Ohio Notary Practice Exam

Can a notary public notarize their own signature?

1. Yes, self-notarization is allowed

2. No, self-notarization is prohibited

3. Yes, if there are witnesses

4. No, only if someone else is present

The correct answer is: No, self-notarization is prohibited

A notary public is specifically prohibited from notarizing their own signature because it creates a conflict of interest and undermines the integrity of the notarization process. The role of a notary is to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of documents; if a notary were to notarize their own signature, it would violate the principle of neutrality that is fundamental to notarial acts. In Ohio, rules governing notaries are designed to ensure that the notary is acting impartially and independently. By notarizing their own signature, a notary would not be able to fulfill that impartial role, thus compromising the validity of the notarization. The other options suggest circumstances under which self-notarization might be permissible, but all are incorrect. Witnesses do not eliminate the conflict of interest present in self-notarization, and having someone else present does not change the fundamental issue of bias. Therefore, self-notarization is unequivocally prohibited.