Ohio Notary Oath of Office

The In-Person Oath Requirement Under HB 315

House Bill 315, effective April 4, 2025, changed how newly commissioned Ohio notaries complete their oath of office. The old process allowed various forms of non-face-to-face oath administration. Under the updated law, a newly commissioned notary, and a renewing notary without a previously recorded oath, must take and subscribe to the oath in person before an authorized official.

This is the step that sits between receiving your commission certificate and actually being able to perform notarial acts. Until the oath is administered, your commission is approved but not yet active.

Who Can Administer the Oath

You'll need to schedule an in-person meeting with one of the following:

• Another commissioned notary public — the most common option, since notaries are widely available
• A judge — any judicial officer authorized to administer oaths
• A clerk of courts — county clerks of courts can administer oaths as part of their official duties

Local bar associations are a practical choice. The Columbus Bar Association, for example, offers in-office oath services. Many approved education providers can also point you toward convenient oath administration options in your area.

The administering official may charge a small fee — typically up to $5, which is the standard notarial fee for administering an oath.

What the Process Looks Like

The oath ceremony is straightforward:

1. Bring your commission certificate (the one emailed to you by the Secretary of State after approval)
2. Appear in person before the authorized official
3. Take the oath — a verbal declaration that you will faithfully discharge the duties of a notary public
4. Subscribe (sign) the oath certificate

The whole process takes only a few minutes. The main logistical challenge is scheduling the in-person appearance, especially if you live in a rural area far from a convenient administering official.

No County Filing Required

Under the Notary Public Modernization Act, you no longer need to record your commission or file your oath of office with your county recorder or clerk of courts. The Secretary of State's centralized database is the sole official register of commission status.

This is a significant simplification from the old system, where notaries had to file with the county in addition to the state. If a county office tells you to come in and file paperwork, that's outdated guidance — the centralized system replaced all county-level recording requirements.

How This Affects Renewals

For renewals, the in-person oath requirement applies when there is no previously recorded oath. If you previously took your oath under the old rules (which allowed non-face-to-face administration), your renewal may require a new in-person oath under HB 315.

Check with the Secretary of State's Notary Commission Office if you're unsure whether your existing oath satisfies the current requirement. You can reach them at [email protected] or (614) 644-4559.

Don't Skip This Step

It might seem like a formality, but performing notarial acts before completing the oath is a statutory violation. Your commission is officially active only after the oath is properly administered and subscribed. Any notarizations performed before that point are legally defective and could be challenged in court.

Schedule the oath as soon as you receive your commission certificate — don't let this be the step that sits on your to-do list for weeks.

The Ohio notary commission guide includes a step-by-step oath coordination checklist with scheduling tips and template language for contacting local officials.

See more Ohio guides →