Notary Public FAQ

To become a notary in Ohio you must complete the steps outlined here.

Yes. Under the Notary Modernization Act, once your commission has expired you are treated as a new applicant and must follow the New Notary Application requirements, including the BCI background check, the 3-hour education course and test, and complete the Secretary of State New Notary Application. There is no grace period.

A. Under the Notary Modernization Act, you may submit the application to renew your commission no sooner than three (3) months prior to your commission expiration date.

NOTE: You can take the class up to 12 months prior and submit your background check up to 6 months prior to submitting your application. 

To renew your commission, you must complete the steps outlined here beginning 90 days prior to your expiration.

The Secretary of State processes applications within 1-2 business days. You will recieve your commission via email.

For an attorney to become a notary in Ohio you must complete the steps outlined here.

Visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office for more information on becoming an online notary.

Visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office for more information on renewing your online notary commission.

The education course is mandatory and must be taken through an authorized testing provider like the Columbus Bar Association. The fee for the education course is $130.00, which includes the 3-hour class, the test after the class, as well as the course and test completion certificates. The course and test are completed 100% online. For more information and to register for the course, visit our website.

Yes. The test has 30 multiple choice questions. Test results are provided immediately and 80% of questions must be answered correctly to pass. If you fail the test, you will have to retest after a 30-day waiting period.

Yes. Under the Notary Modernization Act, a commission can be applied for in any Ohio County. Accordingly, no matter where you are in the State of Ohio, the Columbus Bar Association can be your single point of contact for the entire process of becoming a traditional notary or renewing your traditional commission. Notary commissions are valid for the entire state of Ohio.

No, your BCI background check must be done specifically to become a notary. Reason: Applicant for notary; code: 147022

A peace officer does not need a BCI report BUT the applicant must upload their OPOTA Certificate in lieu of the BCI report when submitting a notary commission application and renewal application.

There is no automatic commission in Ohio. If you are commissioned in another jurisdiction you can become an Ohio notary if the following qualifications are met: 

• You must have had your commission for at least one year
• You must be in good standing in your original jurisdiction
• You must have satisfied the minimum education, training or experience requirements or passed an exam in your original jurisdiction
• You must not have any disqualifying offenses as defined by Ohio law
• You must take the Ohio exam

NOTE: Even if you receive your Ohio commission, notarial acts can ONLY be performed if you are physically located in Ohio. 

No. Your commission is valid statewide.

Notary fees may not be calculated on a per-signature basis, but instead should be calculated per notarial act. A notary may charge up to $5.00 for any notarial act (acknowledgement or affidavit, etc.) that is not an online notarization. An online notary may charge up to $30.00 for any online notarizations. The Secretary of State may adopt rules to change the fees Notaries may charge in the future; any such changes will be updated on the Columbus Bar Association website as soon as they take effect.

You must submit a Change of Name/Address form to the Ohio Secretary of State. There is a $2.00 fee for a name change. There is no fee for an address change. Check here for more information.

As a traditional notary, yes, they must personally appear and show proper identification. A court has held that the failure of a notary public to obtain some evidence of identification independent of a stranger’s representation is negligence as a matter of law.

If you have applied, successfully demonstrated the proper technology requirements, and been authorized as an online notary by the Secretary of State, an individual must appear before you through the simultaneous audio-visual technology upon which the Secretary of State granted your authorization and show proper identification through those means.

Yes, you may still notarize the document but you must ask the person to “affirm” that the facts stated are true to the best of his or her knowledge.

The Columbus Bar Association has all the notary supplies you need, from stamps and embossers to nameplates and ink. Click here to order your notary supplies.

Errors & Omissions insurance is always a good idea. Click here for more information.

Under the Notary Modernization Act, a journal is only required for Online Notaries. Traditional notaries are not required to keep a journal, however keeping a journal is recommended so that details of transactions are memorialized.

Yes. Under the Notary Modernization Act, an electronic journal is required for Online Notaries. Every online notarization performed must be recorded in an electronic journal with the following information:

1. The date and time of the notarial act;
2. The type of notarial act;
3. The title or a description of the record being notarized, if any;
4. The electronic signature of each principle;
5. The printed full name and address of each principle;
6. If identification of the principle is based on personal knowledge, a statement to that effect;
7. If identification is based on other sufficient evidence, a description of the evidence relied upon for any identification presented, including date of issuance or expiration;
8. If identification of the principal is based on a credible witness or witnesses, the name of the witness or witnesses;
9. If the notarization was not performed at the online notary public’s business address, the address where the notarization was performed;
10. A description of the online notarization system used;
11. The fee, if any, charged by the notary;
12. The name of the jurisdiction in which the principal was located at the time of the online
    notarization;
13. The recording upon which the identification of the principal is based;
14. Any other information required by the secretary of state.