Legislation
State: Ohio
Signed: March 31, 2025
Effective: June 30, 2025
Chapter: Session Law No. 3
SummaryHouse Bill 54 no longer requires certain documents, as specified, that are related to watercraft and outboard motor titling to be notarized.
AffectsAmends Section 1548.061 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Changes
- Provides that when a registered watercraft dealer is a party to the transfer of a watercraft or outboard motor no notarization is required on any of the following as it relates to a watercraft or outboard motor: (a) A certificate of title; (b) An assignment of ownership; (c) A power of attorney used for the purposes of titling; (d) Any document related to the titling that the dealer is required to provide to a clerk of a court of common pleas.
- Clarifies that a clerk of courts may request a notarized affidavit to make corrections to the documents listed in #1 above, if necessary.
- Provides that a registered watercraft dealer, as defined in ORC 1546.01, involved in a title transfer, or the employee or agent of the registered watercraft dealer, may be granted power of attorney by the principal to become the principal's attorney in fact, and the power of attorney is exempt from the notarization requirement.
Analysis2025 is seeing states that remove the notarization requirement from certain documents related to vehicle and watercraft titling. House Bill 54 does this with respect to watercraft and outboard motors. Any law that requires certain documents, as specified, to be “sworn to before” or signed in the presence of” a Notary no longer must be notarized.
Read House Bill 54 (see pages 21-22).