Does the intent to purchase land and an intent to the lease the land have to be notarized?

Full question:

Does the intent to purchase land and an intent to the lease the land (e.g., lease/purchase agreement) have to be notarized to be legal and binding?

Answer:

A notary public is an officer authorized by the state in which the person resides to administer oaths, take acknowledgments, certify documents and to take depositions if the notary is also a court reporter

A person signing a document to be recorded in the land records of a county in Florida must sign before the proper authority, such as a notary public. A notary must state what form of identification was used, affix his seal and state the date that his appointment expires, as well as printing his name.

Acknowledgement of one's signature before a notary public does not affect the legality of a document. The purpose of acknowledging one's signature before a notary is to demonstrate that the signature is genuine and allowed the document it to be recorded in land records (assuming the document deals with a land transfer of some kind).

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Yes, a contract can still be legally binding even if it is not notarized. The essential elements for a contract to be binding include offer, acceptance, consideration, and the intention to create a legal relationship. Notarization primarily serves to verify the authenticity of signatures, but it is not a requirement for the contract's validity.