Under ORC 147.011, which statement accurately describes the legal status of an Ohio notary public?

An officer of the state whose commission is not an occupational or professional license

A licensed professional regulated as an occupation under Title XLVII of the Revised Code

A private agent of the education provider that administered the notary's commission test

A county officer appointed by the court of common pleas for the county of residence

Notary Katherine Doyle was commissioned under the name Katherine M. Doyle. Which signature may she use on her notarial certificates?

Katherine M. Doyle, the name under which she is commissioned

K. M. D., the initials she uses to sign her office memos

Kathy Doyle, the nickname known to her regular customers

Kate Doyle, the shorter name printed on her business cards

Carl Jensen, vice president of Maple Ridge Supply Inc., acknowledges a contract on behalf of the corporation. Under ORC 147.53, the words "acknowledged before me" mean, among other things, that Carl acknowledged which of the following?

He holds the stated title and signed by proper authority for the corporation

He is the corporation's sole shareholder and statutory agent

He swore under oath that each statement in the contract is true and correct

He personally guarantees payment of every obligation stated in the contract

Notary Beth Carver would like to use an embosser rather than an inked rubber stamp as her official seal. Is that allowed in Ohio?

Yes, the seal may either stamp ink or emboss

Only if the Secretary of State approves it first

No, only an inked stamp meets Ohio's seal law

Only if she also stamps an inked seal beside it

Notary Denise Kowalski watches a borrower sign an electronic loan document with an electronic signature while seated across her desk, and she then applies her electronic seal. Under Ohio law, how is this electronic document treated?

It is considered an original document.

It is treated as an online notarization record.

It is treated as a certified copy of an original.

It is valid only once a paper counterpart is signed.

A title company asks notary Karen Liu for a certified copy of her notary commission. Who issues it, and what is the fee?

The Secretary of State, for a fee of $5

The county clerk of courts, for a fee of $5

The education provider, for a fee of $15

The Secretary of State, for a fee of $2

Notary Lydia Chen knows that a court has adjudicated a customer mentally incompetent and removed his right to enter into contracts. He asks her to take his acknowledgment on a sales contract. What is correct?

She may not take it, since it requires exercising a right that was removed

She may take it as long as he appears calm and alert at the signing

She may take it as long as an adult relative of his signs the contract as a witness

She may take it as long as he presents a current government photo ID

Elaine Foster brings her husband's signed quitclaim deed to a notary and asks for an acknowledgment of his signature. Her husband is at work and cannot come in. What should the notary do?

Decline until the husband personally appears and acknowledges the deed

Take the acknowledgment if Elaine shows her husband's current driver's license

Take the acknowledgment if the husband confirms it by text message

Take the acknowledgment if Elaine swears the signature is his

Notary Derek Lin's ink seal shows the coat of arms, "Notary Public," and "State of Ohio," but not his name. What does ORC 147.04 require him to do instead?

Print, type, or stamp his name legibly near his signature on each document

Obtain a written endorsement for the nameless seal from the Secretary of State

Handwrite his initials inside the seal circle on each document

Write his name in his journal entry for each document he notarizes

A buyer submits to the county recorder a digital copy of a deed that the parties signed with electronic signatures and acknowledged before an Ohio notary using an electronic seal. A clerk wants to reject it because it contains electronic signatures. Which is correct under Ohio law?

It may not be rejected just for its electronic signatures.

It may be accepted only if the notary holds online authorization.

It may be accepted only after a new wet-ink acknowledgment.

It must be rejected unless a paper original is filed along with it.

Ohio State Notary

Free Ohio State Notary Practice Questions

10 sample questions for the Ohio State Notary, with the correct answer and an explanation for each. No account needed. Try each one before you open the answer.

Sections covered on the exam: The Notary Commission And Legal, Ohionotarylawandthenotary'Srole, Qualificationsandthecommissionprocess, Term,Renewal,Andcommissionchanges, Jurisdictionandout-Of-Statenotarialacts, Ethics, Prohibited Acts, And Discipline, Prohibitedacts, Unauthorizedpracticeoflawandimmigration, Notaryfees, Investigations,Penalties,Andmandatoryreporting, Identification And Core Notarial Acts, Verifyingthesigner'Sidentity, Oathsandaffirmations, Takingacknowledgments, Identification and Core Notarial Acts, Notarial Certificates And The Notary Seal, Statutoryshortformsandthejuratform, Notarial Certificates and the Notary Seal, Thenotarysealandsecurityoftools, Common Documents, Powersofattorneyandadvancedirectives, Willsandaffidavits, Motorvehicletitles, Special Signers And Situations, Special Signers and Situations, Electronic And Online Notarization, Electronic and Online Notarization, Onlinenotaryauthorization, Onlinefeesandcertificates, Journals And Record-Keeping, Theelectronicjournalandrecordings, Security,Inspection,Andretentionofrecords, Impartialityandconflictsofinterest, Requiredcertificateelements, Realestateinstruments, Signers.

Question 1 · The Notary Commission And Legal
Under ORC 147.011, which statement accurately describes the legal status of an Ohio notary public?
- A.A licensed professional regulated as an occupation under Title XLVII of the Revised Code
- B.An officer of the state whose commission is not an occupational or professional license
- C.A private agent of the education provider that administered the notary's commission test
- D.A county officer appointed by the court of common pleas for the county of residence
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. An officer of the state whose commission is not an occupational or professional license
ORC 147.011 defines a notary public as an officer of the state commissioned by the Secretary of State, and it states that a notary commission is not an occupational or professional license under Title XLVII. Notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State for the whole state, not by a county court, and education providers only administer the program and test.
Question 2 · Prohibitedacts
Notary Katherine Doyle was commissioned under the name Katherine M. Doyle. Which signature may she use on her notarial certificates?
- A.K. M. D., the initials she uses to sign her office memos
- B.Kathy Doyle, the nickname known to her regular customers
- C.Katherine M. Doyle, the name under which she is commissioned
- D.Kate Doyle, the shorter name printed on her business cards
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Katherine M. Doyle, the name under which she is commissioned
ORC 147.141(A)(6) prohibits a notary from using a name or initial in signing certificates other than the name by which the notary is commissioned. A nickname, shortened name, or initials are not permitted substitutes, even if customers recognize them.
Question 3 · Takingacknowledgments
Carl Jensen, vice president of Maple Ridge Supply Inc., acknowledges a contract on behalf of the corporation. Under ORC 147.53, the words "acknowledged before me" mean, among other things, that Carl acknowledged which of the following?
- A.He is the corporation's sole shareholder and statutory agent
- B.He swore under oath that each statement in the contract is true and correct
- C.He personally guarantees payment of every obligation stated in the contract
- D.He holds the stated title and signed by proper authority for the corporation
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. He holds the stated title and signed by proper authority for the corporation
ORC 147.53(B)(3)(b) says that for a corporation the officer or agent acknowledged holding the position or title set forth, signing on behalf of the corporation by proper authority, and that the instrument was the act of the corporation. It says nothing about personal guarantees or ownership, and an acknowledgment does not involve swearing to the truth of the contents.
Question 4 · Thenotarysealandsecurityoftools
Notary Beth Carver would like to use an embosser rather than an inked rubber stamp as her official seal. Is that allowed in Ohio?
- A.Only if the Secretary of State approves it first
- B.Yes, the seal may either stamp ink or emboss
- C.No, only an inked stamp meets Ohio's seal law
- D.Only if she also stamps an inked seal beside it
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Yes, the seal may either stamp ink or emboss
ORC 147.04 states that the seal may be of a type that will stamp ink onto a document or one that will emboss it. Nothing requires an additional inked impression or advance approval from the Secretary of State.
Question 5 · Electronic And Online Notarization
Notary Denise Kowalski watches a borrower sign an electronic loan document with an electronic signature while seated across her desk, and she then applies her electronic seal. Under Ohio law, how is this electronic document treated?
- A.It is treated as an online notarization record.
- B.It is considered an original document.
- C.It is treated as a certified copy of an original.
- D.It is valid only once a paper counterpart is signed.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It is considered an original document.
Under ORC 147.591, an electronic document signed in the notary's physical presence with an electronic signature and notarized with an electronic seal is considered an original document. No paper counterpart is needed, and because the signer was physically present, the act is not an online notarization.
Question 6 · The Notary Commission And Legal
A title company asks notary Karen Liu for a certified copy of her notary commission. Who issues it, and what is the fee?
- A.The county clerk of courts, for a fee of $5
- B.The Secretary of State, for a fee of $5
- C.The education provider, for a fee of $15
- D.The Secretary of State, for a fee of $2
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. The Secretary of State, for a fee of $5
ORC 147.06 directs the Secretary of State, upon application, to make a certified copy of a notary commission and its endorsements for a fee of five dollars, and the copy is prima-facie evidence of the facts in it. The $2 fee applies to a duplicate commission under ORC 147.371, not a certified copy.
Question 7 · Prohibitedacts
Notary Lydia Chen knows that a court has adjudicated a customer mentally incompetent and removed his right to enter into contracts. He asks her to take his acknowledgment on a sales contract. What is correct?
- A.She may take it as long as he appears calm and alert at the signing
- B.She may take it as long as an adult relative of his signs the contract as a witness
- C.She may not take it, since it requires exercising a right that was removed
- D.She may take it as long as he presents a current government photo ID
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. She may not take it, since it requires exercising a right that was removed
ORC 147.141(A)(9) prohibits taking the acknowledgment of a person the notary knows has been adjudicated mentally incompetent by a court if the acknowledgment necessitates the exercise of a right that has been removed. Valid identification, a witness, or the person's apparent demeanor does not override the court's adjudication.
Question 8 · Takingacknowledgments
Elaine Foster brings her husband's signed quitclaim deed to a notary and asks for an acknowledgment of his signature. Her husband is at work and cannot come in. What should the notary do?
- A.Decline until the husband personally appears and acknowledges the deed
- B.Take the acknowledgment if Elaine shows her husband's current driver's license
- C.Take the acknowledgment if the husband confirms it by text message
- D.Take the acknowledgment if Elaine swears the signature is his
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Decline until the husband personally appears and acknowledges the deed
An acknowledgment is a declaration by the signer before the notary (ORC 147.011(A)), and the certificate states that the person acknowledging appeared before the notary (ORC 147.53). Performing an act without personal appearance, outside an authorized online notarization, is grounds for revocation under ORC 147.032(D)(2). Another person's ID, oath, or a text message cannot replace the signer's appearance.
Question 9 · Thenotarysealandsecurityoftools
Notary Derek Lin's ink seal shows the coat of arms, "Notary Public," and "State of Ohio," but not his name. What does ORC 147.04 require him to do instead?
- A.Obtain a written endorsement for the nameless seal from the Secretary of State
- B.Print, type, or stamp his name legibly near his signature on each document
- C.Handwrite his initials inside the seal circle on each document
- D.Write his name in his journal entry for each document he notarizes
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Print, type, or stamp his name legibly near his signature on each document
ORC 147.04 allows the notary's name, instead of appearing on the seal, to be printed, typewritten, or stamped in legible, printed letters near the notary's signature on each document signed. A journal entry, an endorsement, or initials inside the seal do not satisfy that alternative.
Question 10 · Electronic And Online Notarization
A buyer submits to the county recorder a digital copy of a deed that the parties signed with electronic signatures and acknowledged before an Ohio notary using an electronic seal. A clerk wants to reject it because it contains electronic signatures. Which is correct under Ohio law?
- A.It may be accepted only if the notary holds online authorization.
- B.It may be accepted only after a new wet-ink acknowledgment.
- C.It may not be rejected just for its electronic signatures.
- D.It must be rejected unless a paper original is filed along with it.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. It may not be rejected just for its electronic signatures.
ORC 147.591 requires county recorders, auditors, clerks of courts of record, deputy registrars, and engineers to accept such a digital copy to the same extent as other electronically recorded documents. It shall not be rejected solely because it contains electronic signatures or an electronic notarization, and online authorization is not needed for an in-person electronic act.

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