OH Notary - Ohio Notary Exam Ohio Notary Commissioning and General Duties 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the length of an Ohio notary public commission term?
- Two years
- Four years
- Five years (Correct answer)
- Ten years
Correct answer: Five years
An Ohio notary commission is valid for five years from the date it is issued by the Secretary of State.
Question 2: What is the required surety bond amount that an Ohio notary public must obtain before taking office?
- $1,000
- $5,000 (Correct answer)
- $10,000
- $25,000
Correct answer: $5,000
Ohio law requires a notary public to obtain a $5,000 surety bond as a condition of the commission, protecting the public against errors or misconduct.
Question 3: What is the minimum age an applicant must be to qualify for an Ohio notary commission?
- 16 years old
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 21 years old
- 25 years old
Correct answer: 18 years old
An applicant must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible for an Ohio notary public commission.
Question 4: Which piece of information is required to appear on an Ohio notary public's official seal?
- The notary's home street address
- The notary's Social Security number
- The commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The date the bond was filed
Correct answer: The commission expiration date
Ohio law requires the notary's official seal to include the notary's name, 'Notary Public, State of Ohio,' the county of the notary's principal place of business, and the commission expiration date.
Question 5: Before submitting an application for an Ohio notary commission, an applicant must complete:
- A 3-hour notary education course approved by the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- A 10-hour apprenticeship under a licensed Ohio attorney
- A 6-hour online legal ethics seminar
- No pre-application education — training is only required after commissioning
Correct answer: A 3-hour notary education course approved by the Secretary of State
Ohio requires all new notary applicants to complete a 3-hour education course from a provider approved by the Secretary of State prior to submitting their application.
Question 6: Which of the following acts is an Ohio notary public generally NOT authorized to perform?
- Administering oaths and affirmations
- Taking acknowledgments on legal documents
- Solemnizing a marriage ceremony (Correct answer)
- Certifying copies of documents
Correct answer: Solemnizing a marriage ceremony
Ohio notaries public are not authorized to solemnize marriages. Their authority is limited to acts such as taking acknowledgments, administering oaths, and certifying copies.
What is the length of an Ohio notary public commission term?