Notary Public

A notary public (also known as a notary or public notary), in the common law world, is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business.

Once licensed, a notary can perform the following: 

  • Administer oaths and affirmations
  • Take affidavits and statutory declarations
  • Witness and authenticate the execution of certain classes of documents
  • Take acknowledgments of deeds and other conveyances
  • Protest notes and bills of exchange
  • Provide notice of foreign drafts
  • Prepare marine or ship's protests in cases of damage
  • Provide exemplifications and notarial copies
  • Perform certain other official acts, depending on the jurisdiction

Due to legislative changes effective 9/20/2019 in the Ohio Notary Modernization Act, Sub. Senate Bill 263 (132nd G.A.), any Lorain County resident who wishes to become a Ohio notary public or renew her or his existing notary public commission must do so through the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. Procedures and costs have changed. All notary questions or complaints should be directed to the Secretary of State. Please visit that agency’s website at: https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/ or call (614) 644-4559 for more information on testing, education, and renewal requirements, enforcement, or any other notary public matter. Thank you.