Current as of 2026-07-01
The short answer
If you perform traditional, in-person notarization, Ohio does not require you to keep a journal. The Ohio Secretary of State's own guidance describes a journal as strongly recommended, not mandatory, for in-person acts. If you are commissioned as an online notary public performing remote online notarization, Ohio Revised Code section 147.65 requires you to keep an electronic journal.
If you only notarize in person
There is no statutory penalty for skipping a journal on paper acts in Ohio. Many notaries keep one regardless, since it is standard defensive practice and some employers require it as internal policy even though the state does not.
If you perform remote online notarization
Online notaries must maintain one or more electronic journals in a tamper-evident electronic format that complies with Secretary of State rules. The journal statute does not describe a thumbprint requirement of any kind, for online or in-person acts.
How long you keep it, and where it goes
A separate section, Ohio Revised Code 147.66, governs custody. If an online notary's commission is not renewed or is revoked, the journal must be transmitted to the Secretary of State or an approved repository. If the notary dies or is adjudicated incompetent, whoever is in possession of the journal, such as an executor, administrator, or guardian, must transmit it the same way. Once transmitted, the state or repository keeps the journal for 10 years.
How Notary Journal handles all of this
Notary Journal builds the Ohio entry to match your situation. If your state selection reflects in-person work, the app makes clear there is no state mandate while still giving you a clean, sequential record if you choose to keep one. If you notarize online, the form shows the fields the electronic-journal rule asks for. Every entry is numbered and append-only, so the sequence holds up under review either way.
When you need a copy, it exports a PDF or CSV. The whole thing runs on your device, offline, with no account and no server. Your record stays yours.
A note on what this is
This page is a general reference, not legal advice. Ohio notary law can change, and employer policy may require more than the state does. Confirm the current requirements with the Ohio Secretary of State before you rely on anything here.