Hospital and Care Facility Visit
Bedside notarization at hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers and hospice across Seminole, Orange and Volusia counties, including evenings and weekends. The visit fee is from $125 plus a travel fee based on your ZIP code, and it includes 1 to 3 stamps. Each extra stamp is $10 (one stamp is one completed notarial certificate; $10 is the Florida maximum, s. 117.05(2)(a)).
If the patient cannot sign
Hospital and Care Facility Visits when the patient cannot sign: Florida law does not allow a notary to proceed if the signer appears unable to understand the document or is not signing willingly (s. 117.107(5)). This is Amanda's decision at the visit, not a medical judgment.
- Kept: the appointment fee, travel fee and time surcharge (travel and time already spent), and the fee for any Provided Witness who came to the visit.
- Refunded in full: every $10 stamp fee, Extended Time, Document Printing, and the fee for any Provided Witness who did not come.
Before every hospital or care facility visit, we do a short pre-visit check by phone with the family or facility staff. If that check shows the patient cannot sign today, you choose a full refund or a free reschedule, as long as we have not left for the visit.
Pre-visit check
Within 2 hours before we leave, we call the family member, facility staff or attorney who booked to confirm: the signer is awake and able to communicate; the signer's ID is available, or credible witnesses are arranged; the documents are complete and unsigned; required witnesses are arranged; and the facility allows the visit at that time. We also send a confirmation text 2 hours before every appointment.
The booking is accepted only after the facility confirms the visit is allowed at that time.
What the signer needs
- Please bring an ID that is current, or was issued within the last 5 years, and has a serial or ID number on it. Examples: a Florida driver license or ID card, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID, or a driver license or ID card from another U.S. state. If you're unsure, call 407-719-1226 before booking. Ask the facility whether the ID is in a safe or with the patient's belongings. An expired ID issued within the past 5 years is fine.
- If the signer cannot reasonably get an acceptable ID, Florida allows credible witnesses as a fallback: either one witness who personally knows the signer and is personally known to the notary, or two witnesses who each personally know the signer and each show their own acceptable ID. Credible witnesses must have no financial interest in the document and not be part of it. Each signs a sworn statement (s. 117.05(5)(b)1). Tell us when you book if you will use credible witnesses.
- Documents complete and not signed.
- If your document needs witnesses, bring your own (free) or add witnesses when you book, at least 24 hours ahead. Any witness we supply is disinterested. Facility staff may not be available to witness, so book Provided Witness if unsure. Health care surrogate designations need two adult witnesses. At least one must not be the signer's spouse or blood relative, and the person named as surrogate cannot be a witness (s. 765.202). Living wills need two witnesses. At least one must not be the signer's spouse or blood relative (s. 765.302).
- A hospital wristband is not an accepted ID.
- The room number, visiting hours and visitor rules. Let the nurse know a notary is coming.
- If possible, book for a time when the signer is usually most alert.
- If the signer doesn't read or speak English well, please bring an interpreter you trust. We can't provide or arrange one.
I cannot judge medical capacity, advise which document to use, or explain documents. Please ask an attorney.