OH Notary Electronic Notary Credentials 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What additional authorization must an Ohio notary obtain before performing electronic notarizations?
- A federal e-notary license
- An electronic notarization commission from the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- A separate county permit
- Approval from the Ohio Bar Association
Correct answer: An electronic notarization commission from the Secretary of State
Ohio notaries must register with the Secretary of State as an electronic notary before performing electronic notarial acts.
Under Ohio law, a traditional notary commission alone does not authorize electronic notarizations. The notary must apply for and receive authorization from the Ohio Secretary of State to perform electronic notarial acts.
Question 2: Which technology is required for an Ohio electronic notary's digital signature?
- A standard email signature
- A tamper-evident technology using a digital certificate (Correct answer)
- A scanned image of a handwritten signature
- A biometric fingerprint scanner
Correct answer: A tamper-evident technology using a digital certificate
Ohio electronic notaries must use tamper-evident technology with a digital certificate to create their electronic signature.
Ohio law requires electronic notaries to use a digital certificate-based signature that incorporates tamper-evident technology. Any changes to the notarized document after signing would be detectable.
Question 3: How long must an Ohio electronic notary retain electronic notarization records?
- 3 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 7 years
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
Ohio electronic notaries must retain records of electronic notarizations for at least 5 years.
Ohio law requires electronic notaries to maintain a secure electronic journal and retain those records for a minimum of 5 years. The records must be stored in a tamper-evident format and be readily accessible for inspection.
Question 4: An Ohio electronic notary's digital certificate must be obtained from:
- Any online certificate authority
- A vendor meeting Secretary of State standards (Correct answer)
- The county recorder's office
- The Ohio Department of Technology
Correct answer: A vendor meeting Secretary of State standards
The digital certificate must come from a vendor that meets the standards established by the Ohio Secretary of State.
Ohio electronic notaries must obtain their digital certificates from vendors that meet the technical standards and requirements established by the Secretary of State's office.
Question 5: What must an Ohio electronic notary do if their digital certificate is compromised?
- Continue using it until it expires
- Notify the Secretary of State immediately (Correct answer)
- File a police report only
- Wait until their next renewal to report it
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State immediately
An electronic notary must immediately notify the Secretary of State if their digital certificate is compromised.
If an Ohio electronic notary's digital certificate is compromised, lost, or stolen, they must immediately notify the Ohio Secretary of State and cease performing electronic notarizations until a replacement certificate is obtained.
Question 6: Which of the following is true about electronic notarization in Ohio?
- It eliminates the need for signer identification
- The electronic seal must contain the same information as a physical seal (Correct answer)
- Electronic notarizations are only valid for real estate transactions
- Electronic notaries do not need a traditional commission
Correct answer: The electronic seal must contain the same information as a physical seal
An Ohio electronic notary's electronic seal must contain the same elements as a traditional physical notary seal.
Ohio law requires that an electronic notary's seal contain the same information as a physical seal, including the notary's name, 'Notary Public, State of Ohio,' and the commission expiration date.
OH Notary Electronic Notary Credentials 2
What additional authorization must an Ohio notary obtain before performing electronic notarizations?