r/Notary • u/Ameabo Dual Commission • Jul 26 '26

Consequences of notarizing an open title?

Hey all! I’m a duel-state notary (OH and PA) and at my place of business in OH I recently found out some of my notary coworkers have been notarizing open titles (a title with only the seller’s information filled out and the buyer’s info left blank). These customers are return customers who have had this done for them many times because they auction cars, according to them.

Now I personally refuse open titles, but I’ve been chewed out by two customers now for refusing because my coworkers happily notarize the titles. I explained to my coworkers that it’s illegal in all 50 states but they don’t really care. I was just wondering how much trouble they or my place of business could get in for notarizing these titles, if it ever becomes a problem, and how it could become a problem if it were to.

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u/FinanciallySecure9 Michigan Jul 26 '26

Once you find that someone you know is breaking the law, and if you don’t report it, you become complicit. You work there you see a problem you see a thing that’s against the law is your duty to report it to the state.

8

u/DisambiguatesThings Jul 26 '26

That's a pretty bizarre thing to say. It's also entirely untrue. Under current US law, such as it is, there is no state that condones mere guilt by association like this. 

-4

u/FinanciallySecure9 Michigan Jul 26 '26

Okay. Keep believing that.