How to Become a Notary in Ohio

How do I renew my notary commission in Ohio?

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Ohio notaries may submit their renewal applications within the three-month period prior to their commission expiration dates. An attorney’s notary commission lasts as long as the attorney is an Ohio resident or maintains a principal place of business or primary practice in Ohio, remains in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court, and the commission is not revoked. Click here to complete the application and upload the certificate of completion for the education requirement.

An Ohio non-attorney notary public whose commission expires after September 20, 2019 can renew his or her commission by:

1. Obtaining a new criminal record check report that is current within six months of the renewal application;
2. Contacting an authorized education and testing provider for a one-hour class;
3. Submitting an online renewal application at the Secretary of State website, uploading a copy of the criminal record check and a certificate from the education provider to show successful completion of the class; and
4. Paying a fee of $15.

Who appoints notaries in Ohio?

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The Secretary of State processes notary applications, issues notary commissions, maintains the online database of notaries, approves the entities to administer the educational program and related test, and maintains all the records regarding notaries. The new notary law removed the responsibilities of notary application processing and notary commissioning from the common pleas court clerks. To contact the Ohio Secretary of State, use the following information:

Ohio Secretary of State
Notary
180 E. Broad St., 16th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 644-4459
https://www.sos.state.oh.us/notary/

Can a non-resident of Ohio apply for a commission as a notary public?

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Yes. There are two instances when a non-resident is allowed to become an Ohio notary:

1. An applicant who is commissioned or licensed as a notary public in another state in accordance with Chapter 4796 of the Revised Code.
2. A non-resident attorney who is licensed to practice law in Ohio by the Ohio Supreme Court with a principal place of business or primary practice in Ohio. Attorney applicants seeking a notary public commission are:

• Exempt from having to submit a criminal record check report with their notary applications.
• Exempt from taking the required test.
• Required to complete the educational program requirement.

How long is a notary public's commission term in Ohio?

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Each notary public, except an attorney admitted to the practice of law by the Ohio Supreme Court, shall hold office for the term of five years unless the notary public commission is revoked. An attorney admitted to the practice of law in Ohio shall hold office as a notary public as long as the attorney is a resident of Ohio or has the attorney's principal place of business or primary practice in Ohio, the attorney is in good standing before the Ohio Supreme Court, and the notary commission is not revoked. A notary public appointed prior to September 20, 2019 shall remain valid until that commission’s expiration date.

Is notary training or an exam required to become a notary or to renew a notary commission in Ohio?

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All first-time notary applicants submitting an online notary application on or after September 20, 2019 are required to complete a three-hour educational program and pass a related test demonstrating knowledge of the notary statutes, rules, what constitutes a legal notarial act, and other relevant notarial issues.

All renewing notaries are required to complete a one-hour continuing education class prior to submitting their online renewal applications.

The Secretary of State does not provide training on how to be a notary public in Ohio. An attorneys licensed to practice in Ohio and in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court seeking to be appointed as a notary public is exempt from the examination requirement. However, attorneys are required to complete an educational program to become Ohio notaries public. Click here to contact an authorized education and testing provider.

How much does it cost to become a notary public in Ohio?

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To become a notary public in Ohio, a notary applicant’s expenses may include the following:

1. A $15 filing fee to process the notary online application for appointment or reappointment.
2. A fee paid to the entity administering the educational program and related test.
3. A notary stamp.
4. A notary journal if the notary wishes to record every notarial act performed.
5. An E&O insurance policy if a notary wishes to obtain one for his or her own personal legal and financial protection.

Do I need a notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy to become a notary in Ohio?

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A notary errors and omissions insurance policy is optional. However, the American Association of Notaries strongly recommends that Ohio notaries public obtain errors and omissions insurance for their personal protection against liability. Errors and omission insurance is designed to protect notaries public from liability against unintentional notarial mistakes or omissions that result in financial damages to the public or a document signer. An E&O policy customarily covers legal fees and damages based on the coverage an Ohio notary public selects.

Do I need a notary bond to become a notary in Ohio?

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All new applicants seeking an appointment as a notary public and renewing notaries are not statutorily required to purchase a notary bond to obtain their Ohio notary public commissions.

Do I need to order a notary stamp in Ohio?

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Ohio notary law requires all Ohio notaries public to use a rubber-inked stamp or embosser to authenticate all official acts (ORC §147.04). Section 147.04 provides the legal specifications regarding the layout and the information required on all notary stamps.

Dimensions: The seal shall consist of the state’s coat of arms in a circle having a diameter between three-quarters of an inch to one inch, surrounded by the required text.

Required Elements: The official stamp must contain the following elements:

• The words “notary public” or “notarial seal” or words to that effect;
• The name of the notary public; and
• The words “State of Ohio.”

Note: The name of the notary public may, instead of appearing on the seal, be printed, typewritten, or stamped in legible, printed letters near the notary's signature on each document signed by the notary public. A notary commissioned before September 20, 2019, may continue to use a seal that was in the notary’s possession before that date.

To order an Ohio notary stamp, notary seal, complete notary package, and notary supplies please visit the American Association of Notaries website, or call 713-644-2299.

How much can an Ohio notary public charge for performing notarial acts?

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Ohio notary fees are set by statute (ORC §147.08). The maximum allowable fees that an Ohio notary public may charge for notarial acts are listed below:

• Acknowledgments - $5.00
• Oaths or affirmations - $5.00
• Jurats- $5.00
• Attest documents - $5.00

Note: An online notary public may charge up to $25 for an online notarization. Section 147.08 prohibits notaries from calculating fees on a per signature basis. An Ohio notary may charge a reasonable travel fee, as agreed to by the notary and the principal prior to the notarial act. The Secretary of State may adopt rules to increase the maximum allowable notarial fees. A notary public who charges or receives a notarial fee greater than the amount prescribed by law may be removed and be ineligible for reappointment to the office of notary public.

Is a notary journal required in Ohio?

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A notary journal (also known as a record book, log book, or register book) is your first line of defense in proving your innocence if a notarial act you performed is questioned or if you are requested to testify in a court of law about a notarial act you performed in the past. A properly recorded notarial act creates a paper trail that will help investigators locate and prosecute signers who have committed forgery and fraud. Properly recorded notarial acts provide evidence that you followed your state laws and notary’s best practices.

 

Notary journal requirements in Ohio:

• Traditional Notarizations and Electronic Notarizations – The Ohio Secretary of State does not outline notary journal requirements regarding traditional and electronic notarizations; however, it is a notary’s best practice to maintain a notary journal in which they record all notarial acts performed. A notary journal can be maintained on a tangible medium or in an electronic format.
• Online Notarizations – An Ohio online notary public is required to maintain one or more electronic journals in which they record, in chronological order, all online notarizations performed. The electronic journal shall enable access by a password or other secure means of authentication and be in a tamper-evident electronic format complying with the rules of the secretary of state adopted under section 147.62 of the Revised Code.

The American Association of Notaries offers a wide variety of notary journals.

Click here to purchase a tangible notary journal.

Click here to become a member and access our electronic notary journal.

What information must Ohio notaries record in their notary journals?

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For Traditional Notarizations and Electronic Notarizations – The Secretary of State does not outline journal requirements regarding traditional and electronic notarizations; however, notaries are recommended to maintain a notary journal for all notarial acts performed. Notaries should follow best practices and record the following information:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. The type of notarial act.
3. A description of the document being notarized.
4. The printed name and address of the signer.
5. The method by which the signer was identified.
6. The fee charged, if any.
7. Any additional information that may assist the notary in recalling the notarial act performed.

 

For Online Notarizations – Ohio requires online notaries to chronicle the following information in their notary journals:

1. The date and time of the notarial act.
2. The type of notarial act.
3. The title or a description of the record being notarized, if any.
4. The electronic signature of each principal.
5. The printed full name and address of each principal.
6. If identification of the principal is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect.
7. If identification of the principal is based on satisfactory evidence of identity pursuant to division (E)(2) of section 147.64 of the Revised Code, a description of the evidence relied upon, including the date of issuance or expiration of any identification credential presented.
8. If identification of the principal is based on a credible witness or witnesses, the name of the witness or witnesses.
9. If the notarization was not performed at the online notary public's business address, the address where the notarization was performed.
10. A description of the online notarization system used.
11. The fee, if any, charged by the notary.
12. The name of the jurisdiction in which the principal was located at the time of the online notarization.
13. The recording upon which the identification of the principal is based, as required under division (D)(3) of this section.
14. Any other information required by the secretary of state.

Where can I perform notarial acts in Ohio?

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Ohio notaries public have statewide jurisdiction, and they must be physically within the geographic borders of the State of Ohio.Likewise, an Ohio notary public may not perform notarial acts outside Ohio.

What notarial acts can an Ohio notary public perform?

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An Ohio notary public is authorized to perform the following notarial acts (ORC §147.51):

• Take acknowledgments
• Administer oaths and affirmations
• Attest documents
• Jurats

Can I perform electronic notarizations in Ohio?

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Yes. Since September 29, 2017, the State of Ohio has authorized notaries public to obtain an electronic signature and electronic seal to notarize electronic documents in the physical presence of the individual seeking the notarization.

Can I perform remote online notarizations in Ohio?

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Yes. The State of Ohio enacted the “Notary Public Modernization Act” (“Act”), effective September 20, 2019. The new law allows the Secretary of State to issue notary commissions to Ohio notaries to perform online notarizations using live video links, electronic signatures, and electronic notary seals.

To be commissioned to perform online notarizations, a notary must:

1. Complete a two-hour class through an authorized online notary education and testing provider and pass a test;
2. Determine the type of technology to be used to perform online notarizations;
3. Apply online at the Secretary of State’s website;
4. Upload the certificates of completion for the education and testing requirement; and
5. Submit the $20 filing fee to process the authorization.

Upon approval, the Secretary of State issues a written authorization to the notary approving him or her to perform online notarizations. The authorization runs concurrently with the underlying notary public commission and can be renewed along with the underlying commission, unless the notary is also an attorney.

How do I update my address on my Ohio notary commission?

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Ohio notaries public are required to update their address information within thirty days after the address change by submitting the notice electronically to the Secretary of State. Under the new notary statute, all submissions to the Secretary of State for receiving and renewing notary commissions, updating name and address information, notifying the Secretary of State of certain criminal convictions, or resigning a notary public commission must be submitted electronically. All updates and changes to a notary public commission must be filed electronically with the Secretary of State.

How do I change my name on my notary commission in Ohio?

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Ohio notaries public who legally change their names during their commission terms must amend their notary public commissions within thirty days of a legal name change with the Secretary of State. A notary public also has the option to resign his or her notary commission by notifying the Secretary of State. All updates and changes to a notary public commission must be filed electronically with the Secretary of State.

Revised:

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August 2019