Section 147.02. Certificate of qualifications

(A) Before the appointment of a notary public is made, the applicant shall produce to the secretary of state a certificate from a judge or justice of the court of common pleas, court of appeals, or supreme court that contains the following:

(1) A statement that the applicant is of good moral character;

(2) If the applicant is not an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state by the Ohio supreme court, a statement that the applicant is a citizen of the county in which the applicant resides;

(3) If the applicant is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state by the Ohio supreme court, a statement that the applicant is possessed of sufficient qualifications and ability to discharge the duties of the office of notary public.

(B) No judge or justice shall issue a certificate required by division (A) of this section until the judge or justice is satisfied from personal knowledge that the applicant possesses the qualifications necessary to a proper discharge of the duties of the office or until the applicant has passed an examination under any rules that the judge or justice may prescribe.

(C) If the applicant is a citizen of this state who is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state by the Ohio supreme court, the judge or justice also shall certify this fact in the certification required by division (A) of this section.

(D) If the applicant is not a citizen of this state but is an attorney who is admitted to the practice of law in this state by the Ohio supreme court and whose principal place of business or primary practice is in this state, the judge or justice also shall certify these facts in the certification required by division (A) of this section.

(E) For the purposes of sections 147.03, 147.04, 147.05, and 147.13 of the Revised Code, the county in which an attorney who is not a citizen of this state and who is a notary public has the attorney's principal place of business or the attorney's primary practice shall be deemed the county in which the attorney resides.

Effective Date: 06-06-2001