Being a notary public includes more than watching someone sign his or her name, filling in some blanks with an assortment of writing and rubber stamps, and impressing a notary seal. A notary public is an officer of the State of Ohio, commissioned by the Secretary of State only upon recommendation of a judge.

 

   As a notary public, you will hold an important and dignified office and you will be expected to discharge your duties with care and dignity. Please review the following Guiding Principles of a notary public.

Guiding Principles

1.   The Notary shall, as a government officer and public servant, serve all of the public
       in an honest, fair and unbiased manner.

2.   The Notary shall act as an impartial witness and not profit or gain from any
      document or transaction requiring a notarial act, apart from the fee allowed by
      statute.

3.   The Notary shall require the presence of each signer and oath-taker in order to
      carefully screen each for identity and willingness, and to observe that each appears
      aware of the significance of the transaction requiring a notarial act.

4.   The Notary shall not execute a false or incomplete certificate, nor be involved with
      any document or transaction that the Notary believes is false, deceptive or
      fraudulent.

5.   The Notary shall give precedence to the rules of law over the dictates or
      expectations of any person or entity.

6.   The Notary shall act as a ministerial officer and not provide unauthorized advice
      or services.

7.   The Notary shall affix a seal on every notarized document and not allow this
      universally recognized symbol of office to be used by another or in an
      endorsement or promotion.

8.   The Notary shall record every notarial act in a bound journal or other secure
       recording device and safeguard it as an important public record.

9.   The Notary shall respect the privacy of each signer and not divulge or use personal
      or proprietary information disclosed during execution of a notarial act for other
      than an official purpose.

10.  The Notary shall seek instruction on notarization, and keep current on the laws,
       practices and requirements of the notarial office.