(A) As used in this section, "electronic document," "electronic seal," "electronic signature," and "online notarization" have the same meanings as in section 147.60 of the Revised Code.

(B)

(1) An electronic document that is signed in the physical presence of the notary public with an electronic signature and notarized with an electronic seal shall be considered an original document.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, a digital copy of a document executed electronically by the parties and acknowledged or sworn before a notary acting pursuant to this section shall be accepted by county auditors, engineers, and recorders for purposes of approval, transfer, and recording to the same extent as any other document that is submitted by an electronic recording method and shall not be rejected solely by reason of containing electronic signatures or an electronic notarization, including an online notarization .

(3) A county auditor, engineer, and recorder shall accept a printed document that was executed electronically for purposes of approval, transfer, and recording if that document contains an attached certificate in the following, or a substantially similar, format:

AUTHENTICATOR CERTIFICATE

I certify and warrant that the foregoing and annexed paper document being presented for record, to which this certification is attached, represents a true, exact, complete, and unaltered copy of the original electronic document. The county offices of the auditor, treasurer, recorder, and others necessary to effectuate the transfer and recording of the instrument shall be entitled to rely on such certification and warranty for all purposes.

.......................... [signature of authenticator]

.......................... [printed name of authenticator]

.......................... [street address of authenticator]

.......................... [city, state, zip code of authenticator]

.......................... [telephone number of authenticator]

State of...............................

)

) :ss

County of..............................

)

The foregoing authenticator certificate was subscribed and sworn to in my presence by......................... [printed name of authenticator] on this.... day of........ , 20...

........................

Notary Public

(C) Any notary public may obtain an electronic seal and an electronic signature for the purposes of notarizing documents under this section.

(D) A notary public shall comply with the provisions of section 147.66 of the Revised Code pertaining to the electronic seal and electronic signature.

Amended by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

Added by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 263, §1, eff. 9/20/2019.