Orlando Guide: Attested Photocopies vs. Certified Copies — What Florida Notaries Can (and Can’t) Do in 2026
- Leo McKay
- Mar 18
- 4 min read
If you live in Lake Nona, work near the Orange County Courthouse, or have documents stored in Winter Park, it helps to know when a Florida notary can create an attested photocopy and when you must get a certified copy from an official custodian. Under current 2026 regulations, Florida notaries have clear but limited authority to attest photocopies — and vital records like birth certificates are off-limits.
💡 Key Takeaways
Florida notaries may attest photocopies only in limited situations — vital records (e.g., birth certificates) are excluded.
An attested photocopy must be made from the original document (or under the notary’s supervision).
Notaries must use statutory certificate wording when attesting a photocopy (per Fla. Stat. § 117.05(12)).
Notarial fees are capped (generally $10 per notarial act); local custodians (like the DOH) issue certified vital records for their fees (e.g., $15 for a birth certificate in Orange County).
Remote Online Notarization (RON) exists in Florida, but RON for signatures is distinct from the attested-photocopy statutory requirements.
What is an "attested photocopy"?
An attested photocopy is when a Florida notary supervises or makes a copy of an original tangible or electronic document and then certifies that the copy is a true copy of that original. In plain English: the notary watches the original, makes (or supervises) the copy, and signs a certificate saying the copy matches the original.
What documents can a Florida notary NOT attest?
Vital records (explicitly excluded). Examples: birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates. A notary cannot create an attested photocopy of these documents. You must request a certified copy from the proper custodian (for Orange County, see the Florida Department of Health in Orange County).
Public records where the official custodian can provide certified copies. If a county clerk or other custodian can supply a certified copy, a notary should not substitute an attested photocopy.
These rules come from Fla. Stat. § 117.05(12) and related state guidance — the same restrictions are reflected in current 2026 regulations.
When is an attested photocopy allowed?
A notary may attest to a copy when all of the following are true:
The document is not a vital record.
The document is not a public record for which certified copies are available from the custodian.
The copy is made from the original document (or under the notary’s supervision).
Common examples typically eligible for attested photocopies (when originals are presented) include:
✔️ Diplomas and transcripts (original diplomas)
✔️ U.S. passports
✔️ Private contracts, leases, and bills of sale
✔️ Medical records (when not a public record with custodian-certified copies)
(These examples are noted in the Governor’s Reference Manual and state notary guidance.)
Statutory certificate language — why it matters
Florida law requires that the notary use certificate wording substantially in the statutory form when attesting a photocopy. That certificate includes the notary’s statement that, to the best of the notary’s knowledge, the photocopied document is neither a vital record nor a public record for which certified copies are available from another official source. Using the correct wording is part of making the attestation valid.
Fees and practical notes
Florida caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act in most cases (including attested photocopies).
If you need a birth certificate in Orlando/Orange County, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County lists fees (example: $15 for a birth certificate, $8 for additional certificates).
The Orange County Clerk of Courts handles certification and copies of court records differently (e.g., $1/page copies, $2/document certification, and certain court-document notary services listed at $3.50 per signature). This is a separate process from a notary’s attested photocopy.
Remote notarization vs. attested photocopies
Florida allows Remote Online Notarization (RON) for many notarial acts (oaths, acknowledgments, electronic signatures). However, attested photocopies are a distinct notarial act governed by a statutory certificate form and the limitations above. In short:
Use RON for remote signatures and oaths when allowed.
Don’t assume RON lets you certify a copy of a birth certificate — vital records remain excluded whether in-person or remote.
Local next steps (Orlando residents)
Need a certified birth certificate? Contact the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (they issue certified vital records; fees and ordering instructions are on the county DOH page).
Need a certified court record or certified copy from a court custodian? Check Records Management at the Orange County Clerk of Courts for copy and certification fees.
Need a verified copy of a passport, diploma, or private contract? An attested photocopy by a Florida notary may be appropriate if you present the original.
(For authoritative text and the statutory form, see Fla. Stat. § 117.05 and the Department of State notary guidance.)
Need a verified copy of your passport or diploma? Contact us for a professional Florida Attested Photocopy today. If you need a birth certificate or other vital record, obtain a certified copy from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (notarization won’t substitute). For help in Orlando — including Lake Nona, Winter Park, or near the Orange County Courthouse — contact us to schedule Orlando Mobile or Remote Online Notary services. We’ll confirm whether an attested photocopy is appropriate under current 2026 regulations and handle the notarial act correctly.
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