Effective: September 20, 2019
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 263 - 132nd General Assembly
(A)(1) If the secretary of state believes that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the secretary of state may investigate such violations.
(2) The secretary of state may investigate possible violations of this chapter upon a signed complaint from any person.
(B) The secretary of state may hold a disciplinary hearing if the secretary of state determines a hearing to be appropriate after an investigation conducted under division (A) of this section.
(C) After holding an administrative hearing and concluding that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the secretary of state may do any of the following:
(1) Revoke the notary public's commission;
(2) Suspend the notary public's commission for a specified period of time or until fulfillment of a condition, such as retraining, or both.
(3) Issue a letter of admonition that shall be placed in the notary public's record.
(D) A person whose notary commission has been revoked may not apply for a subsequent notary commission.
(E) The secretary of state may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to set forth procedures for investigations and hearings regarding violations of this chapter and disciplinary actions taken.
(F) The secretary of state may establish an advisory board to meet as the secretary of state considers necessary to discuss matters related to notary law and procedures.
Structure Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 147 | Notaries Public and Commissioners
Section 147.01 | Appointment and Commission of Notaries Public - Notary Public for State.
Section 147.011 | Definitions.
Section 147.021 | Education and Testing.
Section 147.022 | Criminal Records Check.
Section 147.03 | Term of Office - Oath - Removal for Violating Oath.
Section 147.031 | Renewal of Commission.
Section 147.032 | Investigations; Penalties.
Section 147.041 | Persons Commissioned Prior to September 20, 2019.
Section 147.051 | Database of Notaries.
Section 147.06 | Certified Copy of Commission as Evidence - Fee.
Section 147.07 | Powers - Jurisdiction.
Section 147.10 | Notary Public Acting After Commission Expires.
Section 147.12 | Acts Done by Notary Public After Term Valid.
Section 147.13 | Removal for Receiving Excess Fees.
Section 147.14 | Removal From Office for Certifying Affidavit Without Administering Oath.
Section 147.141 | Prohibited Acts.
Section 147.142 | Advertisement as Immigration Consultant; Other Prohibited Acts.
Section 147.37 | Fees for Commissions.
Section 147.371 | Duplicate Commission.
Section 147.39 | Prior Notarial Acts by Armed Forces Officers Valid.
Section 147.40 | Manner of Taking Depositions.
Section 147.51 | Notarial Acts.
Section 147.52 | Notarial Acts by Authorized Person.
Section 147.53 | Taking an Acknowledgment.
Section 147.54 | Recognized Certificate of Acknowledgment.
Section 147.541 | Acknowledged Before Me Defined.
Section 147.542 | Notarial Certificates.
Section 147.55 | Statutory Short Forms of Acknowledgment.
Section 147.56 | Notarial Act Performed Prior to January 1, 1974.
Section 147.57 | Uniformity of the Law.
Section 147.58 | Uniform Recognition of Acknowledgments Act.
Section 147.59 | Designated Alternative Signer.
Section 147.591 | Electronic Documents.
Section 147.61 | Applicability.
Section 147.62 | Standards for Online Notarizations and Online Notaries Public.
Section 147.63 | Application to Be Authorized as Online Notary Public.
Section 147.631 | Online Notary Course Fees.
Section 147.64 | Authority of Online Notary Public.
Section 147.65 | Electronic Journals.