GA Notary Journaling and Record Keeping 4

Question 1

Which security feature is most important for an electronic notary journal to maintain record integrity?

Accepted Answer

Tamper-evident technology that detects and logs any unauthorized changes

Answer

Password-protecting the document with a common password

Answer

Printing the journal daily and storing paper copies only

Answer

Limiting the journal to entries made on a single device only

Question 2

How do electronic notary journals provide evidence of an entry's original content compared to paper journals?

Accepted Answer

They use cryptographic audit logs or digital signatures to detect any post-entry modifications

Answer

They rely on the notary's sworn testimony that no changes were made

Answer

They automatically email each entry to the Secretary of State

Answer

They store entries on a government-controlled server

Question 3

Before disposing of a completed paper notary journal whose retention period has ended, what should a notary do?

Accepted Answer

Shred or otherwise destroy it to protect signer information

Answer

Donate it to the local library's archives

Answer

Submit it to the county courthouse for permanent storage

Answer

Sell it to a title company for their records

Question 4

Which notarial act typically warrants the most detailed journal entry due to the elevated risk of fraud?

Accepted Answer

Notarizing a deed transferring real property

Answer

Certifying a copy of a library card

Answer

Taking an oath for a simple affidavit

Answer

Witnessing a routine letter signature

Question 5

When a notary charges a fee for a notarial act, what fee information should be recorded in the journal?

Accepted Answer

The amount charged per signature or act, consistent with state fee limits

Answer

The fee is confidential and should not be written anywhere

Answer

Only the total bill for the entire appointment

Answer

Whether the signer paid by cash or credit card

Question 6

When a notary declines to perform a requested notarization, should the refusal be recorded in the journal?

Accepted Answer

Yes — recording refusals documents the reason and protects the notary from complaints

Answer

No — only completed acts belong in the journal

Answer

Only if the signer threatens to report the notary

Answer

Only if the refusal involves a suspected crime

Question 7

What physical security measures are recommended for protecting a paper notary journal?

Accepted Answer

Store the journal in a locked drawer or safe accessible only to the notary

Answer

Keep the journal in a publicly accessible office binder for easy retrieval

Answer

Leave the journal with the document preparer after each appointment

Answer

Post journal entries online for transparency