Florida’s New Remote Notarization Law to Benefit Foreign Investors

By José E. Latour | July 25, 2019 at 09:36 AM

On June 7, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law permitting remote online notarization adding Florida to the growing list of states that permit notaries to perform notarizations online for clients anywhere in the world. The law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020, will benefit Floridians in many ways, but has the potential to significantly encourage foreign direct investment in Florida. When the law takes effect, foreign visitors to Florida who negotiate business contracts, form companies, or purchase real estate will be able to close on their deal from the comfort of home, without a second visit to Florida. For investors living in Asia and other distant parts of the world, knowing that they will be able to conclude their investment online removes psychological barriers to investing in Florida.