Signing checklist for Ohio

The signing steps in Ohio law, step by step. Pick your documents to see them.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

This checklist lists the signing rules in Ohio law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

Financial power of attorney: Signed by you; the law requires no notary or witnesses
Health care directive: Notarized or signed by two adult witnesses

Financial power of attorney: Ohio

Choose your form Statutory Form Power of Attorney. You do not have to use it. You may use a document 'substantially in the following form'; you do not have to. The statutory form ends with a notary acknowledgment block and an 'Important Information for Agent' page. Its eight 'actions requiring express authority' (create a trust; amend, revoke or terminate a trust; make a gift; create or change survivorship rights; create or change a beneficiary designation; delegate authority; waive a joint and survivor annuity right; exercise delegable fiduciary powers) are granted only if expressly authorized and initialed in the Special Instructions. It does not cover health care decisions. Official text
Law: Ohio Rev. Code § 1337.60
Sign it Signed by you (the principal), or by another person you direct to sign your name in your conscious presence.
Law: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1337.25, 1337.04
Notary or witnesses The law only requires your signature. If you acknowledge your signature before a notary public, the signature is presumed genuine, which is why the statutory form includes a notary block. A power of attorney used to sign deeds, mortgages, land contracts or leases must be acknowledged and recorded (see real estate).
Law: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1337.25, 1337.04
The agent signs too No signed acceptance is required. An agent accepts by acting as agent or by other conduct showing acceptance, unless the power of attorney says otherwise.
Law: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1337.25, 1337.04
If you sign electronically 'Sign' in the Act includes an electronic symbol or process, and a power of attorney can be a writing or other record.
Law: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1337.25, 1337.04
If it may be used for real estate A power of attorney used to sign a deed, mortgage, land installment contract or lease must be signed and acknowledged (notarized) before the real estate document is signed, and recorded in the county recorder's office where the property is located before the real estate document is recorded. Since October 24, 2024 a power of attorney recorded late can be placed of record with a supporting affidavit.

Health care directive: Ohio

Sign it Signed by you at the end of the document, with the date you sign it.
Law: Ohio Rev. Code § 1337.12(A)-(C)
Notary or witnesses Sign and date the document at the end. Then either have two qualified adult witnesses sign after your signature, or acknowledge it before a notary public.
Law: Ohio Rev. Code § 1337.12(A)-(C)
Who cannot witness Witnesses must be adults who see you sign or acknowledge your signature. These people cannot be witnesses: anyone related to you by blood, marriage or adoption, your agent or alternate agent, your attending physician, and the administrator of a nursing home where you receive care. A notary used instead must also attest that you appear to be of sound mind and free of duress, fraud or undue influence.
Law: Ohio Rev. Code § 1337.12(A)-(C)
If you live in a nursing facility The administrator of a nursing home where you receive care cannot be a witness.
Law: Ohio Rev. Code § 1337.12(A)-(C)

After signing

Give copies to the right people Keep the signed documents in a safe place and give copies to your health care proxy and your doctors. Some states have registries that store an advance directive for doctors and your proxy.

Signing checklist

This checklist lists the signing rules in Ohio law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

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