What actions may the Secretary of State take after determining a notary's violation?

In the context of the Ohio Notary Public law, the Secretary of State has specific authorities to address violations committed by notaries. The appropriate response after identifying a violation includes revoking, suspending, or retraining the notary, or issuing a letter of admonition.

Revocation or suspension halts the notary's ability to perform notarial acts, which is critical for maintaining the integrity of the notarial system. Retraining may be necessary to ensure that the notary understands the requirements and responsibilities associated with their role, thus preventing future violations. A letter of admonition serves as an official warning, documenting the violation while allowing the notary the opportunity to correct their behavior without further penal consequences.

Other actions, such as fining notaries or issuing public notices, are not standard measures taken by the Secretary of State in Ohio for notary violations. Instead, the focus is on corrective actions that directly influence the notary’s capacity to serve responsibly in their duties. Written warnings may be issued in practice, but they do not carry the formal repercussions or structured remedies that revocation, suspension, retraining, or admonition do.