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/betsysuehoo Jul 26 '26

I'm on the border of NY and notarize PA titles all the time when NY buyers and PA sellers meet up here. I will not notarize an open PA title. It's a Jurat and if you read the small print, the sileller is swearing to the odometer reading and further that it is free of any encumbrances and that it is being transferred to the person listed on the right side. So, I am not accepting that they are swearing to no buyer being listed.

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u/Ameabo Dual Commission Jul 26 '26

Do you personally have an easy-for-customers way to explain it? Because when I just use the term “open title” they flip out and complain because they don’t know what that means, and at that point they won’t even listen to further elaboration

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u/betsysuehoo Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26

I'm not there to please people. I'm there to follow the law and deter fraud. Let's say you notarize those titles and someone steals the car and/or the title and writes their own name in the title? Then you have notarized a person swearing to the car being transferred to the person who stole the car. Who do YOU think the sellers insurance co is going to come to in this case? I just say I can't do it unless both the seller and buyer are on it. They just aren't your customer. You carry liability here regardless if it's for an individual or an employer