AL Notary Notary Record-Keeping and Journal

Question 1

Is an Alabama notary required by state law to maintain a notary journal?

Accepted Answer

Alabama law does not mandate a journal but strongly recommends one for liability protection

Answer

Alabama does not legally require notaries to maintain a journal, but best practice strongly recommends it to protect against fraud claims.

Question 2

What information is recommended to be recorded in an Alabama notary's journal entry?

Accepted Answer

Date, type of act, document type, signer's name and ID, and fee charged

Answer

A complete journal entry should record the date, notarial act type, document type, signer identification, and any fee collected.

Question 3

An Alabama notary's journal should be kept:

Accepted Answer

In a bound, paginated book or secure electronic format

Answer

A bound, sequentially paginated journal is recommended because it prevents pages from being removed or replaced without detection.

Question 4

How long should an Alabama notary retain journal records after the commission expires?

Accepted Answer

Best practice recommends retaining records for at least 10 years

Answer

Although not mandated, best practice in Alabama is to retain journal records for at least 10 years given Alabama's 10-year statute of limitations for fraud.

Question 5

An Alabama notary receives a subpoena for their notary journal. The notary should:

Accepted Answer

Comply with the subpoena and provide the journal as directed by the court

Answer

A notary must comply with a court subpoena; there is no notary-client privilege in Alabama that would allow withholding the journal.

AL Notary - Alabama Notary Exam Practice Test

AL Notary - Alabama Notary Exam Practice Test

AL Notary Notary Record-Keeping and Journal