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St. Johns County
Florida

Durable Power of Attorney in St. Johns County, Florida

Direct answer

A durable power of attorney in St. Johns County, Florida, is a Chapter 709 financial document that lets someone you pick handle your money and property. It takes your signature, two witnesses, and a notary. Recording is optional. If you want it in Official Records, the St. Johns County Clerk records it in St. Augustine. These are facts, not legal advice.

Who this is for

You live in St. Johns County, Florida, or you have property here, and you want someone you trust able to act on your finances and property.

Who this is not for

  • You want someone to make medical decisions. This form leaves medical decisions off. A power of attorney can include health care decisions only if they are specifically written in (§ 709.2201). A Chapter 765 health care document is separate.
  • You live in another Florida county. Each county has its own clerk.

How do I make a durable power of attorney in St. Johns County?

  1. Answer the questions for a Florida financial durable power of attorney.
  2. Preview your document before checkout.
  3. Your signature, two witnesses, and a notary finish it, under § 709.2105.
  4. Record it with the St. Johns County Clerk only if you want it in Official Records.

Start: https://clickdocs.org/start?product=durable-power-of-attorney&state=florida

Does my city need a different document?

No. One Clerk covers all of St. Johns County, including St. Augustine, St. Johns, and Ponte Vedra Beach. Same document, same Clerk.

Do I need to record it?

No. Recording is optional. A Florida durable power of attorney is valid when it is signed the right way. Recording puts a copy in the county's Official Records.

You do not have to record it for it to work. A bank or title company may ask for a recorded copy.

Where do I record it, and how do I contact the Clerk?

The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller.

In person, in St. Augustine

The main walk-in office is the Public Service Center, 4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084 (the mailing address is different). Monday to Friday, 8 to 5, no appointment. Bring original wet-ink signatures. Copies won't work for in-person or mail recording.

The Julington Creek and Ponte Vedra annexes also record, by appointment only.

By mail

St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller
Attn: Recording
4010 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL 32084

Mailed documents also need original wet-ink signatures.

E-recording through a vendor

You can also e-record through a Clerk-approved vendor (list).

Recording charges

The Clerk's fee page has the exact amount: https://stjohnsclerk.com/recording/

Not the court portal

myflcourtaccess.com is not how you record this document. That portal is for court filings. Recording goes through the Clerk's Official Records.

What signing rules apply?

Florida law sets the signing rules, not the county.

  • Your signature, two witnesses, and a notary. All three, under § 709.2105.
  • Durability words. The document must say it keeps working if you become incapacitated, or use similar words, under § 709.2104.
  • Some powers need a separate initial or signature. Gifts and the other powers listed in § 709.2202 count only if you initial or sign next to each one.
  • Online notarization: a remote online notary can cover only the notary part. Remote notarization and remote witnesses follow Florida Statutes chapter 117: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/Chapter117
  • Not a statutory form. Florida does not publish one required official form for this document.

Clerk notary: the Clerk notarizes for signers who appear in person, and it won't do electronic notarization. Call first at (904) 819-3600 to ask about this document: https://stjohnsclerk.com/recording/

Florida notary and remote online notary info: https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/other-services/notaries/ and https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/other-services/notaries/remote-online-notary-public

The Florida Bar's consumer pamphlet warns: "Pre-printed forms may fail to provide the protection or authority desired." https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/pamphlet13/

Can I make it start only if I become incapacitated?

No. A Florida durable power of attorney is effective when it is signed with the chapter 709 formalities. A line that tries to make it start later generally does not work (§ 709.2108): https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/709.2108

Where can I get help?

Court self-help staff can't give legal advice.

What happens if I don't have one?

If you can no longer handle your finances and have no power of attorney, a court may need to appoint a guardian before someone else can act for you. Florida Statutes chapter 744: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/Chapter744

What the document can and cannot do

  • Can: let your agent handle the financial and property powers the document grants.
  • Can't: reliably start later. A line making it start later generally does not work (§ 709.2108).
  • Can't: grant gifts or other § 709.2202 powers unless you initial or sign each one.
  • Health care: This form leaves medical decisions off. A power of attorney can include health care decisions only if they are specifically written in (§ 709.2201). A Chapter 765 health care document is separate.

Florida law

The full law is Florida Statutes Chapter 709, Part II: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/Chapter709/All

Statewide guide: https://clickdocs.org/florida/durable-power-of-attorney

FAQ

How do I make a durable power of attorney in St. Johns County?

Answer questions to build a Florida financial durable power of attorney and preview it. Then it needs your signature, two witnesses, and a notary. The signing rules come from Florida law, not the county. Recording with the Clerk is optional.

Do I need to record it with the Clerk?

No. Recording is optional. You do not have to record it for it to work. A bank or title company may ask for a recorded copy.

Where do I record it, and how do I contact the Clerk?

The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller, Recording Division. The Public Service Center is at 4040 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084, with no appointment needed. The Julington Creek and Ponte Vedra annexes need an appointment. Call (904) 819-3600. Bring original wet-ink signatures.

What signing rules apply?

It needs your signature, two witnesses, and a notary under section 709.2105. The document needs durability words under section 709.2104. Gifts and other section 709.2202 powers need your separate initial or signature. A remote online notary can cover only the notary part. Remote notarization and remote witnesses follow Florida Statutes chapter 117: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/Chapter117

Can I make it start only if I become incapacitated?

No. A Florida durable power of attorney is effective when it is signed. A line that tries to make it start later generally does not work under section 709.2108: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/709.2108

Where can I get help?

The Florida Courts help center is at help.flcourts.gov. For a lawyer referral, call the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 800-342-8011.

What happens if I don't have one?

If you can no longer handle your finances and have no power of attorney, a court may need to appoint a guardian before someone else can act for you. See Florida Statutes chapter 744: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/Chapter744

What if my parent can no longer sign?

The person signing must have capacity and sign it themselves. If they can't, a court may need to appoint a guardian under Florida Statutes chapter 744: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/Chapter744 The Florida Courts help center is at https://help.flcourts.gov/

Does my city need a different document?

No. One Clerk covers all of St. Johns County, including St. Augustine, St. Johns, and Ponte Vedra Beach.

What does it cost to record?

The Clerk's fee page has the exact amount: https://stjohnsclerk.com/recording/

Can I record it on myflcourtaccess.com?

No. That portal is for court filings. Recording goes through the Clerk's Official Records.

Does this cover medical decisions?

This form leaves medical decisions off. A power of attorney can include health care decisions only if they are specifically written in (section 709.2201). A Chapter 765 health care document is separate.

Is this a statutory form?

No. Florida does not publish one required official form for this document. Banks look for a document signed with the chapter 709 formalities: your signature, two witnesses, and a notary. See section 709.2105: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/709.2105

ClickDocs is not a law firm, and using ClickDocs does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is not legal advice. Clerk hours, addresses, and charges can change, so confirm with the Clerk before you go. Talk to a Florida attorney about homestead, gifts, capacity, or title questions.