Notary Journal

The notary record book, otherwise known as the tangible notary journal, is a record of all notarial acts performed by the notary in chronological order. The notary will log specific information that can be used to authenticate a notarization into this record book. All notarial acts must be recoded in your notary journal. A notary may only have one active tangible journal at a time.

Requirements of the notary journal:

1. The journal must be bound with a soft cover
2. The journal cannot exceed eleven (11) inches in height and sixteen and a half (16 ½) inches in  width when fully opened
3. Pages must be consecutively numbered
4. The information page must be filled in with the notary’s name, business address, commission number, commission expiration date, book number, and the date of first and last notarial act recorded
5. Notary’s name on the top left corner and commission number on top right corner of each set of
   pages

Every notary public must record all notarial acts including acknowledgements, jurats, oaths, protests, and depositions done in the notary’s official capacity. For each official act, the notary must record in the journal:

1. Date and time of the notarial act
2. Signature, printed name, and address of each person whose signature is notarized and of each
   witness.
3. The manner in which the signer was identified. There are three options
   a. Photo ID presented
   i. Record, type of ID, ID number, Expiration Date of ID, and Date of birth of signer
   b. Personally known by the notary
   i. Write “Personally known by me”
   c. Credible Witness
   i. A credible witness is someone that can vouch for the identity of a signer, under an oath or affirmation.
   ii. Write “Credible Witness” and record name and signature of credible witness
4. Title or type of document or proceeding
5. Date of document or proceeding
6. Other parties to the instrument
7. Type or notarial act
8. Any additional information that may be needed
9. Fees charged by the notary
   a. If none, enter 0

Example – Left Page:

Example – Right Page:

The notary must retain the notary journal for a period of 10 years from the last notarial act recorded in the notary journal. The notary may choose to store the journals via photograph, microphotograph, reproduction film, or electronic copy providing that the copy accurately reflect all the details and information in the original tangible journal and is tamper evident. Should a notary choose to use one of these options for storing their journals, the same will be considered an original record for all purposes, including introduction in evidence in all courts or administrative agencies. Additionally, a transcript, exemplification, facsimile, or certified copy will considered a transcript, exemplification, facsimile, or certified copy of the original record.