Notary

Need an auto title or legal form notarized? Columbiana Public Library offers free notary public service.

Appointments are required for notary services and are available weekdays and limited evenings and weekends. Same-day appointments may also be available by calling the library and asking to speak with the Adult Services Manager.

Notary service is one of many services provided by the Library and not the Notary’s only duty; without an appointment, you may be asked to wait while the Notary attends to other library matters. You may also be asked to schedule an appointment for another day.

Preparing for Your Appointment
Please bring the following to your appointment:

  • All documents requiring notarization, unsigned. Do not sign the document(s) you are having notarized. Document(s) must be signed in front of the notary.
  • All people required to sign document(s).
  • Valid form of photo identification for each person signing document(s), such as a current driver’s license, state-issued ID, US passport, US military ID, or US Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”). If you are under 18, bring a certified copy of your birth certificate or a current school ID (with photo). International identification cards and/or international driver’s licenses cannot be accepted.
  • Any additional witnesses. If you require witnesses for your document(s), you must provide them yourself. Witnesses must know you personally and must bring valid photo identification. You may not solicit library staff or patrons as witnesses.

Appointments cannot proceed without all the required people, photo identification, and paperwork.
Please plan to arrive at your scheduled appointment time. We may not be able to accommodate early arrivals; late arrivals may be asked to reschedule their appointments.

Limits
The Library limits the number and length of documents able to be notarized at one time to 3 documents of no more than 10 pages each.

Documents
The Library notarizes a variety of documents free of charge. Examples of these documents are: vehicles titles, certifications of payment, property sale agreements, mineral rights, applications for certification, and other simple documents.

However, some requests require specialized knowledge or expertise beyond our capabilities. The following are examples of documents that the Library will not notarize:

  • Any Real Estate Transactions and Quit Claim Deeds
  • Corporate documents
  • Documents with more than ten (10) pages
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Living wills
  • Living trusts
  • Codicils or depositions
  • Power of Attorney
  • Documents which require an electronic signature
  • Foreign Passport or Visa Applications

The Library holds the right to decline to notarize any additional documents by the Notary’s and Director’s discretion.

Preparation of the Document to be Notarized

  • The name on the notarized document must match the name on the ID exactly.
  • Complete all information about the signature line completely, leaving no blanks. Black spaces not used in a document should have a line drawn through them so that no one can add to terms of the document after it was signed.
  • Documents to be notarized must contain a Notary Public jurat or acknowledgement certificate. If the document(s) does not include this, the Notary will have to attach a certificate to the document before it can be notarized.
  • All document signers must be present at the time of signing and must sign in the presence of the notary.
  • Some documents require that the signer take an oath. The Notary will administer the oath.

Communication
Ohio law requires that the notary and the customer seeking notarization be able to communicate directly with each other and with witnesses. The Library is not permitted to make use of a translator to communicate with a notary service customer. At this time our Notary staff speak English only.

Documents Not Written in English
Documents not written in English can have signatures notarized if all other requirements are met and if the signer can communicate clearly in English, and without a translator, that they know what they are signing and that they are signing of their own free will. The signer will have to determine and tell the notary if an oath is required. If foreign documents do not have the notary certificate in English, the notary will have to attach another certficiate.

I-9 Forms
I-9 forms cannot be notarized and the library cannot serve as an authorized agent.

Certification
In the state of Ohio, notaries cannot certify documents. We cannot certify copies of:

  • Passports
  • Driver’s Licenses
  • Birth Certificates
  • Marriage Licenses
  • Death Certificates
  • Divorce Certificates
  • Naturalization Certificates

If you were born anywhere in Ohio, go to the Health Department located at 230 North Lincoln Avenue, Salem, Ohio 44460 to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate.

The Notary’s role is limited to authenticating the signature presented. Patrons should be aware that notarizing a document does not constitute a legal review of the document’s contents. A Notary Public is not a licensed attorney. Notaries cannot provide legal advice or counseling regarding documents. In accordance with Ohio notarial law, the Library’s notaries will not provide service if the customer, document, or circumstances of the request for notary service raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt, or uncertainty for the Library. In this event, the notary may, at his or her sole discretion, decline to provide notary service.