Ohio Code 147.542 – Notarial certificates
(A) A notary public shall provide a completed notarial certificate for every notarial act the notary public performs.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 147.542
- 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
- 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
- Notarial certificate: means the part of, or attachment to, a document that is completed by the notary public and upon which the notary public places the notary public's signature and seal. See Ohio Code 147.011
- Oath: includes affirmation, and "swear" includes affirm. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
- 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
- Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
(B) If a notarial certificate incorrectly indicates the type of notarization performed, the notary public shall provide a correct certificate at no charge to the person signing in question.
(C) A jurat certificate shall state that an oath or affirmation was administered to the signer with regard to the notarial act.
(D)(1) A notary public shall not use an acknowledgment certificate with regard to a notarial act in which an oath or affirmation has been administered.
(2) A notary public shall not use a jurat certificate with regard to a notarial act in which an oath or affirmation has not been administered.
(E) A certificate required under this section may be provided through any of the following means:
(1) Preprinting on a notarial document;
(2) Ink stamp;
(3) Handwritten note;
(4) A separate, attached document.
(F) A notarial certificate shall show all of the following information:
(1) The state and county venue where the notarization is being performed;
(2) The wording of the acknowledgment or jurat in question;
(3) The date on which the notarial act was performed;
(4) The signature of the notary, exactly as shown on the notary’s commission;
(5) The notary’s printed name, displayed below the notary’s signature or inked stamp;
(6) The notary’s notarial seal and commission expiration date;
(7) If an electronic document was signed in the physical presence of a notary and notarized pursuant to section 147.591 of the Revised Code, or if an online notarization was performed pursuant to sections 147.60 to 147.66 of the Revised Code, the certificate shall include a statement to that effect.
(G) A notary public may explain to a signer the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat, but shall not, unless that notary is an attorney, advise the person on the type of notarial act that best suits a situation.
Last updated January 23, 2023 at 10:01 AM