Ohio Notary Exam
Define Notary Public Public Officer appointed and commissioned by the Secretary of State to serve the
Public as an impartial witness in performing specific acts authorized by law.
Two types of Notaries in Ohio 1. Traditional Notary Public
2. Online Notary Public
What does a Traditional Notary do? 1. Meets face to face
2. Notarizes electronic or paper documents (verifies signers signature & completes
notary certificate)
What does an Online Notary do? 1. Meets via webcam
2. Notarizes electronic documents only
What are the 4 actions of a traditional Notary? 1. Acknowledgments
2. Jurats
3. Oaths or Affirmations
4. Taking & certifying depositions
List the Qualifications to become a Notary. 1. 18 years old
2. legal resident, or attorney admitted to practice law in Ohio
3. No official misconduct or incapacity
4. Education requirement (complete course)
5. Pass the exam
List the application procedure. 1. Submit application which must include:
a. Commission Name
b. Residence address
c. Birthdate
d. Recent criminal records check
e. Signature
f. Proof of completion
g. $15
2. Sign and swear oath
3. Don't skip questions and don't forget to sign!
How long is the term of a Notary? 5 years
What is the jurisdiction of a Notary? Statewide jurisdiction
What are the roles of a Notary? 1. Serve the public for all reasonable requests
2. Be an impartial, third-party witness
Can an employer restrict an employee to only perform Yes.
services of notary to customers of the business?
When is the only times you can refuse to notarize? 1. Employee restricts
2. Unlawful or Unreasonable
*may NOT limit on basis of race, sex, gender, age, etc.*
Can you notarize if you are a party to or will benefit from No.
the underlying transaction?
, Ohio Notary Exam
Can attorneys notarize for their clients? Yes.
Can employees notarize for their employers? Yes, as long as they do not receive benefits from the transaction.
Can you notarize your own signature? No.
How often must you renew and how do you do it? Every 5 years, the same application you did the first time. Must be submitted no
more than 3 months prior to expiraiton.
What are the 5 steps of notarization? 1. Require personal appearance
2. Check document
3. Verify the facts
4. Record the notarization
5. Complete the certificate
What are the rules for requiring personal appearance? 1. Must appear at time of notarization
2. Must be face to face
3. No technology can substitute
4. Familiarity with signature not sufficient
What are the 3 elements you should check for when 1. Completeness
checking the document? - Notary CANNOT suggest how to fill in blanks and must refer the signer to
appropriate agency
2. Original Signature
- Document can be faxed or copied but not the signature
3. Certificate wording
What are the two ways you can verify the identify of the 1. Personal Knowledge
signer? 2. Satisfactory evidence
What are the rules for personal knowledge? 1. Interactions over a sufficient period of time
2. Reasonable certainty
List what is accepted as satisfactory evidence. 1. Acceptable ID
2. Sworn statement of one credible witness
What are the ID requirements? 1. Current or expired within last year
2. Serial or ID number
What are acceptable IDs? 1. Ohio DL or ID card
2. Other state DL or ID card
3. Mexican or Canadian DL
4. U.S. Passport
5. Foreign Passport stamped by USCIS
6. USCIS ID Card
7. US military ID card
What are the rules for a Credible Witness? 1. Notary must know credible witness or must be able to ID credible witness
2. Credible witness must know signer
3. Witness must take an oath
Define Notary Public Public Officer appointed and commissioned by the Secretary of State to serve the
Public as an impartial witness in performing specific acts authorized by law.
Two types of Notaries in Ohio 1. Traditional Notary Public
2. Online Notary Public
What does a Traditional Notary do? 1. Meets face to face
2. Notarizes electronic or paper documents (verifies signers signature & completes
notary certificate)
What does an Online Notary do? 1. Meets via webcam
2. Notarizes electronic documents only
What are the 4 actions of a traditional Notary? 1. Acknowledgments
2. Jurats
3. Oaths or Affirmations
4. Taking & certifying depositions
List the Qualifications to become a Notary. 1. 18 years old
2. legal resident, or attorney admitted to practice law in Ohio
3. No official misconduct or incapacity
4. Education requirement (complete course)
5. Pass the exam
List the application procedure. 1. Submit application which must include:
a. Commission Name
b. Residence address
c. Birthdate
d. Recent criminal records check
e. Signature
f. Proof of completion
g. $15
2. Sign and swear oath
3. Don't skip questions and don't forget to sign!
How long is the term of a Notary? 5 years
What is the jurisdiction of a Notary? Statewide jurisdiction
What are the roles of a Notary? 1. Serve the public for all reasonable requests
2. Be an impartial, third-party witness
Can an employer restrict an employee to only perform Yes.
services of notary to customers of the business?
When is the only times you can refuse to notarize? 1. Employee restricts
2. Unlawful or Unreasonable
*may NOT limit on basis of race, sex, gender, age, etc.*
Can you notarize if you are a party to or will benefit from No.
the underlying transaction?
, Ohio Notary Exam
Can attorneys notarize for their clients? Yes.
Can employees notarize for their employers? Yes, as long as they do not receive benefits from the transaction.
Can you notarize your own signature? No.
How often must you renew and how do you do it? Every 5 years, the same application you did the first time. Must be submitted no
more than 3 months prior to expiraiton.
What are the 5 steps of notarization? 1. Require personal appearance
2. Check document
3. Verify the facts
4. Record the notarization
5. Complete the certificate
What are the rules for requiring personal appearance? 1. Must appear at time of notarization
2. Must be face to face
3. No technology can substitute
4. Familiarity with signature not sufficient
What are the 3 elements you should check for when 1. Completeness
checking the document? - Notary CANNOT suggest how to fill in blanks and must refer the signer to
appropriate agency
2. Original Signature
- Document can be faxed or copied but not the signature
3. Certificate wording
What are the two ways you can verify the identify of the 1. Personal Knowledge
signer? 2. Satisfactory evidence
What are the rules for personal knowledge? 1. Interactions over a sufficient period of time
2. Reasonable certainty
List what is accepted as satisfactory evidence. 1. Acceptable ID
2. Sworn statement of one credible witness
What are the ID requirements? 1. Current or expired within last year
2. Serial or ID number
What are acceptable IDs? 1. Ohio DL or ID card
2. Other state DL or ID card
3. Mexican or Canadian DL
4. U.S. Passport
5. Foreign Passport stamped by USCIS
6. USCIS ID Card
7. US military ID card
What are the rules for a Credible Witness? 1. Notary must know credible witness or must be able to ID credible witness
2. Credible witness must know signer
3. Witness must take an oath
