How to Become a Notary in Ohio

A notary public is an official of the state who witnesses the signing of documents and administers oaths.

How to Become a Notary in Ohio:
1. Be at least 18 years old
2. Be a resident of Ohio
3. Complete a Notary Public education program
4. Pass a written examination
5. Submit an application to the Ohio Secretary of State
6. Be fingerprinted

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Introduction

Ohio notaries public are appointed by the Governor for a four-year term. The Secretary of State’s office recommended that you reapply for appointment at least two months before your current term expires. You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Ohio to qualify. In addition, you must have no felony convictions and no notary commission suspensions or revocations in any state.

To apply for an Ohio notary commission, you must submit the following to the Secretary of State’s office:
-A completed Notary Public Application form
-A $50 filing fee
-A Certificate of Completion for the Notary Education Course

You can find the Notary Public Application form on the Secretary of State’s website. The filing fee can be paid by check or money order made payable to the “Secretary of State.” TheNotary Education Course must be completed before you submit your application form.

What is a Notary Public?

A notary public is a person who has been appointed by the state to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. Notaries are responsible for verifying the identity of the person or persons signing the document, and they must also sign and stamp the document to confirm that it has been properly notarized.

If you need to have a document notarized, you can visit a notary public in Ohio. You will need to bring a photo ID with you, and you may also need to provide proof of your current address. The notary will then verify your identity and ask you to sign the document in their presence. Once you have signed the document, the notary will put their official stamp on it and date it.

You can find a list of notaries public in Ohio here:
[Notaries Public in Ohio](https://www.sos.state.oh.us/notary/notary-publics/)

If you want to become a notary public in Ohio, you must first fill out an application with the Secretary of State’s office. You will need to provide your name, address, and contact information on the application. You will also be required to submit a $50 filing fee. Once your application has been processed, you will be contacted by the Secretary of State’s office and given further instructions on how to complete your training and take your oath of office.

The Notary Public Commission

In Ohio, the Notary Public Commission is administered by the Secretary of State. To become a notary, you must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Be a resident of Ohio or have a place of business in Ohio.
3. Complete an application and submit it to the Secretary of State’s office.
4. Submit a $75 fee.
5. Have your fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency authorized by the Attorney General to do so.
6. Take and pass an examination administered by the Secretary of State’s office on the statutory requirements for Notaries Public in Ohio, unless you are exempt from taking the examination (see next section).
7. Execute a bond in the amount of $25,000 with two sureties approved by the Secretary of State’s office, unless you are exempt from executing a bond (see next section). The bond must be filed with the county clerk in the county where you maintain your place of business or reside.

The Notary Public Exam

The first step to becoming a notary public in Ohio is to pass an examination administered by the Ohio Secretary of State. The exam covers four areas:

· The duties and responsibilities of a notary public

· The procedures for performing notarial acts

· The laws of Ohio relating to notaries public

· The proper way to complete and keep notarial records

You must score at least 70% on the examination in order to pass.

The Notary Public Oath

All Notaries Public in the State of Ohio must take and sign the following oath:

“I, (name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that as a Notary Public I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio; that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office as such, without favor or affection, and that I will use my best efforts to prevent fraud in all Notarial acts. Further, I understand that it is a felony of the fifth degree for any person to violate this oath.”

The Notary Public Record

The Notary Public Record is the log book in which the notary public must enter each notarization he or she performs. This record must be maintained throughout the notary’s term of office and must be delivered to theHelp Center upon request. The notary public may purchase a suitable Notary Public Record from a number of different vendors, but an authorized representative of the notary public’s employer may also provide him or her with a suitable record book.

Notary Public Fees

A notary public is a person who has been appointed by the state to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of documents. Notaries are also responsible for verifying the identity of the persons signing the documents and ensuring that they understand the contents of the document. In Ohio, notaries are appointed by the Secretary of State.

Notary public fees are set by state law and are currently $6 per notarization, with a maximum fee of $60 per day. Notaries are allowed to charge a reasonable mileage fee if they must travel more than 20 miles round trip to perform a notarial act.

Notary Public Signature

A notary public of Ohio is an individual commissioned by the state to act as an impartial witness in the signing of important documents. The main purpose of notarization is to deter fraud by requiring the physical presence of the signer and at least one other witness, who can attest to the signer’s identity.

In Ohio, a notary public must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the state, and able to read and write English. The individual must also possess a certificate of commission issued by the state.

The first step in becoming a notary public is to file an application with the clerk of courts in the county where you reside. The application must be accompanied by a $37 filing fee and a $10 surety bond.

After your application has been approved, you will be required to take an oath of office and sign a bond before a judge or clerk of court. You will then be issued a commission certificate, which must be kept in your possession while performing notarial acts.

As a notary public, you will be responsible for maintaining a journal of all official acts performed while in office. This journal must be kept in your possession at all times and made available upon request by any person.

If you move to another county during your term as notary public, you must notify the clerk of courts in both counties and file a notice of change of address with the new county clerk’s office.

Notary Public Seal

To become a notary in Ohio, you must first purchase a notary public bond and then file an application with the Ohio Secretary of State. The surety bond must be in the amount of $25,000, and the application must be accompanied by a filing fee of $39.00.

You will also need to provide proof that you are a citizen of the United States and a resident of Ohio, and that you are at least 18 years of age. If you have been convicted of a felony, you cannot become a notary in Ohio.

Once your application has been approved, you will be issued a commission certificate and official seal. The commission is valid for four years, and can be renewed by filing an reapplication with the Secretary of State’s office.

As a notary public in Ohio, you will have the authority to administer oaths, take acknowledgments, take depositions, certify copies of documents, and officiate at marriages.

Notary Public Journal

A notary public is an individual commissioned by the state to witness the signing of certain legal documents and administer oaths. In Ohio, notaries are appointed by the governor for a term of four years. The requirements for becoming a notary in Ohio are as follows:

-You must be 18 years old or older.
-You must be a resident of Ohio.
-You must have a clean criminal record.
-You must complete a training course approved by the Secretary of State’s office.
-You must pass an examination administered by the Secretary of State’s office.
-You must purchase a surety bond in the amount of $25,000.

Notary Public Duties

A notary public is an official of the state by whom important documents are authenticated for use in other states. The notary’s signature and official seal certify that the document is a true copy of the original. Notaries are appointed by the Governor and serve a four-year term.

Notaries public are armed with the power to administer oaths, take affidavits and affirmations, and take acknowledgment of deeds and other conveyances. They may also act as witnesses to the signing of important documents.

The duties of a notary public are outlined in Ohio Revised Code section 147.01:

“To take acknowledgments of deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, contracts, and other instruments in writing relating to real or personal property for the purpose of recording them; to administer oaths required or authorized by law; to take depositions; and to perform such other duties as notaries public are authorized or required by law to perform.”

Notary Public Liability

Although you may be held liable for damages if you make a mistake as a notary, your personal assets are usually protected from liability. In Ohio, Notaries are protected from most civil liabilities by the Ohio Notary Act, which is found in Chapter 147 of the Ohio Revised Code. The Notary Act limits the amount of money for which a notary can be held liable in damages to $25,000 per occurrence, as long as the notary was acting in good faith and following the requirements of state law.

Notary Public Commission Renewal

You must renew your Notary Public Commission every four years.

There is no cost to renew your commission. The only requirement is that you complete an application and submit it to the office of the Secretary of State.

You will be notified by mail when it is time to renew your commission. The renewal process is simple and only takes a few minutes to complete.