Hospital Notary in Cincinnati & Dayton: Bedside POA

Signed On Time is a mobile notary service based in Waynesville, Ohio that travels to hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and bedside settings across Southwest Ohio to notarize prepared healthcare directives, powers of attorney, and related documents. Owner Terry May comes to the signer, whether that is a parent in a Cincinnati hospital room or a family member in a Dayton-area care facility. Below is who handles this, what Ohio asks for, and how to set up a visit.

Who comes to a hospital or nursing home to notarize these documents?

Signed On Time, owned by Terry May, is the mobile notary who travels to the bedside. I am an Ohio Notary Public, commissioned on July 28, 2017, with 9+ years as a commissioned notary and more than 25 years of commercial and residential lending experience. I am NNA Certified, carry a 2 million dollar errors and omissions policy, and complete a yearly background screening.

For a family trying to get a parent's healthcare power of attorney or directive signed, a staff notary is not always on hand, and moving a patient to find one is rarely practical. I act as an impartial witness: I travel to the signer, confirm identity, complete the authorized notarial act, and keep the required record. This is my mobile healthcare notary service, and it covers hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-living communities, rehabilitation facilities, and private homes.

What does Ohio require for a healthcare power of attorney or directive?

Ohio law gives two ways to execute a health care power of attorney. Under Section 1337.12 of the Ohio Revised Code, the document is valid when it is either signed by two qualifying adult witnesses or acknowledged before a notary public. Many families choose the notary path because the witness rules are strict: a relative by blood, marriage, or adoption cannot serve as a witness, and neither can the person named as agent, the attending physician, or the administrator of a nursing home where the signer is receiving care.

I notarize prepared healthcare directives, healthcare powers of attorney, living wills, and related estate documents. I do not choose the document, draft it, or tell you which one your family needs. Document selection and legal effect belong with the attorney, agency, or healthcare provider who prepared it. If an attorney drafted the paperwork, I handle the notarization side without interpreting it. I do not notarize DNR orders; those come from a healthcare provider, while the healthcare power of attorney and living will are the documents I notarize in these situations.

What happens during a bedside appointment?

I travel to the room, confirm the signer's identity, witness the signing, and complete the notarial certificate on the prepared document. The document should already be prepared for signing before I arrive, with the signer ready to sign in my presence. A signature placed before the appointment cannot be notarized, so nothing should be signed until I am there.

The signer must be able to communicate, understand that they are signing the document, and willingly take part in the signing. I do not determine medical or legal capacity, and I do not decide whether someone is well enough to sign. If there is concern that the signer is confused, heavily medicated, or unable to communicate, the appointment may need to be postponed, and whether the signer can proceed is for the appropriate healthcare or legal professional to decide. You can read more about how a bedside directive appointment works before you book.

What should the family have ready?

Have the prepared document on hand, unsigned, along with the signer's required government-issued photo identification, and any witnesses the document calls for. Witness requirements are document-specific, so the document's preparer confirms whether witnesses are needed and who qualifies. If the facility has its own access or visitor rules, let me know when you call so I can plan the timing.

Identification in a hospital setting is where families hit snags. An expired license, an out-of-state ID, or a name that does not match the document can all raise questions, and I cannot promise ahead of time that any particular ID will be accepted or rejected. Call before the appointment so we can talk through the situation; there is more on ID problems at the hospital if that is your concern.

What does it cost, and how do you pay?

Ohio law permits a notary to charge up to $5 per notarial act, and that limit is set per act, not per signature. A travel fee applies to every mobile appointment and is quoted before you book. The total depends on service, location, travel required, timing, urgency, and assignment details, and I confirm the full amount before the appointment.

Payment is accepted by cash, Venmo, or Zelle. For an exact quote, call (513) 226-9052 or use the booking page.

How fast can you come, and how do we book?

Regular hours are 7 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week. Same-day appointments are available, subject to current schedule, location, travel distance, timing, and urgency, and I do take evening and weekend requests. Need something outside those hours? Call (513) 226-9052 and I will accommodate the request whenever I can.

To book, call or text (513) 226-9052, or use the booking page. Tell me the facility and room, the document and who prepared it, and the timing you need, and I will confirm the total before I come.

Frequently asked questions

Can a notary come to the hospital the same day?

Often yes. Same-day bedside appointments are available depending on the current schedule, the facility's location, travel distance, and how urgent the situation is. Regular hours are 7 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week, and outside-hours requests are accommodated when possible. Call (513) 226-9052 as early as you can so I can plan the visit.

Can you notarize for my parent if they are heavily medicated or confused?

The signer must be able to communicate, understand that they are signing the document, and take part willingly. I do not determine medical or legal capacity. If there is real concern that the signer is confused, heavily medicated, or unable to communicate, the appointment may need to be postponed, and whether the signer can proceed is a question for the appropriate healthcare or legal professional.

Does a healthcare power of attorney in Ohio have to be notarized?

Ohio law gives two options. Under Section 1337.12 of the Ohio Revised Code, a health care power of attorney is valid when it is either acknowledged before a notary public or signed by two qualifying adult witnesses. I notarize the prepared document; I do not decide which document you need or confirm its legal effect, which is the role of the attorney or provider who prepared it.

What identification does my family member need?

Plan on current government-issued photo identification for the signer. Unusual situations, such as an expired ID, an out-of-state ID, or a name that does not match the document, need a quick review before the appointment, and I cannot promise acceptance or rejection in advance. Call (513) 226-9052 to go over the specific ID before I come.

What areas do you cover around Cincinnati and Dayton?

Signed On Time is based in Waynesville, Ohio 45068 and serves Hamilton, Warren, Montgomery, Butler, Greene, and Clinton counties in Southwest Ohio, between Cincinnati and Dayton. Mobile service means I travel to the signer at the hospital, care facility, or home. If your location is just outside those counties, call to ask and I will consider the request.