How can a notary public change their name on their commission after a legal name change?

To update their name on a notary commission after a legal name change, the notary public must notify the Ohio Secretary of State. This is a necessary step because the Secretary of State oversees all notary commissions in Ohio and keeps official records of notaries and their personal information, including their names.

When a notary changes their name legally, it is important for the Secretary of State to have the current information to maintain accurate records and ensure that the notary's credentials are up to date. This also helps prevent confusion when the notary performs their duties, as all documents must reflect the notary's officially registered name.

In contrast to this, simply notifying the local court or publishing a notice in a local newspaper does not suffice for changing a name on a notary commission, as those steps do not directly engage the authority responsible for maintaining notary records. Additionally, it is not appropriate for a notary to disregard the name change entirely, as using an outdated name could lead to legal issues and questions regarding the validity of their notarial acts.