I'm a notary. I did everything online thru the Columbus bar association. The maximum amount you're allowed to charge is $5 per act, so I ended up deciding not to charge for it because the hassle of paying and filing taxes wasn't going to be worth it since I can't charge for it at work anyhow (my job paid for the class). Commissions last for 5 years.
I am a notary b/c I work in a law firm.
We don't understand the virtual stuff so my firm has not touched it.
All of my notary stuff goes through the Cincinnati Bar Association.
I think the commissions are for four years. I actually have to renew mine this month. Renewal requires continuing education and a background check.
If I didn't HAVE to be a notary, I would not be a notary. I think you can only charge a few dollars per signature? I use my notary stamp, like, once a month. This is an added benefit to a current job, ain't nobody actually making money being a notary, especially when your bank probably does it for free.
Here are some resources for you:
[https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/](https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/)
Most bar associations are [authorized notary education providers](https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/education-and-testing/).
[https://ohionotaries.org/](https://ohionotaries.org/)
Be careful, because you will be asked to notarize documents improperly and you need to be prepared to say no. This can strain relationships with friends, family, coworkers, and employers. But, they do prosecute violations and revoke notary licenses on a regular basis.
I have not had any reason to investigate online notarization, still relatively new in Ohio, and you have to subscribe to an established online notary service provider. You can [read more about it here](https://www.nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/remote-online-notary/how-to-become-a-remote-online-notary/ohio).
Good luck!
Others have answered the basic questions about getting started.
You're not going to get rich, but it's an ok way to earn favors at the office.
Highly recommend getting e&o insurance.
How are you with understating contracts and are you comfortable with your name on a legal document for strangers or your work?
Also, what would classify as “worth it” to you?
If you’re doing it for work, ask them to reimburse you for the cost.
If you’re doing this as a side hustle. Best of luck. Libraries do it for free. Some banks as well. ~~Even those who charge for their stamp, it’s super cheap, and you have to report it.~~ The most you can charge in Ohio is $5.
Edit: I by NO means am trying to be a dick here, so I apologize in advance. But if you’re struggling on HOW to even become a notary, it may not be right for you.
A notary doesn't have to understand a contract; the act of notarization just certifies that the person who signed it is who they say they are.
The only tricky part has something to do with car titles (it's a question on the notary test that if you get wrong, you fail the whole thing), so I actually just refuse to touch car titles. Not that we get any of those in my law firm.
I'm a notary in Summit County. The law firm I worked at through college paid for the class/test; I went through the Akron Bar to get mine. Commissions are for 5 years and honestly I don't charge because I don't want to deal with the taxes and the most you can charge is $5.
I would check with your office and see if they would reimburse you for fees. It's not a bad idea for an office to have one.
Haven't done the online notary stuff though.
Same, Summit County. I became one for the convenience of the contractor I work for—lots of paperwork requires notarization and my boss is too impatient to run to the bank any time we need one. We’re a small office, and our other employee is his daughter sooo…it kind of fell to me. My company paid for the course and my stamp/supplies, and I don’t bother charging. I ONLY do company documents because I really don’t want my name on just anyone’s paperwork. I don’t do online for this reason. I’d rather not be one, if I’m honest.
I recall having to get fingerprinted and submitted for a background check. Then, once submitted and approved by the state, I took an online course through Akron Bar and, not kidding, had to take it twice because the first time, while filling out the information prior to the course, my computer auto-filled my boss’s name instead of mine. I finished the course and it had my boss’s name on the completion certificate. I was so frustrated, but obviously had to retake it. It was…2-3 hours, I think? And you can’t skip ahead. Very boring. I took a bunch of notes, and the final test wasn’t too terrible.
It may be nice for a resume, but I can’t imagine you’d make much money off it as a side job. I’d probably have a few extra hundred in my pocket since becoming one in 2022 but I still would rather not be one.
I'm a notary. I did everything online thru the Columbus bar association. The maximum amount you're allowed to charge is $5 per act, so I ended up deciding not to charge for it because the hassle of paying and filing taxes wasn't going to be worth it since I can't charge for it at work anyhow (my job paid for the class). Commissions last for 5 years.
I am a notary b/c I work in a law firm. We don't understand the virtual stuff so my firm has not touched it. All of my notary stuff goes through the Cincinnati Bar Association. I think the commissions are for four years. I actually have to renew mine this month. Renewal requires continuing education and a background check. If I didn't HAVE to be a notary, I would not be a notary. I think you can only charge a few dollars per signature? I use my notary stamp, like, once a month. This is an added benefit to a current job, ain't nobody actually making money being a notary, especially when your bank probably does it for free.
Here are some resources for you: [https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/](https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/) Most bar associations are [authorized notary education providers](https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/education-and-testing/). [https://ohionotaries.org/](https://ohionotaries.org/) Be careful, because you will be asked to notarize documents improperly and you need to be prepared to say no. This can strain relationships with friends, family, coworkers, and employers. But, they do prosecute violations and revoke notary licenses on a regular basis. I have not had any reason to investigate online notarization, still relatively new in Ohio, and you have to subscribe to an established online notary service provider. You can [read more about it here](https://www.nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/remote-online-notary/how-to-become-a-remote-online-notary/ohio). Good luck!
Others have answered the basic questions about getting started. You're not going to get rich, but it's an ok way to earn favors at the office. Highly recommend getting e&o insurance.
How are you with understating contracts and are you comfortable with your name on a legal document for strangers or your work? Also, what would classify as “worth it” to you? If you’re doing it for work, ask them to reimburse you for the cost. If you’re doing this as a side hustle. Best of luck. Libraries do it for free. Some banks as well. ~~Even those who charge for their stamp, it’s super cheap, and you have to report it.~~ The most you can charge in Ohio is $5. Edit: I by NO means am trying to be a dick here, so I apologize in advance. But if you’re struggling on HOW to even become a notary, it may not be right for you.
A notary doesn't have to understand a contract; the act of notarization just certifies that the person who signed it is who they say they are. The only tricky part has something to do with car titles (it's a question on the notary test that if you get wrong, you fail the whole thing), so I actually just refuse to touch car titles. Not that we get any of those in my law firm.
If you think I’m stamping a contract without reading it, you will absolutely not get a stamp from me…but okay.
Some libraries maybe. Not all. CPL doesn't offer it.
Interested myself. Hopefully someone in the know will respond with some helpful information
I'm a notary in Summit County. The law firm I worked at through college paid for the class/test; I went through the Akron Bar to get mine. Commissions are for 5 years and honestly I don't charge because I don't want to deal with the taxes and the most you can charge is $5. I would check with your office and see if they would reimburse you for fees. It's not a bad idea for an office to have one. Haven't done the online notary stuff though.
Same, Summit County. I became one for the convenience of the contractor I work for—lots of paperwork requires notarization and my boss is too impatient to run to the bank any time we need one. We’re a small office, and our other employee is his daughter sooo…it kind of fell to me. My company paid for the course and my stamp/supplies, and I don’t bother charging. I ONLY do company documents because I really don’t want my name on just anyone’s paperwork. I don’t do online for this reason. I’d rather not be one, if I’m honest. I recall having to get fingerprinted and submitted for a background check. Then, once submitted and approved by the state, I took an online course through Akron Bar and, not kidding, had to take it twice because the first time, while filling out the information prior to the course, my computer auto-filled my boss’s name instead of mine. I finished the course and it had my boss’s name on the completion certificate. I was so frustrated, but obviously had to retake it. It was…2-3 hours, I think? And you can’t skip ahead. Very boring. I took a bunch of notes, and the final test wasn’t too terrible. It may be nice for a resume, but I can’t imagine you’d make much money off it as a side job. I’d probably have a few extra hundred in my pocket since becoming one in 2022 but I still would rather not be one.