When a notary public retires or ceases performing notarial acts, they should transfer their notarial journal to a successor or leave it with a trusted individual. This ensures that the records remain available for any future legal or administrative needs. Destroying or improperly handling the journal could result in legal complications.
In Alaska, a notary public is required to keep their notarial journal for a minimum of 3 years from the date of the last entry. This period ensures that records are available for any future legal or administrative inquiries.
While notaries are required to record the date and time of the notarial act, the name and address of the signer, and the type of document, they are not required to record the fee charged for the notarial act in the journal. The journal is primarily for documenting the notarial process and verifying compliance with legal requirements.
For electronically notarized documents, the notary journal entry should include the type of electronic document and the method of electronic notarization used. This helps ensure that electronic notarizations are properly documented and can be verified if needed.
If a notary’s journal is lost or stolen, the notary must report the loss or theft to the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing and to local law enforcement. This helps protect against potential misuse of the journal and ensures that proper steps are taken to address the situation.
