OH Notary - Ohio Notary Notarial Certificates and Seal 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following must appear on an Ohio notary's official seal?
- The notary's home address
- The words 'Notary Public, State of Ohio' and the notary's name (Correct answer)
- The county of the notarial act
- The notary's bar number if applicable
Correct answer: The words 'Notary Public, State of Ohio' and the notary's name
Ohio law requires the seal to include the notary's name and 'Notary Public, State of Ohio.'
An Ohio notary's seal must contain the notary's name, 'Notary Public, State of Ohio,' and the commission expiration date. It does not need a home address, county, or professional license numbers.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the notarial certificate attached to a notarized document?
- To guarantee the legality of the document's contents
- To certify that the notary performed the notarial act according to law (Correct answer)
- To serve as a receipt for the notary fee
- To verify the accuracy of the information in the document
Correct answer: To certify that the notary performed the notarial act according to law
The certificate certifies that the notary performed the required act and identifies the type of act.
The notarial certificate certifies that a specific notarial act was performed. It does NOT verify the accuracy or legality of the document's contents.
Question 3: An Ohio notary is presented with a document that has no notarial certificate. What should they do?
- Refuse to notarize the document
- Attach or add the appropriate notarial certificate wording (Correct answer)
- Sign the document without a certificate
- Ask the signer to write the certificate language
Correct answer: Attach or add the appropriate notarial certificate wording
The notary should determine the type of act needed and attach the appropriate certificate wording.
When a document lacks certificate wording, the notary should determine the type of act needed and add the appropriate certificate wording using statutory forms. This is standard practice and does not constitute unauthorized practice of law.
Question 4: Which type of notarial certificate is used when a signer swears the contents are true?
- An acknowledgment certificate
- A jurat certificate (Correct answer)
- A copy certification
- A protest certificate
Correct answer: A jurat certificate
A jurat certificate is used when the signer takes an oath swearing to truthfulness.
A jurat is used when the signer must swear or affirm the contents are true. It differs from an acknowledgment, where the signer merely confirms they signed voluntarily.
Question 5: Can an Ohio notary use a rubber stamp seal instead of an embossing seal?
- No, only embossing seals are permitted
- Yes, either rubber stamp or embossing seals are acceptable (Correct answer)
- Only for electronic documents
- Only with prior Secretary of State approval
Correct answer: Yes, either rubber stamp or embossing seals are acceptable
Ohio law permits either rubber stamp or embossing seals.
Ohio allows rubber stamp (ink) seals, embossing seals, or both. Many notaries prefer ink stamps because they reproduce better on photocopies and scans.
Question 6: The notarial certificate for an acknowledgment must include which key statement?
- That the signer swore the contents are true
- That the signer appeared before the notary and acknowledged signing voluntarily (Correct answer)
- That the notary verified the document's legal validity
- That the signer paid the required fee
Correct answer: That the signer appeared before the notary and acknowledged signing voluntarily
An acknowledgment certificate states that the signer appeared and acknowledged signing of their own free will.
The acknowledgment certificate must state that the named signer personally appeared and acknowledged voluntary execution. Unlike a jurat, it does not require swearing to the truth of the contents.
OH Notary - Ohio Notary Notarial Certificates and Seal 2
Which of the following must appear on an Ohio notary's official seal?