(A)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(4) of section 147.01 of the Revised Code, no person shall be appointed as a notary public unless that person has completed an educational program related to the requirements of this chapter and passed a test demonstrating knowledge of such requirements.

Terms Used In Ohio Code 147.021

  • Acknowledgment: means a declaration by an individual before a notary public that the individual has signed a record for the purpose stated in the record, and if the record is signed in a representative capacity, that the individual signed the record with proper authority and signed it as the act of the individual or entity identified in the record. See Ohio Code 147.011
  • Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
  • Jurat: means a notarial act in which both of the following are met:

    (1) The signer of the notarized document is required to give an oath or affirmation that the statement in the notarized document is true and correct;

    (2) The signer signs the notarized document in the presence of a notary public. See Ohio Code 147.011

  • Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59

(2) The secretary of state may authorize that such a program be completed online.

(B) The secretary of state shall adopt, in rules under Chapter 119 of the Revised Code, standards and curricula for the educational program required under this section. The rules shall address all of the following:

(1) The entities authorized to administer the educational program and the required test, which shall include the following entities that meet the minimum requirements established by the secretary of state:

(a) Those entities providing notary public educational programming and testing services prior to the effective date of this section;

(b) Another entity that has a business relationship with an entity described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section.

(2) The standards and curricula of the program, which shall be established in coordination with the entities authorized to administer the program and the required test and shall include all of the following:

(a) The terms of notary commission;

(b) How to renew a commission;

(c) The conditions under which a commission may be revoked;

(d) What constitutes a legal notarial act;

(e) The manner of taking depositions;

(f) The taking of an acknowledgment;

(g) The administration of a jurat.

(3) The provisions and content of the required test, which shall be established in coordination with the entities authorized to administer the educational program and required test.

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