FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Our online notaries work 8am – 8pm eastern time Monday through Friday and 8am to 12noon on Saturday. We also offer Rush-Processing notarization to accommodate those during after hours, weekends, holidays.
Yes. If a Lady Bird Deed is put together correctly, the person who owns the property (we call them the ‘life tenant’) can cancel it anytime they want while they still own the property. That is, up until they sell it or pass away.
The life tenant can change who gets the property when they die (the ‘remainderman’ or ‘death beneficiary’) anytime they like, or they can even just transfer the property back to themselves.
And if the life tenant decides they want to sell the property, they can do so anytime without having to cancel the Lady Bird Deed first. That’s because the right to sell the property and keep all the money from the sale is spelled out in the Lady Bird Deed itself.
Good news for the property owner: setting up a Lady Bird Deed doesn’t cause any tax issues at all. That’s because it doesn’t actually transfer any part of the property until the owner passes away. It’s like it doesn’t even happen!
The person who gets the property when the owner dies (we call them the ‘remainderman’ or ‘death beneficiary’) also gets a little bonus. They get what’s called a ‘stepped up’ basis when the owner dies. That’s a fancy way of saying that any potential tax on the property is calculated based on its value at the time of the owner’s death, not when the owner first got it.
Yes, there are a couple of key things to remember:
First off, the ‘life tenant’ (that’s the person who owns the property now) has to be a real person – not a trust or a business like an LLC or corporation.
But the rules for who can inherit the property (the ‘remainderman’ or ‘death beneficiary’) are much looser. It can be a person, multiple people, the trustee of a trust, or even an organization like a corporation or LLC. So, if you want to leave your property to multiple people, like your kids, you absolutely can!
Now, here’s the second point: if you’re married and the property is your primary residence, a Lady Bird Deed can’t be used to pass the property to anyone other than your spouse directly unless your spouse agrees to it by signing the deed. This is because of a rule in the Florida constitution that says you can’t leave your main home to anyone but your spouse in your will. By signing the deed, your spouse can agree to you setting up a Lady Bird Deed that passes the property to someone other than them.
Absolutely! With a Lady Bird Deed, the person who owns the property (we call them the ‘life tenant’) gets to keep all their rights while they’re still alive. If we’re talking about a married couple, these rights stick around until the second one of them passes away.
This includes any tax breaks they might get for living in their own home (the ‘homestead tax exemption’), and any other exemptions they’re eligible for, like if they’re a widow, a disabled veteran, and so on.
On top of those tax breaks, the owner can also keep their protection from Florida’s generous ‘homestead exemption.’ That’s a fancy way of saying that if someone wins a lawsuit against the owner, they can’t force the owner to sell their home to pay off the debt.
Unlike a will, a Lady Bird Deed works all on its own. When the person who owns the property dies, the Lady Bird Deed immediately transfers ownership of that property. All you need to do is record the death certificate of the person who passed away in the public land records.
A will, on the other hand, has to go through a court process called probate before it can do its job – otherwise, it’s just another piece of paper. Probate can cost a lot of money in lawyer fees and court costs, not to mention it can take months even when everything goes smoothly (which isn’t always guaranteed).
But with a Lady Bird Deed, the process is simpler. All you have to do is record the death certificate of the person who passed away in the public land records for the county where the property is. And just like that, you’re done!
Yes, a ladybird deed will work for a second home, vacation home, or rental property.
Absolutely! The great thing about a Lady Bird Deed is that it doesn’t matter what kind of real estate we’re talking about. Whether it’s a vacant plot of land, a single family home, a condo, or a townhouse – if it’s real estate, you can use a Lady Bird Deed to pass it on when the owner dies. It’s that versatile!
Remote online notarization, or “RON” for short, is a super handy service where you can sign and notarize all kinds of documents entirely online. You just need a device with a camera and microphone. Keep in mind though, only notaries who are specially certified to do online work can do this in Florida.
No, our notarizations work everywhere in the U.S., including all the territories. In fact, as long as you meet the necessary requirements, we can help you get your documents notarized online no matter where in the world you are!
No.
Both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens can use our online notarization service with no hassles.
We’ve got the latest tech for checking IDs, making it so much easier and accurate. You won’t have to deal with those confusing, slow, and often mistaken “Knowledge Based Authentication” methods anymore. All you need now is your passport (from the U.S. or elsewhere) or any government-issued identification.
Yes, all our notaries are commissioned in the State of Florida.
Yes. We can supply up to two remote witnesses for your online notarization. The witnesses will appear with you during your online video appointment.
Yes. However, each person acting as a witness needs to go through the same ID check as the main person signing, and they each need their own email address and suitable device. Unless you have a particular reason for using your own witnesses, we suggest you use ours. If you choose to bring your own witnesses online, it’ll cost you $30 per witness.
Right after we’ve eRecorded your Lady Bird Deed with your local county’s court clerk, we’ll email you the online notarized documents. Usually, you’ll have your notarized and recorded deed within 1 to 2 business days. If you want, we can also send the documents to someone else for you. Plus, if you’re in a real hurry, we offer a Priority-RUSH service. It lets you get your notarization needs sorted after hours, over the weekend, and on most holidays.
- We’re pros at handling tricky notarizations.
- Our online notary service is the most user-friendly out there, worldwide.
- We’re based in Florida, and all our notaries are certified by the Florida Department of State for online notarizations.
- We use the latest technology for remote online notarizations and checking ID, which gives us an edge over others.
- Our company and all our notaries are insured and bonded.
- Unlike many other online notary services, we’re here for you. You can talk to your online notary by call, text, or email.
It is important that you use a supported web browser that can access your webcam and microphone.
Supported Operating Systems
Desktop: Mac + Windows PC
Mobile: Android + iOS (iPad and iPhone)
Supported Browsers
Google Chrome – Latest Version
Edge – Latest Version
Safari – Latest Version
FireFox – Latest Version
Opera – Latest Version
An online notary session typically takes under five minutes.
Remote Online Notarization (RON) is a safe and secure way to get documents notarized. It’s done through tech that allows notaries and signers to connect from anywhere. We follow several steps to ensure safety and authenticity: We use biometric data to confirm identities and reduce fraud chances. Our notaries and signers chat through a secure video call that’s recorded and stored. We use tamper-proof tech, so any unauthorized changes can be spotted right away. Digital certificates validate the notary’s identity and the seal and signature’s authenticity. We use strong encryption to protect your data during storage and transfer. Lastly, we’re always in line with Florida’s laws and regulations, guaranteeing that the RON process follows the best security and privacy practices.
Yes, we do record all remote online notary (RON) sessions. These recordings are stored for a decade. Plus, our notaries keep a detailed record of all RON transactions in a notary journal.
Here are the following types of identification that are accepted:
Florida Driver License or ID Card or Driver License / ID Card Issued by any U.S. State or U.S. Territory
A Driver License or ID Card Issued in Canada or Mexico
A Passport from Any Country
We offer an optional Priority-RUSH service for emergencies or for after-hours and holiday appointments.