Ohio Code § 1349.78

Ohio Code § 1349.78. Reproduced from the official Ohio Revised Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 1349.78.

(A) Not less than thirty days prior to a person filing a foreclosure action to collect

on a debt secured by residential real property, the person shall first send a written

notice as described in division (B) of this section via United States mail to the

residential address of the debtor, if both of the following apply: (1) The debt is secured by a mortgage lien on the debtor's residential real property

that is not in the first mortgage position. (2) The debt has either been accelerated or is in default in accordance with the terms

set forth in the promissory note. (B) The written notice may be included on, or accompany, any other communication, and

shall be printed in at least twelve-point type and include the following: (1) The name and contact information of the person collecting the debt; (2) A statement of the amount of the debt; (3) A statement that the debtor has a right to engage an attorney; (4) A statement that the debtor may qualify for debt relief under Chapter 7 or 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code , 11 U.S.C. Chapter 7 or 13 , as amended; (5) A statement that a debtor that qualifies under Chapter 13 of the United States Bankruptcy

Code may be able to protect their residential real property from foreclosure. (C) Upon written request of the debtor, the owner of the debt shall provide a copy of

the note and the loan history to the debtor. (D)(1) As used in this division: (a) “ Bona fide error ” means an unintentional clerical, calculation, computer malfunction or programming,

or printing error. (b) “ Restitution ” means either of the following: (i) A waiver of all fees, costs, or expenses proximately associated with the failure

to provide the notice to the debtor;  or (ii) Actual damages. (2) Any owner of debt subject to divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section shall not

be held civilly liable in any action, if all of the following are met: (a) The owner of the debt shows by a preponderance of evidence that the compliance failure

was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance

of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any such error. (b) Within sixty days after discovering the error, and prior to the initiation of any

action, the owner of the debt notifies the debtor of the error and the manner in which

the owner of the debt intends to make full restitution to the debtor. (c) The owner of the debt promptly makes reasonable restitution to the debtor. (3) If, in the event of a compliance failure, the owner of the debt does not meet the

conditions set forth in division (D)(2) of this section, a debtor injured by the error

has a cause of action to recover damages.  Such an action shall not, however, be maintained as a class action.

Source: official Ohio text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

  • Citation: Ohio Revised Code § 1349.78
  • Jurisdiction: Ohio
  • Code: Ohio Revised Code
  • Text: transcribed from the official source (verify below)

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Statute text is transcribed from the official Ohio Revised Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Ohio attorney.

Common questions

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