OH Notary - Ohio Notary Exam Ohio Notary Ohio Notary Law and Rules 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How long is an Ohio notary public's commission term under the Ohio Revised Code?
- 2 years
- 4 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
Under ORC Chapter 147, an Ohio notary public commission is valid for 5 years from the date it is issued by the Secretary of State.
Question 2: Under Ohio law, which of the following is a required element on a notary public's official seal or stamp?
- The notary's county of residence and bar number
- The notary's name as commissioned, the words 'Notary Public, State of Ohio,' and commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The notary's home address and telephone number
- The Ohio Secretary of State's official seal and registration number
Correct answer: The notary's name as commissioned, the words 'Notary Public, State of Ohio,' and commission expiration date
Ohio law requires a notary's official seal to display the notary's exact commissioned name, the words 'Notary Public, State of Ohio,' and the expiration date of the commission so document recipients can verify validity.
Question 3: An Ohio notary public is absolutely prohibited from performing a notarial act when:
- The document is written in a language other than English
- The signer is a non-U.S. citizen
- The notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction being notarized (Correct answer)
- The signer is related to the notary by marriage
Correct answer: The notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction being notarized
Ohio law prohibits a notary from notarizing any document in which they have a direct financial or beneficial interest, because such a conflict of interest undermines the impartial witness role of the notary.
Question 4: Under Ohio's Remote Online Notarization (RON) law, which requirement must a notary meet before performing online notarizations?
- Obtain a separate RON license from the Ohio Bar Association
- Register with the Secretary of State and use an approved RON technology platform (Correct answer)
- Complete 40 hours of in-person notarization experience first
- Receive written approval from the county recorder's office
Correct answer: Register with the Secretary of State and use an approved RON technology platform
Ohio's RON statute requires notaries to register specifically for RON authority with the Secretary of State and to conduct all online notarizations through a Secretary of State-approved technology provider.
Question 5: What is the maximum fee an Ohio notary public may charge per notarial act under state law?
- $1.00
- $2.50
- $5.00 (Correct answer)
- $15.00
Correct answer: $5.00
ORC 147.08 caps the fee an Ohio notary may charge at $5.00 per notarial act; charging more than the statutory limit is a prohibited practice.
Question 6: If an Ohio notary public changes their name or mailing address, Ohio law requires them to notify the Secretary of State within:
- 10 days of the change
- 30 days of the change (Correct answer)
- 60 days of the change
- 90 days of the change
Correct answer: 30 days of the change
Ohio notaries must update their commission information with the Secretary of State within 30 days of a name or address change; failure to do so may jeopardize the validity of their commission.
OH Notary - Ohio Notary Exam Ohio Notary Ohio Notary Law and Rules 1
How long is an Ohio notary public's commission term under the Ohio Revised Code?