OH Notary - Ohio Notary Ohio Notary Law and Rules Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An Ohio notary public changes their legal name after getting married. According to Ohio law, what action must the notary take?
- Continue notarizing using their new name and order a new seal immediately.
- Inform the Secretary of State within 30 days and pay a $2.00 fee to amend the commission. (Correct answer)
- Wait until their current commission expires to update their name upon renewal.
- Notify the county clerk of courts in their county of residence within 10 business days.
Correct answer: Inform the Secretary of State within 30 days and pay a $2.00 fee to amend the commission.
Ohio Revised Code Section 147.05 requires a notary to notify the Secretary of State of any name or address change within 30 days. There is a required $2.00 fee for a name change, which includes the issuance of an updated commission certificate.
Question 2: What is the maximum fee an Ohio notary, who is authorized to perform online notarizations, can charge for a single remote online notarial act?
- $5.00, the same as a traditional notarization.
- $15.00, plus any technology fees.
- $30.00, plus a separate, optional technology fee. (Correct answer)
- A reasonable fee agreed upon with the signer, with no set maximum.
Correct answer: $30.00, plus a separate, optional technology fee.
Ohio Revised Code 147.08 establishes the maximum fee for an online notarization at $30.00. Additionally, a notary may charge a separate technology fee of up to $10 for the use of the online notarization system.
Question 3: Which of the following is a mandatory requirement for an Ohio notary's official seal for traditional, paper notarizations?
- The notary's commission expiration date.
- The seal must be an embossing, raised-impression type.
- The coat of arms of the state of Ohio. (Correct answer)
- The county in which the notary resides.
Correct answer: The coat of arms of the state of Ohio.
Ohio Revised Code 147.04 specifies that the official seal must include the coat of arms of the state of Ohio within a circle. While the notary's name and "State of Ohio" are also required, the commission expiration date and county are not mandatory on the seal itself.
Question 4: An Ohio notary is performing a remote online notarization (RON). The signer is physically located in Florida. Where must the notary be physically located during this notarial act?
- Anywhere in the United States.
- Anywhere, as long as they are using an approved RON platform.
- Within the state of Ohio. (Correct answer)
- In the same county where their commission is registered.
Correct answer: Within the state of Ohio.
Ohio law is explicit that an online notary public must be physically located within the boundaries of Ohio at the time the notarial act takes place, even if the signer is located elsewhere.
Question 5: Regarding record-keeping, which statement is true for Ohio notaries public?
- All notaries are required to maintain a detailed journal for every notarial act performed.
- Only notaries who perform real estate transactions must keep a journal.
- A journal is strongly recommended for traditional notarizations but is legally required for all remote online notarizations.
- Journals are considered personal records and are not required to be surrendered upon commission expiration. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Journals are considered personal records and are not required to be surrendered upon commission expiration.
While Ohio law does not mandate a journal for traditional, in-person notarizations, the Secretary of State strongly recommends it. However, Ohio Revised Code 147.65 makes it a legal requirement for online notaries to maintain a secure, electronic journal for all remote online notarizations.
Question 6: The Ohio Secretary of State may take disciplinary action, including commission revocation, against a notary for which of the following acts?
- Charging less than the maximum allowed fee for a notarial act.
- Notarizing a document for a resident of a different Ohio county.
- Refusing to notarize a document because the signer appears to be coerced.
- Failing to administer an oath or affirmation when executing a jurat. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Failing to administer an oath or affirmation when executing a jurat.
Ohio Revised Code 147.032 states that the Secretary of State may revoke a commission for acts demonstrating a lack of integrity or competence, which explicitly includes failing to administer an oath or affirmation for a jurat. Refusing to notarize under coercion is a proper action, and jurisdiction is statewide, not limited by county.
OH Notary - Ohio Notary Ohio Notary Law and Rules Questions and Answers
An Ohio notary public changes their legal name after getting married.
According to Ohio law, what action must the notary take?