Attorney General of Florida — Opinion
September 18, 1991
Notary public
Robert A. Butterworth Attorney General
Sheldon I. Pivnik Notary Public
QUESTION:
Does s. 117.05(6)(d), F.S., as amended by Ch. 91-291, Laws of Florida, prohibit a notary public from solemnizing the rites of matrimony of persons related by blood or marriage to the notary public?
SUMMARY: Section 117.05(6)(d), F.S., as amended by Ch. 91-291, Laws of Florida, effective January 1, 1992, does not prohibit a notary public form solemnizing the rites of matrimony of persons related by blood or marriage to the notary public.
Section 117.05(6)(d), as amended by s. 4, Ch. 91-291, Laws of Florida, provides that a notary public may not notarize a signature on a document if “[t]he person whose signature is to be notarized is related to the notary public by blood or marriage.” Chapter 91-291, Laws of Florida, takes effect January 1, 1992.[1]
Section 117.04, F.S., as amended by s. 3, Ch. 91-291, Laws of Florida, provides that a notary public is authorized to solemnize the rights of marriage.[2] The fee for performing such service may not exceed those provided by law to the clerk of the circuit court of performing like services.[3]
Before solemnizing a marriage, the notary public must require of the two parties a marriage license issued accordingly to s. 741.01, F.S.[4] Within 10 days after solemnizing the marriage, “he shall make a certificate thereof on the license, and shall transmit the same to the office of the county court judge or clerk of the circuit court from which it issued.”[5]
Section 117.05(6)(d), as amended and effective January 1, 1992, prohibits a notary public from notarizing the signature of a relative on a document. In solemnizing the rites of matrimony and certifying on the marriage license that he has solemnized the marriage, the notary is not notarizing the signature of the relative on a document. Accordingly, the prohibition contained in s. 117.05(6)(d), F.S., as amended, would not appear to be applicable.
Therefore, I am of the opinion that s. 117.05(6)(d), F.S., as amended by s. 4, CH. 91-291, Laws of Florida, effective January 1, 1992, does not prohibit a notary public from solemnizing the rites of matrimony pursuant to s. 117.04, F.S., as amended by s. 3, Ch. 91-292, Laws of Florida.
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