<<Back Page 59 Next>>

The purpose of this section is to explain the records that the notary public is required to keep.

Upon completion of this section, you will be able to describe:

(1)   How many active journals is the notary required to keep
(2)   What should be kept in the journal
(3)   Where should the journal be kept
(4)   What should the journal include
(5)   What to do if the journal is lost, stolen or damaged
(6)   When the notary public must provide a copy of the journal
(7)   How much the notary public can charge for the copies
(8)   When the notary must relinquish the journal
(9)   Can your employer inspect your journal
(10) When to turn in the journal to the county clerk’s office
(11) What happens if the notary delivers the records to the Secretary of State

Number of Active Journals

A notary public is required to keep one active sequential journal at a time.  The notary should note the periods of journal entries.  (KS25-GC8206)

(note:  noting the periods of journal entry will come in handy if the  notary public journal is ever lost, stolen, misplaced, etc…)

What Should be Kept in the Journal

All acts performed as a notary public.

Where Should the Journal be Kept

Like the notary stamp, the journal is the exclusive property  of the notary public must be kept in a locked and secured area at all times and must be kept under the direct and exclusive control of the notary public (Government Code Section 8206 (a)) (KS7-GC8206) AND  (KS26-GC8206) AND  (KS28-GC8206)

What Should the Journal Include

The notary public journal must include the following: (KS21-GC8201) AND  (KS23-GC8206)  AND  (KS24-GC8206)
 

1.  Date and time of each official act – in other words, date and time of whatever it is that you acknowledged.

2.Character of every instrument sworn to, affirmed, acknowledged or proved before the notary public – in other words, what was it that you notarized.

<<Back Page 59 Next>>