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Notary · Journal and Records

Why do notaries keep a journal?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

To create a contemporaneous record of every notarial act that can later verify: the signer's identity was checked, the signer appeared voluntarily, and the specific act performed — providing protection in disputes and fraudulent document investigations

  1. A The journal is optional in all states
  2. B To track their income for tax purposes
  3. C To satisfy a federal law requirement
  4. D To create a contemporaneous record of every notarial act that can later verify: the signer's identity was checked, the signer appeared voluntarily, and the specific act performed — providing protection in disputes and fraudulent document investigations

Why this is the answer

The NOTARY JOURNAL serves critical purposes:

Fraud detection: If a document is later claimed to be forged or coerced, the journal entry provides evidence of what happened.

Legal protection: If a notary is sued or investigated, the journal demonstrates they followed proper procedures.

Identity verification record: Journal entries typically include the signer's name, ID type and number (or last 4 digits in some states), and the type of notarial act — creating a paper trail.

Required in half the states: About 25 states require notaries to maintain a journal; the other states strongly recommend it. Even where not legally required, maintaining a journal is professional best practice. Journal entries must be made contemporaneously — not filled in later from memory.

Source: Notary Exam, Journal Keeping

Practice more questions

This question is from our Notary Public Practice Tests practice test. Take the full practice test to test your knowledge across all Journal and Records and other topics.

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About this topic: Journal and Records

Journal and records questions cover what each entry must contain, who may inspect the journal, retention periods, and how to handle a lost journal or seal. This is one of 7 Notary questions on journal and records, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our Notary exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

Related questions

Journal and Records

What information must a notary record in their journal for each notarial act?

 Journal and Records

Why is a notary journal important even when not required by state law?

 Journal and Records

A notary certificate is complete and the document is ready for delivery, but the notary forgot to emboss or stamp their seal. Is the notarization valid?

 Journal and Records

A signer refuses to sign the notary journal. Can the notary proceed with the notarisation?

State-specific guides

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Recommended study materials

Study guide

Notary Public Handbook: Principles, Practices & Cases

The most referenced practitioner guide to notarial law, acknowledgments, oaths, and recordkeeping.

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National Notary Association: Notary Basics Study Guide

NNA's entry-level study guide covering every notarial act and the exam content tested in most states.

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Signing Agent Certification Study Guide (NNA)

Complete prep for the NNA Certified Notary Signing Agent exam, including real estate documents.

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