Execution of a Florida Deed in a Foreign Country
A deed conveying Florida property can be validly executed outside the United States provided it has the following:
- The signature of the owner of the property or the owner’s authorized representative (for example, the officer of a company or the attorney-in-fact of an individual);
- The signatures of at least two unrelated and disinterested witnesses; and
- The signature and seal of a notary public of the country in which the deed is executed.
The list of people who are authorized to authenticate (that is, notarize) a Florida deed in a foreign county is actually quite long. In addition to a foreign notary, a Florida deed can be signed before a commissioner appointed by the Governor of Florida, an ambassador of the United States (or other U.S. diplomatic officer) in the country, or a military officer of the United States who is authorized by U.S. law to act as notary.