In Ohio the requirements to become a notary are now statewide. As of September 20, 2019, the Ohio Secretary of State's Office is the place to start your notary application. The Columbus Bar Association is a certified provider of notary education. This libguide will feature the CBA's services for Franklin County.
If you need to change your name or address on your notary commission, go to the Ohio Secretary of State's online notary commission system.
A notary's duty is to screen the signers of important documents for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction. Notaries require the signer to swear or affirm that the information contained in a document is true to the best of their knowledge. Property deeds, wills, powers of attorney, and affidavits are some documents that must be notarized.
Generally, a notary will ask to see a current ID that has a photo, physical description and signature. Acceptable IDs usually include a driver’s license, state ID or passport.