Free DC NOTARY Notary Journal Requirements Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A DC notary public chooses to maintain a tangible, paper-based journal. According to District of Columbia law, which of the following is a mandatory physical characteristic of this journal?
- It must be a permanently bound register with numbered pages. (Correct answer)
- It must be a three-ring binder with loose-leaf, numbered pages.
- It can be any spiral-bound notebook.
- It must have a lock and key for security purposes.
Correct answer: It must be a permanently bound register with numbered pages.
DC Code § 1-1231.18(a)(2) explicitly states that if a notary's journal is maintained on a tangible medium, it must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages. This ensures the integrity and chronological order of the entries, preventing easy removal or reordering of pages.
Question 2: A DC notary performs a notarial act. According to DC regulations, which of the following pieces of information is required to be recorded in the notary journal for every notarization?
- The fee charged for the notarial act.
- The signer's telephone number.
- A description of the record and type of notarial act. (Correct answer)
- The name of the person who referred the signer.
Correct answer: A description of the record and type of notarial act.
District of Columbia law requires specific information for each journal entry, including the date and time of the act, the full name and address of the individual, the method of identification, and a description of the record and the type of notarial act performed. The fee, signer's phone number, and referrer information are not mandated entries.
Question 3: A notary in the District of Columbia discovers their journal has been stolen. What is the first action the notary must take according to DC law?
- Purchase a new journal within 24 hours.
- File a report with the local police department immediately.
- Promptly notify the Mayor upon discovering the journal is lost or stolen. (Correct answer)
- Publish a notice in a local newspaper about the theft.
Correct answer: Promptly notify the Mayor upon discovering the journal is lost or stolen.
D.C. Code § 1-1231.18(d) specifies that if a notary public's journal is lost or stolen, the notary shall promptly notify the Mayor upon discovering that the journal is lost or stolen. Some regulations further clarify this should be done within 10 business days. While filing a police report may be a good practice, the legally mandated first step is to notify the Mayor's office (specifically, the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications).
Question 4: Upon the death of a commissioned DC notary public, what is the legal requirement regarding their notarial journal?
- The journal should be destroyed to protect the privacy of the signers.
- The notary's personal representative must transmit the journal to the Mayor. (Correct answer)
- The journal becomes the personal property of the notary's next of kin.
- The journal must be retained by the notary's last employer for five years.
Correct answer: The notary's personal representative must transmit the journal to the Mayor.
According to D.C. Code § 1-1231.18(f), upon the death or adjudication of incompetency of a current or former notary public, the notary's personal representative, guardian, or any other person knowingly in possession of the journal must transmit it to the Mayor. This ensures the records are properly secured and maintained by the commissioning authority.
Question 5: Which of the following is an acceptable method for a DC notary to maintain their required journal?
- Only in a permanently bound, paper format.
- Only in a tamper-evident electronic format.
- In either a tangible (paper) or a compliant electronic format. (Correct answer)
- As a simple text file on a personal computer.
Correct answer: In either a tangible (paper) or a compliant electronic format.
DC law provides flexibility for notaries, allowing them to maintain their journal in either a tangible medium (which must be a permanent bound register with numbered pages) or in a tamper-evident electronic format that complies with rules set by the Mayor. Notaries are not restricted to only one format.
Question 6: A signer is identified by the DC notary through satisfactory evidence in the form of a valid driver's license. What specific information about this identification credential must the notary record in their journal?
- The driver's license number and the signer's height.
- A brief description of the method of identification and the credential presented. (Correct answer)
- Only the date of issuance of the driver's license.
- A photocopy of the driver's license must be attached to the journal entry.
Correct answer: A brief description of the method of identification and the credential presented.
DC notary journal requirements state that if identity is based on satisfactory evidence, the notary must record a brief description of the method of identification and the identification credential presented. This includes details like the date of issuance and expiration, but the core requirement is the description of the method and credential itself.
Free DC NOTARY Notary Journal Requirements Questions and Answers
A DC notary public chooses to maintain a tangible, paper-based journal.
According to District of Columbia law, which of the following is a mandatory physical characteristic of this journal?