Ohio "vital records" can only be certified by the registrar or the clerk with the requisite authority to issue the record. A notary public may not notarize copies of vital records such as birth, marriage or death certificates. Notaries will not find a notarial certificate to be completed or signature to notarize on vital records. If an individual wants a notarization on a vital record, the option is to notarize an affidavit from the principal stating the record is a true and accurate copy of the record. The notary public must give the signer an oath/affirmation and follow the procedure for notarizing an affidavit. However, it is possible that the entity receiving the record will reject the affidavit and copy.
