Just about everyone needs a notary sometime. In today’s technology-driven and security-conscious world, an increasing number of companies and government agencies are requiring notarized signatures for their important documents to deter ID theft and other fraudulent acts. A significant number of the population, however, remains largely unaware of what a notarization entails, what a notary public is, or what powers they have on behalf of the state.

The 21st Century presents new and unique challenges for notaries that were unheard of only a decade ago. No longer is it sufficient for a notary public to merely “stamp & sign” a document. A notary that does not observe all the elements of a proper notarization potentially risks invalidating the document, perhaps committing a fraudulent act, and exposing themselves to liability and even a jail sentence. In today’s litigious arena, an error could be disastrous.

In addition to facilitating interaction and professionalism, the Ohio Society of Notaries will assist members with keeping up to date in an ever-changing, often confusing environment. A notarial act that seems very simple on the surface may, in fact, lead to significant repercussions if executed improperly or illegally. The vast majority of notary errors occur from a lack of awareness of the laws, and the standards of good notary practice. OSN will endeavor to keep notary education and practice standards at the forefront of our mission.

Did you know that each of Ohio’s 88 counties has its own application system and eligibility requirements? A background check, written examination, and notary training are fairly standard for a notary commission in many states; Ohio counties,though, have the discretion to require all three, one or two, or none at all. The result of this arcane system is 88 separate notary application/eligibility systems in Ohio, and few uniform requirements statewide. It's a sad fact that a school parent volunteer receives more scrutiny than the notary public handling your $200,000 home mortgage, vehicle title, or power of attorney documents. 

This means that, even though all notaries receive the same commission from the Secretary of State, some have been background screened (perfunctory at best), passed an exam, and/or received some training, while others may have none of these at all!  This inconsistency also allows that, in some counties, lack of a background check could possibly allow a convicted felon to hold a notary commission, something that a number of states have banned.  OSN has brought these concerns to the Secretary of State and will work with the SOS office to improve Ohio’s antiquated notary laws. Your opinions and experiences will be welcomed and incorporated into the OSN efforts, and you may even have the opportunity to testify before one of our state’s legislative bodies.

The current system is a breeding ground for incompetence. All too often, notaries are commissioned who are ill-prepared for the important responsibilities of the office; after acquiring a stamp, they are then turned loose upon an unsuspecting public, who trusts that the notary is competent and able to handle the circumstances of any given notarization request.  Sometimes though, situations can get rather complex, and demand particular knowledge of Ohio notary laws. Through legal and news updates, forum exchanges, and increased awareness, OSN will help members navigate through the increasingly complex areas of documents, procedures and scenarios, helping to anticipate and prevent problems while serving the public we are sworn to protect.

As noted, Ohio notaries have been largely on their own for decades, with few resources to assist.  Until now, there has not been a viable statewide notary association to help with your notary practice, communicate with other Ohio notaries, learn the notary things that weren’t on the exam (assuming you even had one), speak for notaries at the Secretary of State and legislative levels, or instill a sense of pride, professionalism and excellence in performing your notary duties.

The Ohio Society of Notaries offers all this and more, for a very nominal annual dues amount. An investment in awareness and professionalism, with peer interaction that will improve your notary knowledge and perhaps prevent the making of a costly mistake in the future.

Please accept this invitation to join your fellow Ohio notaries in banding together for our common interests, and raising the bar for all of us to better serve the citizens of the Buckeye State.  Membership is open to any notary public commissioned in Ohio, as well as individuals and organizations that express a desire to assist in furthering the mission of OSN.

For more information, call OSN at (614) 336-7878 or click the Contact Us tab.