Fla. Stat. 689.01
How real estate conveyed


(1)

No estate or interest of freehold, or for a term of more than 1 year, or any uncertain interest of, in, or out of any messuages, lands, tenements, or hereditaments shall be created, made, granted, transferred, or released in any manner other than by instrument in writing, signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses by the party creating, making, granting, conveying, transferring, or releasing such estate, interest, or term of more than 1 year, or by the party’s lawfully authorized agent, unless by will and testament, or other testamentary appointment, duly made according to law; and no estate or interest, either of freehold, or of term of more than 1 year, or any uncertain interest of, in, to, or out of any messuages, lands, tenements, or hereditaments, shall be assigned or surrendered unless it be by instrument signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses by the party so assigning or surrendering, or by the party’s lawfully authorized agent, or by the act and operation of law; provided, however, that no subscribing witnesses shall be required for a lease of real property or any such instrument pertaining to a lease of real property. No seal shall be necessary to give validity to any instrument executed in conformity with this section. Corporations may execute any and all conveyances in accordance with the provisions of this section or ss. 692.01 and 692.02.

(2)

For purposes of this chapter:Any requirement that an instrument be signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses may be satisfied by witnesses being present and electronically signing by means of audio-video communication technology, as defined in s. 117.201.The act of witnessing an electronic signature is satisfied if a witness is in the physical presence of the principal or present through audio-video communication technology at the time the principal affixes his or her electronic signature and the witness hears the principal make a statement acknowledging that the principal has signed the electronic record.The terms used in this subsection have the same meanings as the terms defined in s. 117.201.

(a)

Any requirement that an instrument be signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses may be satisfied by witnesses being present and electronically signing by means of audio-video communication technology, as defined in s. 117.201.

(b)

The act of witnessing an electronic signature is satisfied if a witness is in the physical presence of the principal or present through audio-video communication technology at the time the principal affixes his or her electronic signature and the witness hears the principal make a statement acknowledging that the principal has signed the electronic record.

(c)

The terms used in this subsection have the same meanings as the terms defined in s. 117.201.

(3)

All acts of witnessing made or taken in the manner described in subsection (2) are validated and, upon recording, may not be denied to have provided constructive notice based on any alleged failure to have strictly complied with this section or the laws governing notarization of instruments, including online notarization. This subsection does not preclude a challenge to the validity or enforceability of an instrument or electronic record based upon fraud, forgery, impersonation, duress, incapacity, undue influence, minority, illegality, unconscionability, or any other basis not related to the act of witnessing.

Source: Section 689.01 — How real estate conveyed, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0689.­01 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

689.01
How real estate conveyed
689.02
Form of warranty deed prescribed
689.03
Effect of such deed
689.04
How executed
689.05
How declarations of trust proved
689.06
How trust estate conveyed
689.07
“Trustee” or “as trustee” added to name of grantee, transferee, assignee, or mortgagee transfers interest or creates lien as if additional word or words not used
689.08
Fines and common recoveries
689.09
Deeds under statute of uses
689.10
Words of limitation and the words “fee simple” dispensed with
689.11
Conveyances between husband and wife direct
689.12
How state lands conveyed for educational purposes
689.13
Rule against perpetuities not applicable to dispositions of property for private cemeteries, etc
689.14
Entailed estates
689.15
Estates by survivorship
689.17
Rule in Shelley’s Case abolished
689.18
Reverter or forfeiture provisions, limitations
689.19
Variances of names in recorded instruments
689.20
Limitation on use of word “minerals.”
689.25
Failure to disclose homicide, suicide, deaths, or diagnosis of HIV or AIDS infection in an occupant of real property
689.025
Form of quitclaim deed prescribed
689.27
Termination by servicemember of agreement to purchase real property
689.28
Prohibition against transfer fee covenants
689.29
Disclosure of subsurface rights to prospective purchaser
689.041
Curative procedure for scrivener’s errors in deeds
689.045
Conveyances to or by partnership
689.071
Florida Land Trust Act
689.072
Real estate interests transferred to or by a custodian or trustee of an individual retirement account or qualified plan
689.073
Powers conferred on trustee in recorded instrument
689.075
Inter vivos trusts
689.111
Conveyances of homestead
689.115
Estate by the entirety in mortgage made or assigned to husband and wife
689.175
Worthier title doctrine abolished
689.225
Statutory rule against perpetuities
689.261
Sale of residential property
689.301
Disclosure of known defects in sanitary sewer laterals to prospective purchaser
689.302
Disclosure of flood risks to prospective purchaser

Current through Fall 2025

§ 689.01. How real estate conveyed's source at flsenate​.gov