OH Notary - Ohio Notary Performing Notarial Acts Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A signer presents a document for notarization in Ohio that has already been signed. The notarial certificate is a jurat. Which of the following actions must the notary public take?
- Refuse to notarize the document because it was already signed.
- Proceed with the notarization after verifying the signer's identity and administering an oath.
- Have the signer sign the document again in the notary's presence and administer an oath. (Correct answer)
- Cross out the existing signature and have the signer initial the change before re-signing.
Correct answer: Have the signer sign the document again in the notary's presence and administer an oath.
For a jurat, Ohio law requires that the signer sign the document in the presence of the notary public. If the document is already signed, the correct procedure is for the signer to sign it again in the notary's presence after the notary has administered the required oath or affirmation.
Question 2: An Ohio notary is asked to notarize a document for a family member. The notary has no direct financial or other interest in the transaction. Which statement is true regarding this situation?
- Ohio law strictly prohibits notarizing for any family member, regardless of interest.
- The notary may perform the notarial act because having a familial relationship is not an automatic conflict of interest. (Correct answer)
- The notary can only proceed if another, non-related notary is present to witness the act.
- The notary must first obtain written permission from the Ohio Secretary of State.
Correct answer: The notary may perform the notarial act because having a familial relationship is not an automatic conflict of interest.
Ohio law does not expressly prohibit a notary from notarizing for a family member. The key consideration is whether the notary has a conflict of interest, which is defined as having a direct financial or other interest in the transaction or being a party to it. If no such conflict exists, the notarization is permissible.
Question 3: Which of the following is a key requirement for the notarial act of an acknowledgment in Ohio?
- The notary must administer an oath or affirmation to the signer.
- The document must be signed in the physical presence of the notary.
- The signer must declare to the notary that they signed the record for the purposes stated within it. (Correct answer)
- The notary must keep a detailed journal entry for every acknowledgment.
Correct answer: The signer must declare to the notary that they signed the record for the purposes stated within it.
An acknowledgment is a notarial act where an individual declares before a notary that they have signed a record for the purpose stated in it. While the signer must appear before the notary, the document does not necessarily have to be signed in the notary's presence for an acknowledgment. An oath is not required for an acknowledgment, and while recommended, a journal is not mandatory for traditional notarizations in Ohio.
Question 4: A person asks an Ohio notary public to certify a copy of their birth certificate. How should the notary respond?
- Make a photocopy, attach a notarial certificate, and complete the notarization.
- Inform the signer that a notary is authorized to certify copies of any document.
- Refuse the request, as Ohio notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of vital records. (Correct answer)
- Advise the signer to make a sworn statement that the copy is true, and then notarize the signer's signature on the statement.
Correct answer: Refuse the request, as Ohio notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of vital records.
Ohio notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of documents, especially vital records like birth certificates. These official records must be obtained directly from the government agency that issues them. A notary's authority is limited to the notarial acts specified in the Ohio Revised Code, which does not include copy certification.
Question 5: When performing a traditional (in-person, paper) notarial act in Ohio, which of the following is required by law?
- Recording the act in a chronological journal.
- Affixing a seal that includes the Ohio coat of arms. (Correct answer)
- Charging the maximum fee allowed by the state.
- Obtaining the signer's thumbprint in the notary journal.
Correct answer: Affixing a seal that includes the Ohio coat of arms.
Ohio law requires a notary public to use an official seal for every notarial act. The seal must contain the coat of arms of the state of Ohio within a circle, surrounded by specific words including the notary's name and "State of Ohio." Keeping a journal for traditional notarizations is strongly recommended as a best practice but not legally required.
Question 6: A signer in Columbus, Ohio, appears before a notary with a valid, unexpired passport issued by the French government for identification. The document is to be notarized in Ohio. Is this an acceptable form of identification?
- No, the identification must be issued by the State of Ohio or the U.S. federal government.
- Yes, a passport is a government-issued identification card with a photograph and is acceptable. (Correct answer)
- No, because the passport is not in English.
- Yes, but only if the signer is also able to provide a secondary form of U.S.-issued identification.
Correct answer: Yes, a passport is a government-issued identification card with a photograph and is acceptable.
Ohio law allows a notary to identify a signer using satisfactory evidence, which includes a passport, driver's license, or other form of government-issued identification with the signature or photograph of the individual. The law does not specify that the government-issued ID must be from the United States.
OH Notary - Ohio Notary Performing Notarial Acts Questions and Answers
A signer presents a document for notarization in Ohio that has already been signed.
The notarial certificate is a jurat.
Which of the following actions must the notary public take?