Ohio does not require a journal for traditional notarizations — but strongly recommends one. For remote online notarizations, a tamper-evident electronic journal is mandatory under ORC § 147.65. A significant 2025 law update raised the RON fee to $30 and clarified identity verification standards. NotaryAct is state-configured for Ohio — RON fields fully enabled, best-practice journal available for traditional acts.
📋 April 4, 2025 law update: Ohio enacted significant notary law changes effective April 4, 2025, including: RON maximum fee raised to $30 (plus optional $10 technology fee) · identity verification standards clarified in ORC § 147.49 · in-person oath of office now required · expanded electronic notarization acceptance. This page reflects all current rules.
| ⚖️ Ohio Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference (Updated April 2025) | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Ohio Revised Code Chapter 147 · § 147.65 (RON journal) |
| Traditional Journal | Not required · Strongly recommended as best practice |
| RON Electronic Journal | Mandatory — every RON session · Must be tamper-evident ✓ |
| RON Audio-Video Recording | Required — every RON session — retained per SOS rules ✓ |
| SSN in RON Journal | ⛔ Expressly prohibited under ORC § 147.65(C) |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · Optional in Ohio configuration |
| RON Journal Ownership | Exclusive property of notary — cannot surrender to employer ✓ |
| RON Authorized Since | 2019 · ORC § 147.60 et seq. |
| RON Max Fee (updated 2025) | $30 per act + optional $10 technology fee = $40 max ✓ |
| Traditional Max Fee | $5 per notarial act |
| Commission Term (non-attorneys) | 5 years |
| RON Authorization | Separate RON authorization required from Ohio SOS · $20 fee · 2-hour course + exam |
Like Florida, Ohio takes a split approach to journal requirements. Traditional in-person notarizations have no statutory journal requirement — keeping a record is best practice but not legally mandated. Remote online notarizations are an entirely different matter: an electronic journal is mandatory for every RON session under ORC § 147.65, and the journal must be kept in a tamper-evident electronic format under the notary’s exclusive control.
Ohio notaries who perform only traditional notarizations should still keep a journal. Without a contemporaneous record, a notary has no defense if a notarization is later disputed, and the Ohio Secretary of State recommends journal use even when not required.
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Ohio: NotaryAct’s Ohio configuration fully enables all required RON journal fields under ORC § 147.65, including the platform description field and the signer’s jurisdiction field. For traditional notarizations, NotaryAct provides a best-practice journal structure aligned with Ohio SOS guidance. SSN capture is not included in any Ohio configuration. Fingerprint capture is available as an optional feature.
Under ORC § 147.65(B), every online notarization must be recorded in the electronic journal with the following information:
| 1 | Date and Time — Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Type of Notarial Act — Acknowledgment, jurat, or other. Structured dropdown in NotaryAct. |
| 3 | Title or Description of Document — Document description field in NotaryAct. |
| 4 | Signer’s Printed Name and Address — Captured from credential analysis during the RON session. |
| 5 | Identity Verification Method and Result — Method used (personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence) plus whether identity proofing was passed. |
| 6 | Signer’s Jurisdiction at Time of Notarization — The state or country where the signer was physically located. |
| 7 | Notarization Location (if not notary’s business address) — Where the notary was physically located if different from their registered business address. |
| 8 | Description of Online Notarization System — The RON platform used. NotaryAct includes a dedicated platform field. |
| ⛔ | Social Security Number — PROHIBITED — ORC § 147.65(C) expressly prohibits recording SSNs in the Ohio RON electronic journal. NotaryAct does not capture SSNs in any configuration. |
RON fee raised to $30. The maximum fee for remote online notarizations increased from $25 to $30 per notarial act. Notaries may also charge an optional technology fee of up to $10 per online notarization session — bringing the total possible charge to $40. This technology fee may be charged even if the notarization is not ultimately completed.
Identity verification standards clarified. The April 2025 law defined key terms in ORC § 147.49: “Personal knowledge” means the notary personally knows the signer through sufficient dealings to provide reasonable certainty of identity. “Satisfactory evidence” means a passport, driver’s license, or government-issued ID with a photo or signature — or the oath of a credible witness personally known to the notary or identified with acceptable ID. IDs must be current or expired no more than 3 years.
In-person oath of office now required. Ohio notaries must now take and subscribe to the oath of office in person before another notary or other authorized official. Prior law did not require in-person administration.
Electronic notarization acceptance expanded. Clerks of courts and deputy registrars are now required to accept electronically notarized documents.
Journal ownership reaffirmed. ORC § 147.65(E) explicitly states that an employer may not retain the electronic journal of an employee who is an online notary public when employment ceases. The journal belongs to the notary.
| Ohio Requirement | How NotaryAct Covers It | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional journal (best practice) | Best-practice journal available aligned with Ohio SOS guidance | ✔ |
| RON electronic journal — tamper-evident | Entries locked at submission; encrypted cloud; audit trail | ✔ |
| All required RON journal fields including jurisdiction and platform | All ORC § 147.65(B) fields enabled in Ohio RON configuration | ✔ |
| SSN prohibited in RON journal | SSN field not included in any Ohio configuration | ✔ |
| Journal under notary’s exclusive control | Password/biometric access; notary-only login; cannot be surrendered to employer | ✔ |
| Secure backup required | Automatic continuous backup to redundant encrypted cloud | ✔ |
| Fingerprint — optional | Available as optional field in Ohio traditional journal config; not presented as required | ✔ |
Other state guides: Florida · Texas · Illinois · California · New York · All 50 States →
NotaryAct is state-configured for Ohio — all required RON journal fields enabled including jurisdiction and platform, SSNs not captured, tamper-evident cloud records, and best-practice journal support for traditional notarizations. Whether you notarize in person or online, your records are built to survive any challenge.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Ohio Revised Code Chapter 147 and Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 111:6-1, including amendments effective April 4, 2025. Consult the Ohio Secretary of State’s Notary Division or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
