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Ohio Notary Public Guidelines
and
Procedures Questions and
Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already
Graded
Impartiality
Ans: Notaries must have no interest in document
content.
Ohio Secretary of State
Ans: Processes notary applications and maintains
notary database.
Duplicate Commission
Ans: Issued for $2 fee if commission is lost.
Certified Copy Fee
Ans: Fee of $5 for certified notary copies.
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Notary Qualifications
Ans: Must be 18, resident (if not a resident, is an
attorney admitted to practice law in Ohio), and pass
background check.
Exception for an attorney regarding residency.
Ans: Attorneys in Ohio meet residency qualification.
Exception regarding attorneys and peace officers.
Ans: Attorneys and peace officers exempt from
background check.
Exception for attorneys regarding 2019.
Ans: Attorneys commissioned before 2019 are exempt
from tests.
Criminal Records Check
Ans: Required for notary applicants, not public record.
Disqualifying Offenses
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Ans: Crimes of moral turpitude disqualify notary
applicants.
Term of Notary Commission
Ans: Notaries serve a five-year term unless revoked.
Jurisdiction of Notaries
Ans: Notaries can perform acts statewide.
Notarial Acts
Ans: Authorized acts include oaths, acknowledgments,
and attestations.
Notarial Steps
Ans: Verify identity, journal entry, administer act,
collect fee.
Verifying Identity
Ans: Identification must include photo and signature.
Designated Alternative Signer
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Ans: Allows someone to sign for physically limited
individuals.
Signature by Mark
Ans: Signer uses a mark if unable to sign.
Notarial Certificate
Ohio Notary Public Guidelines
and
Procedures Questions and
Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already
Graded
Impartiality
Ans: Notaries must have no interest in document
content.
Ohio Secretary of State
Ans: Processes notary applications and maintains
notary database.
Duplicate Commission
Ans: Issued for $2 fee if commission is lost.
Certified Copy Fee
Ans: Fee of $5 for certified notary copies.
, Page|2
Notary Qualifications
Ans: Must be 18, resident (if not a resident, is an
attorney admitted to practice law in Ohio), and pass
background check.
Exception for an attorney regarding residency.
Ans: Attorneys in Ohio meet residency qualification.
Exception regarding attorneys and peace officers.
Ans: Attorneys and peace officers exempt from
background check.
Exception for attorneys regarding 2019.
Ans: Attorneys commissioned before 2019 are exempt
from tests.
Criminal Records Check
Ans: Required for notary applicants, not public record.
Disqualifying Offenses
, Page|3
Ans: Crimes of moral turpitude disqualify notary
applicants.
Term of Notary Commission
Ans: Notaries serve a five-year term unless revoked.
Jurisdiction of Notaries
Ans: Notaries can perform acts statewide.
Notarial Acts
Ans: Authorized acts include oaths, acknowledgments,
and attestations.
Notarial Steps
Ans: Verify identity, journal entry, administer act,
collect fee.
Verifying Identity
Ans: Identification must include photo and signature.
Designated Alternative Signer
, Page|4
Ans: Allows someone to sign for physically limited
individuals.
Signature by Mark
Ans: Signer uses a mark if unable to sign.
Notarial Certificate
