of lien must contain the name of the owner of record, a description or address of the property, and the tax or parcel identification number applicable to the property as of the date of recording.

F.S. 695.02 Blank or master form of instruments may be recorded.

(1) Any person may have a blank or master form of mortgage or other instrument conveying, transferring or reserving an interest in, or creating a lien on, real or personal property, filed, indexed and recorded in the office of the clerk of the circuit court. (2) When any such blank or master form is filed with the clerk of the circuit court, she or he shall record and index the same in the manner provided by law for recording and indexing mortgages and such other instruments respectively, except that the name of the person whose name appears on such blank or master form shall be inserted in the indexes as grantor and also as grantee. (3) When any instrument conveying, transferring or reserving an interest in, or creating a lien on, real or personal property, incorporates by reference the provisions, terms, covenants, conditions, obligations, powers and other contents, or any of them, set forth in any such recorded blank or master form, such incorporation by reference, for all purposes, shall be equivalent to setting forth in extenso in such instrument that which is incorporated by reference.

F.S. 695.03 Acknowledgment and proof; validation of certain acknowledgments; legalization or authentication before foreign officials.

To entitle any instrument concerning real property to be recorded, the execution must be acknowledged by the party executing it, proved by a subscribing witness to it, or legalized or authenticated in one of the following forms: (1) WITHIN THIS STATE. — An acknowledgment or a proof may be taken, administered, or made within this state by or before a judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court; a United States commissioner or magistrate; or any notary public or civil-law notary of this state, and the certificate of acknowledgment or proof must be under the seal of the court or officer, as the case may be. (2) OUTSIDE THIS STATE BUT WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. — An acknowledgment or a proof taken, administered, or made outside of this state but within the United States may be taken, administered, or made by or before a civil-law notary of this state or a commissioner of deeds appointed by the Secretary of State; by or before a judge or clerk of any court of the United States or of any state, territory, or district; by or before a United States commissioner or magistrate; or by or before any notary public, justice of the peace, master in chancery, or registrar or recorder of deeds of any state, territory, or district having a seal, and the certificate of acknowledgment or proof must be under the seal of the court or officer, as the case may be. If the acknowledgment or proof is taken, administered, or made by or before a notary public who does not affix a seal, it is sufficient for the notary public to type, print, or write by hand on the instrument, “I am a Notary Public of the State of (state) , and my commission expires on (date) .” (3) OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OR WITHIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. — An acknowledgment, an affidavit, an oath, a legalization, an authentication, or a proof taken, administered, or made outside the United States or in a foreign country may be taken, administered, or made by or before a commissioner of deeds appointed by the Secretary of State to act in such country; by or before a notary public of such foreign country or a civil-law notary of this state or of such foreign country who has an official seal; by or before an ambassador, envoy extraordinary, minister plenipotentiary, minister, commissioner, charge d’affaires, consul general, consul, vice consul, consular agent, or other diplomatic or consular officer of the United States appointed to reside in such country; or by or before a military or naval officer authorized by 10 U.S.C. s. 1044a to perform the duties of notary public, and the certificate of acknowledgment, legalization, authentication, or proof must be under the seal of the officer. A certificate legalizing or authenticating the signature of a person executing an instrument concerning real property and to which a civil-law notary or notary public of that country has affixed her or his official seal is sufficient as an acknowledgment. For the purposes of this section, the term “civil-law notary” means a civil-law notary as defined in chapter 118 or an official of a foreign country who has an official seal and who is authorized to make legal or lawful the execution of any document in that jurisdiction, in which jurisdiction the affixing of her or his official seal is deemed proof of the execution of the document or deed in full compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction. (4) COMPLIANCE AND VALIDATION. — The affixing of the official seal or the electronic equivalent thereof under s. 117.021 or other applicable law, including part II of chapter 117, conclusively establishes that the acknowledgment or proof was taken, administered, or made in full compliance with the laws of this state or, as applicable, the laws of the other state, or of the foreign country governing notarial acts. All affidavits, oaths, acknowledgments, legalizations, authentications, or proofs taken, administered, or made in any manner as set forth in subsections (1), (2), and (3) are validated and upon recording may not be denied to have provided constructive notice based on any alleged failure to have strictly complied with this section, as currently or previously in effect, or the laws governing notarization of instruments. This subsection does not preclude a challenge to the validity or enforceability of an instrument or electronic record based upon fraud, forgery, impersonation, duress, incapacity, undue influence, minority, illegality, unconscionability, or any other basis not related to the notarial act or constructive notice provided by recording.

F.S. 695.04 Requirements of certificate.

The certificate of the officer before whom the acknowledgment or proof is taken, except for a certificate legalizing or authenticating the signature of a person executing an instrument concerning real property pursuant to s. 695.03(3), shall contain and set forth substantially the matter required to be done or proved to make such acknowledgment or proof effectual as set forth in s. 117.05.

F.S. 695.05 Certain defects cured as to acknowledgments and witnesses.

All deeds, conveyances, bills of sale, mortgages or other transfers of real or personal property within the limits of this state, heretofore or hereafter made and received bona fide and upon good consideration by any corporation, and acknowledged for record before some officer, stockholder or other person interested in the corporation, grantee, or mortgagee as a notary public or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments of instruments for record within this state, shall be held, deemed and taken as valid as if acknowledged by the proper notary public or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments of instruments for record in this state not so interested in said corporation, grantee or mortgagee; and said instrument whenever recorded shall be deemed notice to all persons; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any instrument heretofore made, the validity of which shall be contested by suit commenced within 1 year of the effective date of this law.

F.S. 695.06 Certain irregularities as to venue validated.

Whenever, in the acknowledgment to any deed or other instrument relating to real estate, heretofore recorded in this state, it shall appear, either from the recitals in such acknowledgment, or following the signature of the officer taking the same, or from the seal of such officer that the said acknowledgment was not taken, or may not have been taken, in the place as stated in the caption or venue thereof, said deed or other instrument shall, notwithstanding such irregularity or defect, be deemed and taken as properly acknowledged and of record.

F.S. 695.07 Use of scrawl as seal.

A scrawl or scroll, printed or written, affixed as a seal to any written instrument shall be as effectual as a seal.

F.S. 695.08 Prior use of scrawl as seal.

All written instruments heretofore or hereafter made with a scrawl or scroll, printed or written, affixed as a seal are declared to be sealed instruments, and shall be construed and received in evidence as such in all the courts of this state.

F.S. 695.09 Identity of grantor.

No acknowledgment or proof shall be taken, except as set forth in s. 695.03(3), by any officer within or without the United States unless the officer knows, or has satisfactory proof, that the person making the acknowledgment is the individual described in, and who executed, such instrument or that the person offering to make proof is one of the subscribing witnesses to such instrument.

F.S. 695.10 Proof by others.

Where the grantors and witnesses of any instrument which may be recorded are dead, or cannot be had, the judge of the circuit court, or the county court judge for the county wherein the real property is situated, may take the examination of any competent witness or witnesses, on oath, to prove the handwriting of the witness or witnesses, or where such proof cannot be had, then to prove the handwriting of the grantor or grantors, which shall be certified by the judge, and the instrument being thus proved may be recorded.

F.S. 695.11 Instruments deemed to be recorded from time of filing.

All instruments which are authorized or required to be recorded in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of any county in the State of Florida, and which are to be recorded in the “Official Records” as provided for under s. 28.222, and which are filed for recording on or after the effective date of this act, shall be deemed to have been officially accepted by the said officer, and officially recorded, at the time she or he affixed thereon the consecutive official register numbers required under s. 28.222, and at such time shall be notice to all persons. The sequence of such official numbers shall determine the priority of recordation. An instrument bearing the lower number in the then-current series of numbers shall have priority over any instrument bearing a higher number in the same series.

F.S. 695.12 Imperfect record.

Whenever any instrument authorized or required by law to be recorded in any county either has been or may be so imperfectly or erroneously recorded as to require a new record thereof, if the officer who so recorded the same be still in office, she or he shall, upon demand of the owner of such instrument, or person controlling the same, record it anew free of any charge or fee than the fee allowed by law for one perfect record thereof.

F.S. 695.13 Want of certificate of record.

Whenever any instrument authorized or required by law to be recorded shall appear to be recorded in the appropriate record book in the proper office, whether the record shall be in the handwriting of the officer whose duty it was to record such instrument, or in the handwriting of any other person, the record shall be presumed to have been made by the officer whose duty it was to make it, and the absence of a certificate of such officer that such instrument was recorded by her or him shall in no wise affect the validity of the record.

F.S. 695.14 Unsigned certificate of record.

Whenever any unsigned certificate on such record of the instruments mentioned in s. 695.13 shall contain the date of filing or of recording such instrument, it shall be prima facie evidence of the time of filing or of recording such instrument.

F.S. 695.015 Conveyances by law between governmental agencies, recording.

All laws which purport to convey title to real property from one governmental agency or political subdivision to another shall be recorded in the public records of the county or counties in which the property is located, and such laws shall contain a provision requiring such recording.

F.S. 695.15 Recording conveyances lost by fire.

Whenever the record in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of any county in this state of any deed, conveyance, contract, mortgage, deed of trust, map or plat or other instrument in writing affecting real estate in such county has been heretofore destroyed by fire, any such instrument, or a copy thereof from such former record duly certified, may be rerecorded in such county, and in rerecording the same the officer shall record the certificate of the previous record, and the date of filing for record appearing in said original certificate so recorded shall be deemed and taken as the date of the record thereof. And copies of such record so authorized to be made hereunder, duly certified by said officer, under the seal of said court, shall be received in evidence under the same circumstances and conditions under which a certified copy of the original record would be so received, and shall have the same force and effect as a certified copy of the original record.

F.S. 695.16 When mortgage or lien is destroyed.

Whenever any mortgage or other lien required by law to be recorded, to be good and effectual against creditors or subsequent purchasers for a valuable consideration and without notice, has been heretofore recorded, and the record thereof has been destroyed by fire prior to May 30, 1901, such mortgage or other lien or a certified copy thereof, as aforesaid, shall be rerecorded within 9 months from said date, or such mortgage or other lien shall not be good or effectual in law or equity against a creditor or subsequent purchaser for valuable consideration and without notice; provided, however, that if the original instrument of mortgage or other lien has been lost or destroyed, the foregoing provision of this section shall not apply thereto, but such mortgage or other lien shall not be good or effectual in law or equity against creditors, or subsequent purchasers for a valuable consideration and without notice, unless legal proceedings to reestablish the same were begun in the proper court prior to March 3, 1902.

F.S. 695.17 United States deeds and patents may be recorded.

Deeds and patents issued by the United States Government and photographic copies made by authority of said government from its records thereof in the general land office, embracing lands within the state, shall be admitted to record in this state in the county or counties where the land lies, when presented to the clerk of the court of the county where same is to be recorded, and when said deeds, patents or photographic copies shall appear to her or him to be genuine.

F.S. 695.18 Indorsement by clerk.

Upon recording said deed, patent or certified copy, the clerk of the court shall indorse thereon and also upon the record made by her or him the following: “This deed and patent (or certified copy as the case may be) having been presented to me on the day of for record, and same appearing to me to be genuine and to have been made and issued by the authority of the United States Government, I have duly recorded same in on page of the public records of my office. Witness my hand and official seal at Florida, this day of . (Clerk) ”

F.S. 695.19 Certified copies of recorded instruments may be recorded.

Certified copies of deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney and all other instruments of any kind which have been or may hereafter be duly recorded or filed among the public records of any county in this state may be recorded or rerecorded among the public records of any other county in this state as fully and in the same manner and with like effect as if such certified copy were the original instrument.

F.S. 695.20 Unperformed contracts of record.

Whenever anyone shall have contracted to purchase real estate in the state, prior to January 1, 1930, by written agreement requiring all payments to be made within 10 years from the date of the contract, or has accepted an assignment of such an agreement, and the fact of the existence of such a contract of purchase, or assignment, appears of record from the instrument itself or by reference in some other recorded instrument, and shall not have obtained and placed of record a deed to the property or a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction recognizing her or his rights thereunto, and is not in actual possession of the property covered by the contract or by the assignment, as defined in 1 s. 95.17, she or he, her or his surviving spouse, heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns, shall have no further interest in the property described in the contract, or the assignment, by virtue thereof, and the record of such contract, assignment or other record reference thereto, shall no longer constitute either actual or constructive notice to a purchaser, mortgagee, or other person acquiring an interest in the property, unless within 6 months after this law shall take effect, (approved April 26, 1941) she or he or someone claiming under her or him shall: (1) Place on record a deed or other conveyance of the property from the holder of the record title; or (2) Place on record a written instrument executed by the holder of the record title evidencing an extension or modification of the original contract and showing that the original contract remains in force and effect; or (3) Institute, or have pending, in a court of competent jurisdiction a suit for the enforcement of her or his rights under such contract.

F.S. 695.22 Daily schedule of deeds and conveyances filed for record to be furnished property appraiser.

After October 1, 1945, the several county recorders must keep and furnish to the respective county property appraisers in the counties where such instruments are recorded a daily schedule of the aforesaid deeds and conveyances so filed for recordation, in which schedule must be set forth the name of the grantor or grantors, the names and addresses of each grantee, and a description of the land as specified in each instrument so filed. The daily schedule must include notification of any information therein which is subject to a request for removal on file with the county recorder.

F.S. 695.25 Short form of acknowledgment.

The forms of acknowledgment set forth in this section may be used, and are sufficient for their respective purposes, under any law of this state. The forms shall be known as “Statutory Short Forms of Acknowledgment” and may be referred to by that name. The authorization of the forms in this section does not preclude the use of other forms. (1) For an individual acting in his or her own right: STATE OF COUNTY OF The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this (date) by (name of person acknowledging) , who is personally known to me or who has produced (type of identification) as identification. (Signature of person taking acknowledgment) (Name typed, printed or stamped) (Title or rank) (Serial number, if any) (2) For a corporation: STATE OF COUNTY OF The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this (date) by (name of officer or agent, title of officer or agent) of (name of corporation acknowledging) , a (state or place of incorporation) corporation, on behalf of the corporation. He/she is personally known to me or has produced (type of identification) as identification. (Signature of person taking acknowledgment) (Name typed, printed or stamped) (Title or rank) (Serial number, if any) (3) For a limited liability company: STATE OF COUNTY OF The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this (date) by (name of member, manager, officer or agent, title of member, manager, officer or agent) , of (name of company acknowledging) , a (state or place of formation) limited liability company, on behalf of the company, who is personally known to me or has produced (type of identification) as identification. (Signature of person taking acknowledgment) (Name typed, printed or stamped) (Title or rank) (Serial number, if any) (4) For a partnership: STATE OF COUNTY OF The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this (date) by (name of acknowledging partner or agent) , partner (or agent) on behalf of (name of partnership) , a partnership. He/she is personally known to me or has produced (type of identification) as identification. (Signature of person taking acknowledgment) (Name typed, printed or stamped) (Title or rank) (Serial number, if any) (5) For an individual acting as principal by an attorney in fact: STATE OF COUNTY OF The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this (date) by (name of attorney in fact) as attorney in fact, who is personally known to me or who has produced (type of identification) as identification on behalf of (name of principal) . (Signature of person taking acknowledgment) (Name typed, printed or stamped) (Title or rank) (Serial number, if any) (6) By any public officer, trustee, or personal representative: STATE OF COUNTY OF The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this (date) by (name and title of position) , who is personally known to me or who has produced (type of identification) as identification. (Signature of person taking acknowledgment) (Name typed, printed or stamped) (Title or rank) (Serial number, if any)

F.S. 695.26 Requirements for recording instruments affecting real property.

(1) No instrument by which the title to real property or any interest therein is conveyed, assigned, encumbered, or otherwise disposed of shall be recorded by the clerk of the circuit court unless: (a) The name of each person who executed such instrument is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument immediately beneath the signature of such person and the post-office address of each such person is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument; (b) The name and post-office address of the natural person who prepared the instrument or under whose supervision it was prepared are legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument; (c) The name of each witness to the instrument is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument immediately beneath the signature of such witness and the post office address of each such person is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument; (d) The name of any notary public or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments or proofs whose signature appears upon the instrument is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument immediately beneath the signature of such notary public or other officer authorized to take acknowledgment or proofs; (e) A 3-inch by 3-inch space at the top right-hand corner on the first page and a 1-inch by 3-inch space at the top right-hand corner on each subsequent page are reserved for use by the clerk of the court; and (f) In any instrument other than a mortgage conveying or purporting to convey any interest in real property, the name and post-office address of each grantee in such instrument are legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument. (2) If a name or address is printed, typewritten, or stamped on an instrument in a position other than the position required by subsection (1), the clerk of the circuit court may, in her or his discretion, accept the instrument for recordation if she or he determines that the connection between the signature and the name or the name and the address is apparent. (3) This section does not apply to: (a) An instrument executed before July 1, 1991. (b) A decree, order, judgment, or writ of any court. (c) An instrument executed, acknowledged, or proved outside of this state. (d) A will. (e) A plat. (f) An instrument prepared or executed by any public officer other than a notary public. (4) The failure of the clerk of the circuit court to comply with this section does not impair the validity of the recordation or of the constructive notice imparted by recordation.

F.S. 695.27 Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act.

(1) SHORT TITLE. — This section may be cited as the “Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act.” (2) DEFINITIONS. — As used in this section: (a) “Document” means information that is: 1. Inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form; and 2. Eligible to be recorded in the Official Records, as defined in s. 28.222, and maintained by a county recorder. (b) “Electronic” means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. (c) “Electronic document” means a document that is received by a county recorder in an electronic form. (d) “Electronic signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process that is executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the document and is attached to or logically associated with a document such that, when recorded, it is assigned the same document number or a consecutive page number immediately following such document. (e) “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity. (f) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. (3) VALIDITY OF ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS. — (a) If a law requires, as a condition for recording, that a document be an original, be on paper or another tangible medium, or be in writing, the requirement is satisfied by an electronic document satisfying the requirements of this section. (b) If a law requires, as a condition for recording, that a document be signed, the requirement is satisfied by an electronic signature. (c) A requirement that a document or a signature associated with a document be notarized, acknowledged, verified, witnessed, or made under oath is satisfied if the electronic signature of the person authorized to perform that act, and all other information required to be included, is attached to or logically associated with the document or signature. A physical or electronic image of a stamp, impression, or seal need not accompany an electronic signature. (4) RECORDING OF DOCUMENTS. — (a) In this subsection, the term “paper document” means a document that is received by the county recorder in a form that is not electronic. (b) A county recorder: 1. Who implements any of the functions listed in this section shall do so in compliance with standards established by rule by the Department of State. 2. May receive, index, store, archive, and transmit electronic documents. 3. May provide for access to, and for search and retrieval of, documents and information by electronic means. 4. Who accepts electronic documents for recording shall continue to accept paper documents as authorized by state law and shall place entries for both types of documents in the same index. 5. May convert paper documents accepted for recording into electronic form. 6. May convert into electronic form information recorded before the county recorder began to record electronic documents. 7. May agree with other officials of a state or a political subdivision thereof, or of the United States, on procedures or processes to facilitate the electronic satisfaction of prior approvals and conditions precedent to recording. (5) ADMINISTRATION AND STANDARDS. — The Department of State, by rule pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, shall prescribe standards to implement this section. To keep the standards and practices of county recorders in this state in harmony with the standards and practices of recording offices in other jurisdictions that enact substantially this section and to keep the technology used by county recorders in this state compatible with technology used by recording offices in other jurisdictions that enact substantially this section, the Department of State, so far as is consistent with the purposes, policies, and provisions of this section, in adopting, amending, and repealing standards, shall consider: (a) Standards and practices of other jurisdictions. (b) The most recent standards adopted by national standard-setting bodies, such as the Property Records Industry Association. (c) The views of interested persons and governmental officials and entities. (d) The needs of counties of varying size, population, and resources. (e) Standards requiring adequate information security protection to ensure that electronic documents are accurate, authentic, adequately preserved, and resistant to tampering. (6) UNIFORMITY OF APPLICATION AND CONSTRUCTION. — In applying and construing this section, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. (7) RELATION TO ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES IN GLOBAL AND NATIONAL COMMERCE ACT. — This section modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 7001 et seq., but this section does not modify, limit, or supersede s. 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. s. 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in s. 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. s. 7003(b).

F.S. 695.28 Validity of recorded electronic documents.

(1) A document that is otherwise entitled to be recorded and that was or is submitted to the clerk of the court or county recorder by electronic or other means and accepted for recordation is deemed validly recorded and provides notice to all persons notwithstanding: (a) That the document was received and accepted for recordation before the Department of State adopted standards implementing s. 695.27; (b) Any defects in, deviations from, or the inability to demonstrate strict compliance with any statute, rule, or procedure relating to electronic signatures, electronic witnesses, electronic notarization, or online notarization, or for submitting or recording an electronic document in effect at the time the electronic document was executed or was submitted for recording; (c) That the document was signed, witnessed, or notarized electronically, and that the document was notarized by an online notary public outside the physical presence of the signer through audio-video communication technology, as defined in s. 117.201, or that witnessing may have been done outside the physical presence of the notary public or principal through such audio-visual communication; or (d) That the document recorded was a certified printout of a document to which one or more electronic signatures have been affixed. (2) This section does not alter the duty of the clerk or recorder to comply with s. 28.222, s. 695.27, or any rules adopted pursuant to those sections. (3) This section does not preclude a challenge to the validity or enforceability of an instrument or electronic record based upon fraud, forgery, impersonation, duress, incapacity, undue influence, minority, illegality, unconscionability, or any other basis not in the nature of those matters described in subsection (1).

F.S. 695.031 Affidavits and acknowledgments by members of armed forces and their spouses.

(1) In addition to the manner, form and proof of acknowledgment of instruments as now provided by law, any person serving in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, or any component or any arm or service of any thereof, and any person whose duties require his or her presence with the Armed Forces of the United States, as herein designated, or otherwise designated by law or military or naval command, may acknowledge any instrument, wherever located, either within or without the state, or without the United States, before any commissioned officer in active service of the Armed Forces of the United States, as herein designated, or otherwise designated by law, or military or naval command, or order, with the rank of second lieutenant or higher in the Army, Air Force, Space Force, or Marine Corps, or of any component or any arm or service of any thereof, or ensign or higher in the Navy or United States Coast Guard, or of any component or any arm or service of either thereof. (2) The instrument shall not be rendered invalid by the failure to state therein the place of execution or acknowledgment. No authentication of the officer’s certificate of acknowledgment or otherwise shall be required, and no seal shall be necessary, but the officer taking the acknowledgment shall endorse thereon or attach thereto a certificate substantially in the following form: On this day of , (year) , before me , the undersigned officer, personally appeared , known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be serving in or with, or whose duties require her or his presence with the Armed Forces of the United States, and to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged that she or he executed the same for the purposes therein contained, and the undersigned does further certify that she or he is at the date of this certificate a commissioned officer of the rank stated below and is in the active service of the Armed Forces of the United States. (Signature of commissioned officer) (Rank of commissioned officer and command or branch of service to which officer is attached) (3) Such acknowledgments by a married woman, who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, shall be sufficient in all respects to bar the dower, homestead rights or separate property rights of such married woman in any real estate described in the instrument thus acknowledged by her, as fully and completely as though such married woman had acknowledged such instrument as now required by other statutes. (4) An acknowledgment by the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be sufficient in all respects if it is acknowledged in the manner and form herein provided and shall have the same force and effect as though the instrument had been acknowledged as now required by other statutes and such acknowledgment by a married woman who is a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be sufficient in all respects to bar the dower, homestead rights or separate property rights of such married woman in any real estate described in the instrument thus acknowledged by her as fully and completely as though such married woman had acknowledged such instrument as now required by other statutes. (5) Any instrument or document acknowledged in the manner and form herein provided shall be entitled to be recorded and shall be recorded as in the case of other instruments or documents properly acknowledged. (6) This section is to be liberally construed in favor of the validity of any such acknowledgments by any such member of the Armed Forces of the United States and any acknowledgments heretofore taken, containing words of similar import, are hereby confirmed and declared to be valid and binding. This section shall be construed as an enabling act and as an exception to existing laws rather than, inferentially or otherwise, as a repeal of the same or any part of the same.

F.S. 695.032 Provisions not applicable to transactions under chapter 679, Uniform Commercial Code.

Section 695.03 shall not apply to any of the transactions within the scope of chapter 679 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter695/AllFetched: 7/8/2026