Florida HB 1111: Recording of Instruments Conveying Real Property

Bill Text

HB 1111 2026

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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to recording of instruments conveying 2
real property; amending s. 117.021, F.S.; requiring 3
electronic signatures for certain notarial acts to 4
include specified information as a watermark to 5
prevent copying; amending s. 695.26, F.S.; prohibiting 6
the recording of certain instruments without specified 7
identification; defining the term "valid 8
identification document"; authorizing a clerk of the 9
circuit court to return instruments for correction in 10
specified circumstances; requiring such instruments to 11
be returned within a specified timeframe; providing an 12
effective date. 13
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
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Section 1. Subsections (4) through (7) of section 117.021, 17
Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) through (8), 18
respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to that section, 19
to read: 20
117.021 Electronic notarization.— 21
(4) When performing an electronic notarial act under s. 22
695.03, in addition to all other requirements of this section, a 23
notary public shall use an electronic signature that is 24
accompanied by a date, time stamp, and the name of the grantor 25

HB 1111 2026

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and grantee. The date, time stamp, and name of the executing 26
party shall appear as a watermark through the signature to 27
prevent copying the signature to another document. 28
Section 2. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 695.26, 29
Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4) and (5), 30
respectively, subsection (1) is amended, and a new subsection 31
(3) is added to that section, to read: 32
695.26 Requirements for recording instruments affecting 33
real property.— 34
(1) No instrument by which the title to real property or 35
any interest therein is conveyed, assigned, encumbered, or 36
otherwise disposed of shall be recorded by the clerk of the 37
circuit court unless: 38
(a) The name of each person who executed such instrument 39
is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument 40
immediately beneath the signature of such person and the post-41
office address of each such person is legibly printed, 42
typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument; 43
(b) A clear and legible copy of a valid and unredacted 44
identification in the name of each person who executed such 45
instrument is presented to the clerk; 46
(c)(b) The name and post-office address of the natural 47
person who prepared the instrument or under whose supervision it 48
was prepared are legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon 49
such instrument; 50

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(d)(c) The name of each witness to the instrument is 51
legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument 52
immediately beneath the signature of such witness and the post 53
office address of each such person is legibly printed, 54
typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument; 55
(e)(d) The name of any notary public or other officer 56
authorized to take acknowledgments or proofs whose signature 57
appears upon the instrument is legibly printed, typewritten, or 58
stamped upon such instrument immediately beneath the signature 59
of such notary public or other officer authorized to take 60
acknowledgment or proofs; 61
(f)(e) A 3-inch by 3-inch space at the top right-hand 62
corner on the first page and a 1-inch by 3-inch space at the top 63
right-hand corner on each subsequent page are reserved for use 64
by the clerk of the court; and 65
(g)(f) In any instrument other than a mortgage conveying 66
or purporting to convey any interest in real property, the name 67
and post-office address of each grantee in such instrument are 68
legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped upon such instrument. 69
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As used in this subsection the term "valid identification 71
document" means a government-issued photographic identification 72
card that includes the individual's name, address, photograph, 73
and signature and includes, but is not limited to, a driver 74
license, a passport, an identification card issued by a state, a 75

HB 1111 2026

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consular identification card, or a permanent resident card. 76
(3) The clerk of the circuit court may return an 77
instrument for correction if it does not comply with subsection 78
(1). Such instrument must be returned within 3 business days 79
after receipt. 80
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1,