Ohio State Notary

This section covers where an Ohio notary's authority comes from, who may hold a commission, how the commission is obtained, kept, changed, and renewed, and where a notary may act. Expect exact-number questions (age 18, a criminal records check no more than six months old, a $15 application fee, a five-year term, a three-month renewal window, 30 days to report a name or address change) and short scenarios asking whether a person qualifies, what must happen before the first notarial act, what happens when a commission expires, and whether a notarial act performed outside Ohio is recognized here.

Ohio notary law is found mainly in Chapter 147 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), the statute passed by the General Assembly. It sets out who may be commissioned, the term and renewal of a commission, the seal, fees, prohibited acts, the notarial acts a notary may perform, the required certificate content, and the rules for electronic and online notarization. The Secretary of State fills in the details through administrative rules in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 111:6-1. Other ORC chapters govern particular documents, such as the acknowledgment requirement for deeds and mortgages, but the notary's own duties come from Chapter 147 and its rules.

Rule	Subject
111:6-1-01 111:6-1-02 111:6-1-03	Definitions(authorizededucationandtestingprovider credentialanalysis onlinenotarization andothers) , , , 1 Educationandtestingrequirements includingtherequiredcurriculum , Feesfortheapplication education andtesting;educationhours;retakerules , ,

Rule	Subject
111:6-1-04	Electronicnotarialcertificatewording
111:6-1-05	Requirementsforonlinenotarialacts
111:6-1-06	Complaintsagainstnotaries

ORC 147.011(F) defines a notary public as an officer of the state, commissioned to perform notarial acts by the Secretary of State. The same definition states that being a notary is not an occupation or profession under the professional- licensing title of the Revised Code, and that a notary commission is not an occupational or professional license. A notary holds a public office. The authority that comes with it is limited to what the statute grants, and the notary exercises it for the public, not for an employer or a customer.

A notary is an officer of the state, and the commission is a grant of limited public authority, not a professional license. The notary cannot enlarge that authority by agreement, custom, or an employer's instructions. Acting outside it exposes the notary to discipline under ORC 147.032 and to liability to anyone harmed.

The Secretary of State's Role

Appoints as many qualified persons as the Secretary of State

Maintains a record and index of all commissions (ORC

considers necessary (ORC 147.01(A)), processes applications,

147.05(A)) and a publicly accessible online database showing

and issues every commission. All applications, renewals, and

each notary's status, online authorization, and any disciplinary

required notices are filed electronically (ORC 147.01(E)).

action (ORC 147.051).

Notarial Acts Authorized in Ohio

ORC 147.51(A) authorizes an Ohio notary to perform three categories of notarial acts. The jurat (ORC 147.011(C)) combines two of the notary's powers: the signer gives an oath or affirmation that the statement in the document is true and correct, and the signer signs in the notary's presence.

NotarialAct	WhattheNotaryDoes	Authority
Oathsandaffirmations	Administersoathsoraffirmationsrequiredorauthorizedbylaw ,	ORC14751(A)(1) .
	includingtheoathforajurat
Acknowledgments	Takesandcertifiesacknowledgmentsofdeeds mortgages liens , , ,	ORC14751(A)(2) .
	powersofattorney andotherwritteninstruments ,
Depositions	Takesandcertifiesdepositions withthepowerofacountycourt ,	ORC14751(A)(3) .
	judgetocompelwitnessestoattendandtopunishrefusaltotestify;
	sheriffsandconstablesservethenotary'sprocess

An Ohio notary may not certify that a document is an original or a true copy of another record (ORC 147.141(A)(5)). The notary may notarize the signature of the document's holder on a written statement in which the holder certifies that the copy is true (ORC 147.141(B)). Also note that an online notary may not take or certify a deposition as an online notarization (ORC 147.64(A)(3)).

The Notary's Function

The notary serves as an impartial official witness. In every act the notary confirms that the signer personally appeared, determines the signer's identity from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence (ORC 147.49 and 147.50), and completes a certificate stating what was done (ORC 147.542). The notary does not vouch for the truth of the document's contents, its legal effect, or whether the transaction is a good idea. Under ORC 147.52(D), the signature and title of the person performing a notarial act are prima-facie evidence that the person holds that title and that the signature is genuine, which is why courts, recorders, and businesses rely on notarized documents and why a careless or dishonest certificate does real harm.

Three Ways an Ohio Notary Can Work

Type	HowtheSignerAppears	ExtraRequirement
Traditional(paper)	Inperson signingonpaper;notaryusesaninkor ,	Nonebeyondthecommission
	embossingseal
Electronic inperson ,	Inthenotary'sphysicalpresence signinganelectronic ,	Anynotarymayobtainanelectronicseal
	document	andsignature(ORC147591(D)) .
Online	By live two-way audio-video communication	Separateonlineauthorizationfromthe
		SecretaryofState(ORC14763) .