Notary

In Ohio, people become notaries public for both professional reasons and out of a sense of public service. Many notaries are employees in law offices, title agencies, financial institutions, local governments, and small businesses where notarization is a routine part of serving customers or constituents. Whether required for a job or pursued independently, Ohio notaries help ensure confidence and integrity in critical moments of civic and commercial life.

A notary public is an individual commissioned by the Ohio Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness for legally significant documents. The process of performing notarial acts deters fraud by verifying the signer’s identity and ensuring that the signer understands what they are signing and does so willingly.

Serving as a notary public is a privilege. A notary is an officer of the state, and as such, they are required to meet certain requirements, take an oath of office, and demonstrate the requisite honesty, integrity, competence, and reliability when acting in their official capacity.