Ohio mobile notary guide
How to Become a Notary in Ohio and Work as a Mobile Notary
How to become a notary in Ohio: the short answer
You must be 18 or older and a legal Ohio resident, or an attorney practicing in Ohio. Get a BCI background check dated within six months, finish a 3-hour authorized course and test ($130), apply online to the Secretary of State ($15), and take your oath. Commissions last five years, no bond is required, and fees are capped at $5 per act.
Ohio mobile notary rules at a glance
| Rule | Ohio |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment fee cap | Up to $5 per notarial act, no matter how many signatures the certificate covers[1] |
| Jurat fee cap | Up to $5 per notarial act[1] |
| Travel fee | Ohio law allows a reasonable travel fee on top of the notarial fee, but only if the notary and the signer agree it before the notarial act. The statute sets no dollar cap.[1] |
| Commission term | 5 years[2] |
| Bond | Not required. Neither Ohio Revised Code Chapter 147 nor the Secretary of State's application steps list a notary bond.[2] |
| Training | Required: 3-hour authorized course within 12 months before applying; 1 hour to renew[2] |
| Exam | Required for non-attorneys; attorneys take the course only[2] |
| Journal required | Not for traditional notarizations; required (electronic) for online notarizations |
| Remote online notarization | Allowed[3] |
How to become a mobile notary in Ohio
First, check you qualify. Ohio requires that you are:
- Be at least 18 years old[4]
- Be a legal resident of Ohio, or a nonresident attorney admitted in Ohio whose main practice or place of business is in Ohio[4]
- Have no disqualifying offense under Ohio Revised Code 9.79[5]
- Submit a BCI criminal records check issued within six months of applying (attorneys and peace officers are exempt)[6]
- Complete 3 hours of education and pass a test from an authorized provider within 12 months before applying (attorneys take the course but no test)[7]
- Take an oath of office before starting work[4]
Then follow these steps.
- Order your BCI background checkGet fingerprinted for an Ohio BCI check using reason code 147.022. The report must be no more than six months old when you apply. Do this first, because course fees are non-refundable.[6]
- Take the 3-hour course and testUse a provider authorized by the Secretary of State. You must finish within 12 months before applying. If you fail, you can retest after 30 days.[7]
$130 - Apply onlineFile at notary.ohiosos.gov, uploading a signature sample, your BCI report and your course completion proof.[5]
$15 - Take your oath of officeAppear before a notary or another officer allowed to give oaths and take the oath before you notarize anything.[4]
- Get your sealOrder a seal showing the Ohio coat of arms in a circle 3/4 inch to 1 inch wide, with the words Notary Public and State of Ohio.[8]
- Add online notarization (optional)Ohio residents with a current commission can take a 2-hour online course and test, then apply for online authorization.[9]
$250 course plus $20 state fee
(C) The fees charged under division (A) of this section shall not be calculated on a per signature basis.
What it costs to get commissioned in Ohio
These are the amounts the state sets. Bond, training and supply prices vary by vendor, so we list the legal requirement rather than a price.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Education and testing (non-attorney, new commission) | $130[9] |
| Secretary of State commission filing fee | $15[9] |
| Attorney education (no test) | $75[9] |
| Renewal education (non-attorney) | $45[9] |
| Online notary education and testing | $250[9] |
| Online notary authorization filing fee | $20[9] |
How much can a mobile notary charge in Ohio?
Ohio caps the notarial fee at $5 per act for in-person notarizations, and the fee cannot be counted per signature. Online notarizations can cost up to $30 per act plus a technology fee of up to $10. Mobile notaries may add a reasonable travel fee, which the law does not cap, as long as the signer agrees to it before the act. The state publishes no data on typical mobile notary prices.
| Notarial act | Maximum fee |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | Up to $5 per notarial act, no matter how many signatures the certificate covers[1] |
| Jurat | Up to $5 per notarial act[1] |
| Oath or affirmation | Up to $5 per notarial act. Ohio has one flat cap for every in-person act[1] |
| Copy certification | Not allowed. Ohio notaries may not certify that a document is an original or a true copy. They may notarize the document holder's own signed statement that a copy is true, which is a regular $5 act.[1] |
| Online (remote) notarization | Up to $30 per act, plus a technology fee of up to $10. The $5 fee cannot also be charged. |
| Remote online notarization | Online notarization: up to $30 per act, plus a technology fee of up to $10 for the online system[1] |
Travel fees in Ohio
On top of the notarial fee you may charge a reasonable travel fee, but only if you and the signer agree on it before the notarial act. The law sets no dollar cap. Fees may not be counted per signature.[1]
Price a signing in Ohio with the fee calculator, which uses these caps.
For traditional notarizations, Ohio law does not require a journal; however, the Secretary of State strongly recommends logging every notarial act as a best practice.
Journal, ID and seal rules for mobile work
Journal
Ohio law does not require a journal for in-person acts, but the Secretary of State strongly recommends logging every act. Online notaries must keep one or more electronic journals recording every online notarization in chronological order.[1]
Need one? Our free printable notary journal has a column for every field most states ask for.
Identifying the signer
Use a passport, driver's license, state ID or other government ID with a signature or photo that is current or expired no more than three years, or a credible witness you know personally. Identification over the phone is not allowed.[10]
Seal or stamp
Ohio coat of arms inside a circle between 3/4 inch and 1 inch in diameter, with the words Notary Public and State of Ohio.[11]
The secretary shall not accept an application for a notary commission that includes the report of a criminal records check that is more than six months old.
Working as a loan signing agent in Ohio
Ohio has no separate signing agent credential in its notary law or on the Secretary of State's notary pages. Loan signings are done under your notary commission, so the $5 per act cap applies (never per signature), and any travel fee must be agreed before you notarize. Ohio licenses title insurance agents separately; we found no official page saying whether a notary who only presents loan papers needs that license, so ask the hiring title company.[5][1]
Remote online notarization in Ohio
Ohio residents with a current commission can be authorized as online notaries after a 2-hour course and test ($250) and a $20 state filing fee. You must be physically in Ohio during the act and keep an electronic journal. You may charge up to $30 per online act plus a technology fee of up to $10 per session.[3]
Apostilles and authentications
Clients often ask a mobile notary about apostilles. A notary does not issue them. In Ohio, the office that does is the Ohio Secretary of State, Authentications and Apostilles, and the fee is $5 per document.[12] The office only apostilles documents issued by an Ohio official or notarized by an Ohio notary. Mailed requests are processed in two to three days; include the credit card authorization form if paying by card.
Mistakes that get Ohio notaries in trouble
- Charging per signature. Ohio fees are per notarial act, so five signatures on one acknowledgment is still one $5 fee.
- Certifying that a copy is a true copy. Ohio notaries cannot do this; notarize the holder's own written statement instead.
- Adding a travel fee the signer did not agree to before the notarial act.
- Paying for the non-refundable course before ordering the BCI check, or applying with a BCI report older than six months.
- Notarizing, in person or online, while you are physically outside Ohio.
Watch: Ohio notary basics
How to become an Ohio Notary in 5 easy steps - Step 1, from Columbus Bar Association. First of a five-part walkthrough from a provider on the Secretary of State's authorized education list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a notary license in Ohio?
For most people the official costs are $130 to an authorized provider for the 3-hour course and test, plus $15 to the Secretary of State to file. Attorneys pay $75 for the course, with no test. You also pay for the BCI background check, which the state notary pages do not price, and for your seal. No bond is required.
Is being a notary a good side hustle?
Ohio does not track notary income, so there is no official answer. The notarial fee itself is capped at $5 per act, or $30 for an online act. A mobile notary can add a reasonable travel fee, which has no legal cap, as long as the signer agrees to it before the notarization. Startup costs are low because no bond is needed.
How much do notaries make in Ohio?
The state publishes no earnings data. What the law sets is the maximum fee: $5 per in-person notarial act, never per signature, and $30 per online act plus up to $10 for technology. Mobile notaries also charge a travel fee agreed in advance. Anything you read about average Ohio notary income comes from private surveys, not the state.
Is there a downside to becoming a notary?
You must renew every five years with a new background check and a 1-hour course. Ohio requires no bond, which also means nothing stands between a customer's claim and you, so many notaries choose insurance on their own. Fees are small and strictly capped, and breaking the rules, such as overcharging, can cost you your commission.
How often do notaries get sued?
No official Ohio source tracks lawsuits against notaries, so we cannot give a number. What the law does say is that a notary must not charge more than the legal fee, certify copies, or notarize without proper ID, and the Secretary of State can act on complaints. Careful ID checks and a journal help protect you.
What type of notaries make the most money?
Ohio publishes no income data by type of notary. By law, the highest fees are for online notarizations: up to $30 per act plus a technology fee of up to $10, compared with $5 for an in-person act. Mobile notaries can also earn reasonable travel fees agreed in advance. Market rates for loan signings are set by private companies, not the state.
Do Ohio notaries need a bond?
No. Ohio's notary law and the Secretary of State's application steps do not require a bond. You need a BCI background check, the course and test, the $15 filing fee and your oath. Because there is no bond, insurance is your own choice and is not a state requirement.
Sources
Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages. We read them on October 1, 2026.
- Ohio Revised Code 147.08. codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio Revised Code 147.03 (term). codes.ohio.gov
- codes.ohio.gov. codes.ohio.gov
- Take your oath of office. codes.ohio.gov
- Apply online. ohiosos.gov
- Order your BCI background check. ohiosos.gov
- Take the 3-hour course and test. ohiosos.gov
- Get your seal. codes.ohio.gov
- Add online notarization (optional). codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio Revised Code 147.50 (identification). codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio Secretary of State, Notary Resources and FAQs. ohiosos.gov
- Authentications and Apostilles FAQ. ohiosos.gov
- Ohio Revised Code 147.141 (prohibited acts). codes.ohio.gov
Junaid runs Ertiqah LLC and edits this site. He is not a notary or a lawyer. His job here is narrow: read the statute and the Secretary of State page for each rule, quote it, and link it, so you can check every number yourself. How we check facts.
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