Ohio (OH)
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Research Ohio notary commissions. NotaVeri can automatically cross-reference Ohio notary details against the official state database.
Visit Ohio Official Notary Database
How to Research a Ohio Notary
1. Go to https://notaryapp.ohiosos.gov/ords/f?p=ENSEARCH
2. Enter the notary's first and/or last name.
3. Click Search and review the results.
4. Verify the notary type, status, and expiration date match.
Alternatively, visit https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/ for additional resources.
2. Enter the notary's first and/or last name.
3. Click Search and review the results.
4. Verify the notary type, status, and expiration date match.
Alternatively, visit https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/ for additional resources.
How to Verify a Ohio Notary's Signature
Ohio notaries take their oath of office and file a bond with the county recorder in the county where they reside.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the county recorder in the county where the notary filed their oath and bond -- the recorder maintains the commission record.
2. Alternatively, contact the Ohio Secretary of State's office to confirm the notary's commission status.
Contact: Ohio Secretary of State -- (614) 466-2655
Ohio notaries have statewide jurisdiction regardless of their county of residence.
To verify a notary's signature:
1. Contact the county recorder in the county where the notary filed their oath and bond -- the recorder maintains the commission record.
2. Alternatively, contact the Ohio Secretary of State's office to confirm the notary's commission status.
Contact: Ohio Secretary of State -- (614) 466-2655
Ohio notaries have statewide jurisdiction regardless of their county of residence.
Verifying Older Ohio Documents
The Ohio SOS online notary search may cover both active and expired commissions.
1. Search the Ohio SOS notary database -- expired commission data may still appear in results.
2. If not found online, contact the Ohio Secretary of State at (614) 466-2655 for historical commission records.
3. You may also contact the county recorder in the notary's county of residence for oath and bond records.
Commission term: 5 years.
1. Search the Ohio SOS notary database -- expired commission data may still appear in results.
2. If not found online, contact the Ohio Secretary of State at (614) 466-2655 for historical commission records.
3. You may also contact the county recorder in the notary's county of residence for oath and bond records.
Commission term: 5 years.
Ohio Notary Stamp/Seal Requirements
Ohio requires every notary to use an official seal on notarized documents. Either a rubber stamp or an embosser is permitted.
Seal requirements (ORC 147.04):
- Type: Rubber stamp or embosser (both are acceptable)
- Must include: "Notary Public, State of Ohio", the notary's name exactly as commissioned, commission expiration date
- The seal must produce a clear, legible impression
- Ohio notaries have statewide jurisdiction
- Notaries file their oath and bond with the county recorder in their county of residence
Seal requirements (ORC 147.04):
- Type: Rubber stamp or embosser (both are acceptable)
- Must include: "Notary Public, State of Ohio", the notary's name exactly as commissioned, commission expiration date
- The seal must produce a clear, legible impression
- Ohio notaries have statewide jurisdiction
- Notaries file their oath and bond with the county recorder in their county of residence
Contacting a Ohio Notary
The following is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
We make no warranty regarding its accuracy or completeness.
Consult a qualified attorney before taking action.
Ohio — Contacting the Notary for Verification
Ohio requires online notaries public to maintain a journal of all online notarial acts. Traditional notaries are not required to maintain a journal, though it is recommended as best practice (ORC 147.04, 147.65).
Right to inspect:
- For online notaries: Any person may inspect or request a copy of journal entries, provided the person specifies the month, year, type of record, and name of the principal for the notarial act in a signed tangible or electronic request (ORC 147.65(H)(1)).
- The notary does not surrender possession or control of the journal.
- The person is shown or given a copy of only the entry or entries specified.
- A separate new entry must be made in the journal explaining the circumstances of the request and noting any related act of copy certification.
- An online notary who has a reasonable and explainable belief that a person requesting information has a criminal or other inappropriate purpose may deny access to any entries (ORC 147.65(H)(1)).
What can be requested:
- Journal entry details for the specified transaction: date, time, type of notarial act, type of document, identification method, and identity of the principal.
- The journal may be examined and copied without restriction by a law enforcement officer in the course of an official investigation, subpoenaed by court order, or surrendered at the direction of the Secretary of State (ORC 147.65(H)(1)).
- Attorneys authorized to conduct online notarizations may object to examination or copying based on attorney-client privilege (ORC 147.65(H)(1)).
- Thumbprint: Ohio does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
Key considerations:
- Traditional (non-online) notaries are not required to maintain journals, so many Ohio notaries may not have journals at all.
- For online notaries, the statutory inspection procedure provides specific protections for both the requesting party and the notary.
- If seeking verification of a traditional notarization where no journal was kept, it may be more productive to request an affidavit or sworn statement from the notary regarding their recollection of the notarial act, or to subpoena the notary for deposition.
- Contact: Ohio Secretary of State, Notary Public Commission — (614) 644-4559
Relevant statutes: ORC 147.04; ORC 147.65; ORC 147.65(H)(1)
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.
Ohio requires online notaries public to maintain a journal of all online notarial acts. Traditional notaries are not required to maintain a journal, though it is recommended as best practice (ORC 147.04, 147.65).
Right to inspect:
- For online notaries: Any person may inspect or request a copy of journal entries, provided the person specifies the month, year, type of record, and name of the principal for the notarial act in a signed tangible or electronic request (ORC 147.65(H)(1)).
- The notary does not surrender possession or control of the journal.
- The person is shown or given a copy of only the entry or entries specified.
- A separate new entry must be made in the journal explaining the circumstances of the request and noting any related act of copy certification.
- An online notary who has a reasonable and explainable belief that a person requesting information has a criminal or other inappropriate purpose may deny access to any entries (ORC 147.65(H)(1)).
What can be requested:
- Journal entry details for the specified transaction: date, time, type of notarial act, type of document, identification method, and identity of the principal.
- The journal may be examined and copied without restriction by a law enforcement officer in the course of an official investigation, subpoenaed by court order, or surrendered at the direction of the Secretary of State (ORC 147.65(H)(1)).
- Attorneys authorized to conduct online notarizations may object to examination or copying based on attorney-client privilege (ORC 147.65(H)(1)).
- Thumbprint: Ohio does not require thumbprints in notary journals.
Key considerations:
- Traditional (non-online) notaries are not required to maintain journals, so many Ohio notaries may not have journals at all.
- For online notaries, the statutory inspection procedure provides specific protections for both the requesting party and the notary.
- If seeking verification of a traditional notarization where no journal was kept, it may be more productive to request an affidavit or sworn statement from the notary regarding their recollection of the notarial act, or to subpoena the notary for deposition.
- Contact: Ohio Secretary of State, Notary Public Commission — (614) 644-4559
Relevant statutes: ORC 147.04; ORC 147.65; ORC 147.65(H)(1)
This information is provided for general reference only, does not constitute legal advice, and may not reflect current law. Laws and procedures change frequently. We make no warranty regarding accuracy or completeness. Consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before taking action.