6.1 RON Overview & Authorization
Key Takeaways
- A standard Ohio notary commission does NOT authorize online notarizations - a separate online authorization from the Secretary of State is required (Ohio Revised Code 147.62)
- To qualify, you must hold or be applying for an Ohio commission, complete an approved RON course, and pass the online-notary examination
- The notary must be physically located in Ohio during every online act; the signer may be located anywhere, including outside the United States
- House Bill 315 took effect April 4, 2025 and modernized Ohio's online-notary rules, including fees and the elimination of 'satisfactory evidence' for online ID
- Online authorization runs concurrently with the underlying commission and must be renewed when the commission renews
What Remote Online Notarization Is
Remote Online Notarization (RON) - called an "online notarization" in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 147.60 to 147.66 - is a notarial act in which the remotely located individual (the signer) appears before the notary by live, two-way audio-video communication rather than in physical presence. The notary uses an electronic signature and electronic seal, and the entire session is recorded.
RON is distinct from two related concepts students confuse on the exam:
- In-person electronic notarization (IPEN): signer is physically present, but signs an electronic document. No video, no recording.
- Remote ink-signed notarization (RIN): signer appears by video but signs a paper document. Ohio does not authorize standalone RIN; Ohio's framework is true RON.
- Traditional notarization: physical presence, wet-ink paper.
Two Layers of Authority
The single most-tested point in this chapter: a standard commission is not enough.
| Credential | What it authorizes | How obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Standard notary commission | In-person acts (paper or IPEN) | Education + exam (non-attorneys), application to SOS |
| Online (RON) authorization | Online acts over audio-video | Separate RON course + exam, separate application |
A notary who performs an online act without first holding online authorization commits an unauthorized act, exposing the notary to discipline and civil liability even if the notarization is otherwise flawless.
Qualifying for Online Authorization
Under ORC 147.62, to be authorized as an online notary you must:
- Hold, or simultaneously apply for, an Ohio notary commission. You cannot have online authority without an underlying commission.
- Complete a Secretary-of-State-approved RON education course covering the communication-technology, identity-proofing, credential-analysis, recording, and journal rules.
- Pass the online-notary examination administered by the approved provider.
- Submit the online-authorization application to the Ohio Secretary of State, attaching the course and exam certificates.
- Identify the technology provider(s) you intend to use; the provider's platform must satisfy ORC and Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 111:6-1-05.
The online authorization runs concurrently with the commission. A non-attorney's commission term is five years, so the online authorization expires with it and is renewed at the same time. Attorney commissions are indefinite, but the online authorization still operates on a renewal cycle tied to continuing-education proof.
Where Each Party Must Be
| Person | Location rule | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Notary | Must be physically in Ohio | Ohio law governs the act; SOS has jurisdiction |
| Signer | Anywhere - other states or foreign countries | RON exists to reach absent signers |
Worked scenario: An Ohio online notary is on vacation in Florida and a client calls needing an acknowledgment. The notary may not perform the online act from Florida - the notary is not physically in Ohio, so Ohio jurisdiction fails. Conversely, if the notary is at her Columbus office and the signer is deployed in Germany, the act is valid under Ohio law regardless of the signer's foreign location.
Common Traps
- Assuming a regular commission "includes" online authority - it never does.
- Believing the signer must be in Ohio - it is the notary's location that is fixed.
- Forgetting that House Bill 315, effective April 4, 2025, removed the old "satisfactory evidence" path for online ID, so personal knowledge or a sworn witness alone no longer substitutes for credential analysis plus identity proofing in a RON session.
The Technology Provider and Platform Standards
RON does not happen on an ordinary video call. The notary must perform online acts on a communication-technology system that satisfies ORC 147.62 and OAC 111:6-1-05. Before identifying a provider on your application, confirm the platform delivers every capability below:
| Capability | Why Ohio requires it |
|---|---|
| Two-way, live audio-video | The signer must appear and interact in real time, not by pre-recorded clip |
| Credential analysis | Automated authentication of the government ID |
| Identity proofing (KBA) | Dynamic knowledge-based authentication of the person |
| Full-session recording | Mandatory audio-video record of the entire act |
| Electronic signature and seal tools | Apply the notary's e-signature and e-seal |
| Tamper-evident technology | Detect any change to the document after the act |
| Secure storage | Protect recordings, journal, and personal data |
The notary - not the signer - is responsible for choosing a compliant provider. If the platform cannot perform credential analysis and KBA or cannot produce a complete recording, the notary may not lawfully use it for an Ohio online act.
How the Authorization Connects to the Commission
Think of online authorization as a module bolted onto the base commission, not a replacement for it.
- A lapsed or revoked underlying commission automatically ends online authority - you cannot perform online acts on an expired commission even if the RON paperwork is current.
- A non-attorney's five-year commission and the online authorization are renewed together; you complete the renewal education and refile.
- Disciplinary jurisdiction follows the commission: the Secretary of State may suspend or, after HB 315, revoke a commission - and with it online authority - and may demand the notary's cooperation in investigations.
Exam framing: when a question gives you a notary whose commission has expired but whose RON training is recent, the correct answer is that the notary cannot perform online acts - the base commission must be valid first.
Does a standard Ohio notary commission, by itself, authorize Remote Online Notarization?
During a Remote Online Notarization, where must the notary be physically located, and where may the signer be?