What is the role of a notary public in Ohio?

The role of a notary public in Ohio is primarily to serve as an impartial witness to transactions. This means that notaries are responsible for verifying the identity of the parties involved in a document signing, ensuring that they are signing willingly and are aware of the implications of the documents they are endorsing. The notary's presence adds a layer of protection against fraud and helps to ensure that the signatures are authentic, which is critical in maintaining the integrity of legal documents.

By being an impartial witness, a notary public contributes to the official validation process of various legal transactions, such as real estate transactions, powers of attorney, and other agreements requiring notarization. This responsibility requires the notary to remain neutral and avoid any conflict of interest, reinforcing the trustworthiness of the notarial acts.

Other options, while related to legal processes, do not encompass the core function of a notary. Legal representation and advising on legal matters fall outside a notary’s role, as notaries are not attorneys and cannot provide legal counsel or represent parties in legal proceedings. Preparing legal documents is also not part of a notary's duties; they do not draft or create legal documents, but rather ensure that the documents presented to them are properly executed in their presence. The