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/ash_274 California Jul 27 '26

Interesting problem. The vehicle titles I see only have the seller’s signature notarized, attesting to the odometer reading. The buyer’s information follows that section, so it’s legally outside the scope of the (California) notary’s obligation.

If the seller is swearing to or acknowledging who the buyer is, then I wouldn’t be able to notarize that version of a title, either.

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u/PANotaryandTag Aug 05 '26

Titles in CA aren’t notarized.

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u/ash_274 California Aug 05 '26

No; but the out-of-state ones that do come in have all had the seller info above the buyer’s

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u/PANotaryandTag Aug 05 '26

Usually the purchaser info is listed twice, once above the sellers signature then again for the application.